JCCIH Advocacy Priorities & Focus Areas
2026 Priorities
Aloha, thank you for your time and consideration. The following is a list of our Priorities and Positions based on a recent membership survey. We appreciate your consideration in your decision-making capacity to support these priorities. We also ask if you should need any support from our Chamber on any of these items, please feel free to reach out to us at jccih@jccih.org.
Economic Development (Agriculture, Tourism, Technology, & Astronomy):
We support efforts to grow new and existing industries on Hawai’i Island, especially in areas that make our community more competitive and secure including agriculture, tourism, technology and astronomy. We support the Thirty Meter Telescope.
Education and Workforce Development:
We support funding for the University of Hawai’i at Hilo, Hawai’i Community College – including Palamanui – because we recognize the positive economic impact of having a skilled, educated workforce.
Health Care:
We support improving health care infrastructure, improving access to quality care, providing preventative health care, and initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining health care professionals.
Land Use Reform, Public Land Leases Reform, Short Term Rental Regulations:
We support home rule for counties relating to land use issues. We support land use reform and extensions for the state land leases, especially for the Kanoelehua Industrial Area.
Infrastructure:
We support committing financial investments that address our island’s current and future energy, waste management, water, transportation and broadband infrastructure.
Streamline Government Regulations:
We support reducing and streamlining government regulations to allow the free market to thrive.
Housing & Homelessness:
We support development of affordable housing for both ownership and rentals, and initiatives to help address homelessness issues including mental health and substance abuse.
Contact Your Legislator
Civic engagement is critical to the legislative process. Our elected officials want and need to hear from their constituents. Contact your representative today.
