Darius’s Pledge

Community First

Every decision I make continues to start with our community. The needs, concerns, and voices of our families guide my work every day. That will never change.

Removing Barriers

Whether it is a State, County, or Federal issue, I will continue to help navigate systems, find answers, and bring the right agencies to the table. My role is to make government work for our community, not against it.

Availability

I remain committed to open, honest, and accessible communication. I will continue to show up, listen, and learn from you. Our best solutions come from us working together, side by side.

Darius’s Plan & Priorities

Education

Tried and true, I am a product of Hawaiʻi’s public school system. My foundation was built in our classrooms, on our campuses, and in the hands of our teachers, coaches, counselors, and educational assistants who showed up every day for us. I carry that with me in the Legislature, and it is why education remains one of my highest priorities.

Since being elected, I have worked to strengthen the pipeline of opportunity for our keiki. Higher education is an important pathway for many, but it cannot be the only one. We must continue investing in programs that prepare our students for real careers and real futures. Whether they choose to pursue college, culinary arts, construction trades, accounting, childcare, or social work, every student deserves a strong start that reflects the skills and values of our community.

A Hawaiʻi High School Diploma should have weight. It should represent readiness, confidence, and access to opportunity.

That means continuing to fight for:

• Funding to improve school facilities and learning environments, ensuring our campuses are safe, functional, and prepared for the future.

• Competitive salaries, support, and respect for our educators and staff, so we can recruit and retain the very people who shape our next generation.

• Stronger early childhood and adult education programs, because learning should be supported from keiki to kūpuna.

• Partnerships between schools, families, and community organizations, so our students can experience culture, identity, leadership, and belonging where they live.

I am committed to building an education system that reflects and serves Hawaiʻi. Our keiki deserve nothing less. Our future depends on it.

Kūpuna Care

Our kūpuna are the foundation of who we are. They carry our stories, our history, our lessons, and our values. I have continued to volunteer alongside our kūpuna wellness programs and food distributions because that is where I learn the most — directly from the voices and experiences of the very people who built this community.

Their concerns, hopes, and challenges guide my work at the Legislature. I remain committed to ensuring our kūpuna can age with dignity, stability, and access to care right here at home.

This includes:

• Increasing funding and support for Kūpuna Caregiver Programs and Adult Disability Resource Centers, so our families do not have to choose between caregiving and financial hardship.

• Strengthening oversight, accountability, and safety in long-term care facilities and nursing homes, ensuring our kūpuna are treated with respect and care.

• Exploring a publicly supported option for long-term care coverage, to reduce the financial burden that falls on families as needs grow over time.

• Expanding adult and continuing education opportunities, because learning, growth, and purpose should remain encouraged at every stage of life.

• Creating tax fairness for retirees, including efforts to reduce the burden on retirement income so our kūpuna can keep more of what they worked their entire lives to earn.

I will continue to show up, listen, and work directly with our kūpuna and their families. They deserve more than gratitude — they deserve action, respect, and the ability to age with aloha in the community they helped build.

Homelessness

Housing insecurity is something I understand firsthand. My ʻohana experienced homelessness. I know what it feels like to search for stability, to worry about safety, and to feel unseen in your own home community. That experience guides the way I approach homelessness and housing today. It is not just a policy issue. It is personal.

Since taking office, I have worked to shift our response away from short-term band-aids and toward long-term, coordinated solutions. There is no single pathway into homelessness and there cannot be a one-size-fits-all pathway out. When we understand each person’s story and needs, we can build support that actually lasts.

My commitment is to continue building solutions rooted in dignity, community, and accountability:

• Expanding ʻOhana Zone-style approaches to create stable, culturally rooted, community-based housing with wraparound services.

• Partnering with nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and community providers to create additional safe overnight options beyond traditional shelter systems.

• Reducing housing barriers for individuals and families with pets, because no one should have to choose between shelter and their companion that is part of their ʻohana.

• Supporting housing-first models alongside mental health care, substance use treatment, workforce pathways, and family stabilization services, so people receive support that meets their actual needs.

This is about preventing homelessness before it occurs, supporting people while they are in crisis, and ensuring the path out is stable and lasting.

Our community deserves solutions that restore dignity, rebuild stability, and keep our families here at home. I will continue to show up, listen, and work with compassion and determination — because I know what is at stake.

