3.  Candidate Survey Response

The following presents the HAA Candidate Survey questions in their original order and wording.

Formatting has been standardized for readability.

The substance of the candidate’s responses has not been changed.

2026 Hawaiʻi County Council Candidate Survey

SECTION 1 - Leadership & Decision-Making

This section is intended to help voters better understand how you approach leadership, public service, and complex policy decisions.

Question 1.  When evaluating a complex public policy issue, which of the following factors do you typically consider?

Candidate selections

✔ Constituent concerns
☐ Scientific evidence and research
☐ Recommendations from government agencies
☐ Fiscal responsibility and cost effectiveness
✔ Long-term outcomes
✔ Public health and safety
☐ Environmental impacts
☐ Fairness to affected stakeholders
☐ Legal considerations
☐ Practical implementation and enforcement
☐ Community partnerships and volunteer involvement

Candidate comment

“I believe good policy is thoughtful, balanced, and informed by a wide range of factors including date and fiscal responsibility. My goal is to make decisions that are practical, sustainable, and in the best interest of Hawaiʻi Island and future generations.”

Question 2.  When evaluating different viewpoints on a public issue, which of the following approaches do you typically find helpful?

Please select the three choices that best reflect your perspective.

Candidate selections

✔ Meet with affected residents
☐ Meet with subject-matter experts
☐ Review scientific research
☐ Request information from government agencies
☐ Hold community meetings
✔ Seek balanced solutions that consider multiple perspectives
✔ Visit affected locations firsthand
☐ Evaluate costs and budget impacts
☐ Review measurable outcomes from similar programs
☐ Consult nonprofit and community organizations

Candidate comment

“I believe effective policymaking requires meeting with the people directly affected by an issue and visiting the places where impacts are being felt. While data and analysis are essential, firsthand experience and meaningful community engagement often provide insights that cannot be captured in reports alone and lead to better-informed decisions.”

Question 3.  Which of the following qualities do you believe contribute to effective public policy?

Please select the three choices that best reflect your perspective.

Candidate selections

☐ Compassion
☐ Scientific evidence
☐ Fiscal responsibility
☐ Accountability
☐ Transparency
✔ Prevention
✔ Enforcement
☐ Collaboration
✔ Long-term thinking
☐ Community input
☐ Environmental stewardship
☐ Public health
☐ Practical results

Candidate comment

“Sound policy must be practical, transparent, and grounded in a clear understanding of how it will affect the people and communities it is intended to serve. Decisions should be evaluated not only for its immediate impact, but also for its long-term effectiveness, and ability to deliver meaningful results for stakeholders and future generations."

Question 4.  When facing a difficult issue where there is no perfect solution, what approaches do you generally find most helpful?

Please select the three choices that best reflect your perspective.

Candidate selections

☐ Focus on immediate concerns
✔ Focus on long-term outcomes
☐ Follow existing policies and procedures
✔ Seek additional information and evidence
✔ Consult affected stakeholders
☐ Consider unintended consequences
☐ Seek balanced solutions among competing interests
☐ Start with a small pilot project and evaluate results
☐ Prioritize practical implementation
☐ Reassess and adjust based on outcomes

Candidate comment

“In difficult policy discussions, I believe it is essential to communicate openly, remain transparent, and ensure stakeholders understand both the challenges and the reasoning behind decisions. My focus is on finding practical solutions that address immediate needs while advancing long-term goals that strengthen our community and create lasting benefits for future generations.

SECTION 2 - Humane Animal Management & Community Well-Being

This section is intended to help voters better understand your perspectives regarding animal management and related community issues.

Question 5.  How important is humane treatment when developing county animal policies?

✔ Extremely Important
☐ Very Important
☐ Moderately Important
☐ Slightly Important
☐ Not Important

Candidate comment

“The way we treat animals reflects our values as a community. Animal welfare policies should be guided by compassion, respect for life, and practical solutions that address challenges while considering the impacts on animals, people, and the broader community."

Question 6.  Which statement best reflects your approach to addressing community challenges?

☐ Strongly favor prevention and education
☐ Generally favor prevention while supporting targeted enforcement
✔ Equal emphasis on prevention and enforcement
☐ Generally favor enforcement
☐ Strongly favor enforcement

Candidate comment

“The most effective animal welfare policies balance prevention with enforcement. By investing in education, responsible pet ownership, spay and neuter programs, and community partnerships while consistently enforcing existing laws, we can reduce animal suffering, improve public safety, and address issues before they become larger problems."

Question 7.  Do you support expanded access to low-cost or free spay/neuter services?

