Misty Cluett

Misty Cluett earned a bachelor's degree from Park University. Cluett's career experience includes working as a founder and CEO.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

The people of Hawaiʻi deserve a government that is transparent, accountable, and responsible with taxpayer dollars. I believe we must measure results, not simply spending, and ensure public funds are being used effectively to address the challenges facing our communities.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I believe leadership is service. My faith teaches me to treat every person with care, listen before speaking, and be a good steward of the responsibilities entrusted to me. I align with the Republican Party because I believe in limited government, fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, religious freedom, parental rights, and the sanctity of life. I will work to represent all residents of District 17 and Hawai'i with honesty, humility, and integrity.District 17 faces real challenges that have been discussed for years but remain largely unresolved. Families are struggling with the rising cost of housing, groceries, utilities, and our children still leaving for better opportunity elsewhere. Critical infrastructure projects, including wastewater treatment and landfill improvements, continue to move too slowly. I will work towards practical solutions that improve housing opportunities, strengthen local businesses, put the responsibility of infrastructure where it belongs with the county and state, and build policies that improve the opportunities for our children and grandchildren can afford to live, work, and raise families right here on Kauaʻi.The people of Hawaiʻi, including District 17, deserve a government that is transparent, accountable, and responsible with taxpayer dollars. I believe government should focus on measurable results, not simply increasing spending or creating new programs. As a small business owner, I understand the importance of budgeting, setting priorities, and being accountable for outcomes. I will work to ensure public funds are spent wisely and that our State Legislature is focused on serving the people of Hawaiʻi, not bureaucracy.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am most passionate about policies that help keep Hawaiʻi’s children and grandchildren here at home. That means addressing the cost of living, housing, infrastructure, education, workforce opportunities, and the barriers that make it harder for local families to stay and thrive.

I am also passionate about government accountability. Taxpayers deserve transparency, responsible stewardship, and measurable results from the people elected to serve them.

Finally, I care deeply about protecting our inalienable rights, including individual liberty, religious freedom, parental rights, and the sanctity of life. Government should protect these rights, not undermine them.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Above all others, I look up to Jesus Christ. He brought truth into darkness and cared deeply for those whom society often overlooked or discarded. He demonstrated that true leadership is not about power or status, but about serving others with humility, compassion, and conviction.

What I admire most is that He never compromised truth for popularity, yet He always treated people with dignity and respect. He listened, taught, challenged, and served. He showed courage when facing opposition and remained faithful to His principles regardless of the personal cost.

While no person can perfectly follow His example, I strive to apply those same qualities in my own life: to serve others before myself, to act with integrity, to speak truth with grace, and to treat every person as someone of inherent worth and dignity.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, honesty, and transparency are the qualities I value most in an elected official.

Integrity means doing what is right even when it is difficult or unpopular. Honesty means telling the truth about both successes and failures rather than simply saying what people want to hear. Transparency means being open about decisions, priorities, and the use of public funds so that citizens can hold their government accountable.

Public office is a position of trust, and elected officials should always remember that they serve the people, not themselves.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I believe the core responsibility of an elected representative is to serve the people of their district. That begins with listening carefully to the concerns, experiences, and priorities of the community rather than assuming government always knows best.

Once concerns are identified, a representative has a responsibility to analyze the problem, gather facts, evaluate potential solutions, and work collaboratively with stakeholders to develop policies that address the root cause rather than simply treating the symptoms.

Equally important is accountability. Government should not measure success by how much money is spent or how many programs are created. Success should be measured by results. The people who elected us deserve to know what was accomplished, what challenges remain, and whether public resources are being used effectively.

In short, I believe the job of a State Representative is to listen to the people, solve problems, exercise responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and deliver measurable results that improve the lives of those they serve.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I hope my legacy is one of service, responsible stewardship, and a commitment to doing what is right and honorable, knowing that the right path is rarely the easiest one. I want to be remembered as someone who was willing to step forward when change was needed, who listened to our community, asked difficult questions of our leadership, and worked diligently to turn concerns into solutions and ideas into results.