Housing

My ʻohana and I are lifelong renters. We have always dreamed of owning a home, just like so many families here in Hawaiʻi. I know the challenges that come with rising housing costs, limited inventory, and generational financial barriers. That lived experience is why I continue to fight for real, practical pathways for local families to stay here, build stability, and thrive.

Since being elected, I have worked to develop and strengthen options that meet families where they are — not where systems assume they should be. Homeownership cannot be accessible only to those with deep resources. We need solutions that give our families a real chance.

My commitment is to create a continuum of housing support that honors both stability and upward mobility:

• Expanding down payment assistance and rent-to-own pathways so families can save and transition into ownership without leaving Hawaiʻi.

• Incentivizing the construction of truly affordable, long-term rental units and increasing funding for the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to support working families.

• Working closely with DHHL to ensure Act 279 funds are invested responsibly and efficiently, accelerating lot development and reducing the beneficiary waitlist.

• Investing in critical infrastructure such as water, sewer, and road systems, lowering the upfront development costs that drive housing prices higher.

• Supporting multi-use and multi-generational dwellings on residential properties, recognizing the way Hawaiʻi families live, care for one another, and share household responsibility.

Housing is not just about units. It is about stability, belonging, and keeping our families connected to the places and communities that raised us.

I will continue to work alongside our state, county, nonprofit, and community partners to build housing solutions that are dignified, local-first, and truly supportive of our families’ futures. Our people deserve the chance to stay home.

Economic Development

As we move forward, strengthening our local economy must remain a priority. During the pandemic, we rallied around the belief of “buy local, support local.” That mindset helped keep our community together, and we must continue to build on it now. Our small businesses are the backbone of Hawaiʻi — they are our neighbors, our family-owned shops, our food vendors, our cultural practitioners, and the first to show up when our community needs help.

I have worked to support our local businesses by removing barriers, expanding access to resources, and ensuring our state is a partner rather than an obstacle. I know the challenges firsthand. My own ʻohana runs a small business rooted in Hawaiian culture and traditional foods. I have seen the sacrifices, the long hours, the uncertainties, and the pride. That is why I continue to advocate for policies that allow our small businesses to grow and thrive here at home.

My focus remains on building a stronger, more independent local economy:

• Strengthening public-private partnerships to create new pathways for economic development that reflect our values and needs.

• Reducing unnecessary fees and regulatory barriers that make it harder for families to start or sustain a business.

• Creating strong, recognizable branding and certification for Hawaiʻi-made products, so we can proudly uplift and promote the work of our local makers and producers.

• Expanding technical assistance, business mentorship, and loan accessibility through state and nonprofit partnerships.

• Continuing to support the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax relief options to help working families keep more of their income and reinvest in our communities.

A strong Hawaiʻi economy should be built by us, for us. Local families deserve the opportunity not just to get by, but to grow, build wealth, and pass on opportunity to the next generation.

I will continue to champion the businesses, workers, and entrepreneurs who keep our community moving forward every day.

Crime

Public safety is not just a statistic. It is something our families feel every day. We have seen vandalism, robberies, auto theft, and violence reach even our quiet neighborhoods, and I hear these concerns directly from our residents. Our community deserves to feel safe in our homes, on our roads, and in our gathering places.

Since taking office, I have worked with City and State partners to strengthen neighborhood safety, improve coordination between agencies, and support the Honolulu Police Department in recruiting and retaining officers. Public safety requires presence, prevention, and community partnership, not just enforcement alone.

I believe in a balanced approach that addresses both immediate safety concerns and the upstream causes that contribute to crime.

My commitment includes:

• Coordinating with HPD to increase police visibility and presence in high-traffic corridors, school zones, and areas experiencing increased crime.

• Supporting recruitment and retention efforts so HPD has the staffing, training, and resources necessary to respond quickly and effectively.

• Revitalizing community-driven safety networks, including Neighborhood Security Watch and Weed and Seed-style programs, to strengthen partnerships between residents, schools, and law enforcement.

• Introducing and supporting legislation to increase penalties for illegal gambling rooms, drug houses, and organized criminal activity, which undermine community safety and stability.

• Continuing to advocate for youth outreach, prevention programs, and safe spaces, because long-term safety begins with investment in our keiki and families.

Safety is a shared responsibility — government, neighborhoods, schools, and ʻohana all have a role. I will continue to show up, listen, and work to make sure our community can feel safe and supported.