✔ Strongly Support
☐ Support
☐ Neutral / Unsure
☐ Oppose
☐ Strongly Oppose

Candidate comment

“I support expanding access to low-cost and free spay and neuter services as one of the most effective and humane ways to reduce pet overpopulation and prevent animal suffering. Investing in these programs helps mitigate challenges before they become larger and more costly problems."

Question 8.  How familiar are you with Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and other humane community cat management programs?

✔ Very Familiar
☐ Familiar
☐ Somewhat Familiar
☐ Limited Familiarity
☐ Not Familiar

Candidate comment

“I support humane, evidence-based approaches to managing community cat populations, including Trap-Neuter-Return programs, adoption initiatives, and expanded access to low-cost spay and neuter services. Effective animal welfare policy should focus on prevention, responsible pet ownership, and reducing animal suffering while also considering public health, environmental impacts, and the protection of sensitive native ecosystems."

Question 9.  What role should managed community cat programs play in Hawaiʻi County?

✔ Major Role
☐ Moderate Role
☐ Limited Role
☐ No Role
☐ Unsure

Candidate comment

“I believe managed community cat programs can play an important role in Hawaiʻi County when paired with expanded spay and neuter services, adoption efforts, responsible pet ownership education, and appropriate environmental protections. A balanced approach can help reduce animal suffering, stabilize cat populations, lessen the burden on shelters, and address both community and ecosystem concerns. In particular, the impact to the native bird population. A response that is not surprising from an individual named “Manu”, I’m sure. "

SECTION 3 - Public Health, Accountability & Community Partnerships

This section is intended to help voters better understand how these issues fit within broader community priorities.

Question 10.  Human health, animal health, and environmental health are interconnected. How important should this perspective be when evaluating public policy?

✔ Extremely Important
☐ Very Important
☐ Moderately Important
☐ Slightly Important
☐ Not Important

Candidate comment

“Good policy recognizes the connection between human health, animal health, and environmental health and reflects that relationship. By focusing on prevention, responsible stewardship, science-based decision-making, and collaboration, we can develop balanced solutions that protect public health, promote animal welfare, preserve our natural resources, and strengthen the long-term well-being of our communities."

Question 11.  Government-funded programs should demonstrate measurable outcomes and public accountability.

✔ Strongly Agree
☐ Agree
☐ Neutral
☐ Disagree
☐ Strongly Disagree

Candidate comment

“I absolutely agree government-funded programs should have clearly defined goals, measurable outcomes, and strong public accountability. Taxpayer resources should be invested in programs that demonstrate effectiveness, deliver meaningful results, and are regularly evaluated to ensure they are meeting community needs."

Question 12. What role should community organizations and volunteers play in helping address county challenges?

✔ Major Role
☐ Moderate Role
☐ Limited Role
☐ No Role
☐ Unsure

Candidate comment

“I strongly believe government is most effective when it works in partnership with community organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and residents. Strong public-private partnerships incorporate place based voices, expand resources, and are often essential to solving complex challenges and building stronger, more resilient communities."

Additional Comments (please note Question # if adding to your response above)

Please share any additional comments:

Candidate comment

“I believe effective county policy must balance the needs of people, animals, and the environment while remaining grounded in compassion, practicality, and long-term thinking. The challenges facing Hawaiʻi Island are often interconnected, and the most successful solutions recognize that human health, animal welfare, wildlife stewardship, and community well-being do not exist in isolation. Good policy should seek to strengthen all of these areas together.

Where animal management is concerned, I support humane, prevention-focused approaches that reduce suffering while addressing community concerns. Expanding access to low-cost and free spay and neuter services, supporting responsible pet ownership, promoting adoption programs, and utilizing managed community animal programs where appropriate can help address challenges before they become larger and more costly. Prevention and education are often more effective and sustainable than reactive measures alone, but enforcement also plays an important role in ensuring public safety and accountability.

As an island community with unique natural resources and ecosystems, wildlife stewardship must also remain a priority. Hawaiʻi's environment is one of our greatest assets, and protecting native species, sensitive habitats, and natural resources requires thoughtful, science-based decision-making. Wildlife conservation and animal welfare are sometimes presented as competing interests, but I believe lasting solutions can be achieved by carefully considering both ecological impacts and humane treatment.

I also believe that government is most effective when it works alongside the community. Strong public-private partnerships and meaningful community engagement allow us to leverage resources, build trust, and develop solutions that no single organization could accomplish alone.

Finally, good county policy requires transparency, accountability, and a willingness to listen. Decisions should be informed by data, legal considerations, environmental impacts, fiscal responsibility, and community input. It is important to meet with the people affected by a policy, visit the places where impacts are being felt, and evaluate programs based on measurable outcomes. By taking a collaborative, compassionate, and long-term approach, we can build policies that serve our community today while protecting the health, welfare, and natural resources of Hawaiʻi Island for future generations.