When money and insider access drown out everyday citizens, trust collapses. We will restore integrity, transparency, and accountability to Hawai'i's government.
Hawai'i has a corruption problem. For decades, political insiders have used their positions to enrich themselves and their allies at the expense of ordinary citizens. Government contracts go to connected donors. Jobs go to friends and family. And the people who pay the bills — taxpayers — are left out.
The result is a government that serves the powerful, not the people. Trust in public institutions has eroded, and many citizens have simply given up on the idea that government can work for them.
Young people see this most clearly. They watch as political connections determine who gets hired, who gets contracts, and who gets ahead. Merit takes a back seat to relationships. And for those without connections, the message is clear: the system is not built for you.
This is not just a political problem — it is a moral one. A government that tolerates corruption betrays the trust of every citizen it is supposed to serve.
When campaign donations buy access and influence, ordinary citizens lose their voice. We will end the practice of rewarding donors with government contracts, appointments, and favorable policy decisions.
Hawai'i's government operates with too little public scrutiny. Budgets are opaque, decisions are made behind closed doors, and citizens are left in the dark. We will open the books and let the sun shine in.
Ethics rules mean nothing without enforcement. We will strengthen ethics laws, close loopholes, and ensure that violations have real consequences — not just slaps on the wrist.
In Hawai'i, who you know often matters more than what you know. Government jobs and contracts go to connected insiders while qualified local residents are shut out. We will build a merit-based system.