Most of all, I hope to help steward an environment where our children and grandchildren have the opportunity to live, work, raise families, and pursue their dreams right here at home. If future generations inherit a stronger community, better opportunities, and a government that serves the people with integrity and accountability, I would consider that a legacy worth leaving.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was a secretarial internship at a local small business during my senior year of high school. The internship was part of my school's work-study program and gave me my first experience in a professional workplace.

After high school, I married my high school sweetheart and became a mother. My dream had always been to be a stay-at-home mom, but like many young families, we struggled financially. I took a variety of part-time jobs to help make ends meet while raising my family, but it was exhausting and difficult to see a path forward.

Eventually, I made the decision to go to college while balancing motherhood and work. With the help of Pell Grant, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and began building a professional career. During that journey, I met a mentor who had a profound influence on my life and helped shape the work ethic, leadership skills, and professional standards that I carry with me today.

Looking back, those early experiences taught me the value of hard work, perseverance, personal responsibility, and the importance of creating opportunities for yourself when life does not hand them to you.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

One of the greatest struggles in my life was balancing family responsibilities with the need for financial stability for my family. I married young, became a mother, and hoped to be a stay-at-home mom. However, financial realities required me to enter the workforce while raising my daughter.

There were seasons of life when I worked, cared for my family, and attended school simultaneously. The demands were exhausting, and there were times when the future felt uncertain. Ultimately, I made the decision to pursue a college education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science while balancing work and motherhood. It was not easy, but it taught me perseverance, discipline, and the importance of long-term planning.

That experience also gave me a deep appreciation for the challenges many families face every day. When I talk about the cost of living, housing, childcare, or economic opportunity, I do so not only as a leader, but as someone who has personally experienced the struggle of trying to build a better future while meeting the responsibilities of the present.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The Governor and State Legislature should work collaboratively to serve the people of Hawaiʻi, but they should also serve as checks on one another. In my view, the balance of power in Hawaiʻi leans too heavily toward the executive branch.

The Governor has broad authority to appoint the leadership of many departments, agencies, boards, and commissions that are often responsible for implementing policy, managing public resources, and providing oversight. While executive leadership is important, concentrating too much authority within a single branch of government can weaken accountability and reduce independent oversight.

I believe the Legislature has a responsibility not only to pass laws, but also to provide meaningful oversight of the executive branch. I support exploring additional checks and balances that strengthen transparency, accountability, and public confidence in government.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

I believe Hawaiʻi's greatest challenge over the next decade will be creating an environment where local families can afford to stay and build their futures here.

The high cost of housing, groceries, utilities, healthcare, and transportation continues to place tremendous pressure on working families. As opportunities become more limited and the cost of living continues to rise, many of our children and grandchildren are leaving Hawaiʻi in search of better opportunities elsewhere. This represents not only an economic challenge, but also a cultural and community challenge as families become separated and local communities lose future generations.

At the same time, Hawaiʻi faces significant infrastructure challenges. Roads, water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, landfills, and other critical public assets require long-term planning, investment, and accountability. Too many projects remain stuck in planning phases for years while communities continue to wait for results.

Finally, I believe we must address the growing lack of public trust in government. Taxpayers deserve transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes. Government should focus on solving problems and delivering results rather than simply increasing spending or expanding bureaucracy.

If we can improve affordability, strengthen economic opportunity, invest responsibly in infrastructure, and restore confidence in government, I believe Hawaiʻi can remain a place where future generations can live, work, raise families, and THRIVE!

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

I believe there is an important difference between compromising values and negotiating solutions. Elected officials should not compromise values and principles to achieve a political outcome. However, policymaking requires listening to different perspectives, identifying common ground, and working collaboratively to solve problems. I will never compromise on values.

That said, fair negotiation is necessary to ensure that the needs and concerns of all stakeholders are considered. The goal should not be to win political arguments, but to achieve the best possible outcome for the people we serve while remaining faithful to our principles and commitments.

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

The first major historical event I remember was the election of President Ronald Reagan. I was in elementary school, and I remember participating in a mock election and learning about civics, voting, and representative government. Those lessons helped me connect what was happening nationally to our own student body elections and gave me an early appreciation for civic participation. Looking back, I sometimes wonder whether schools still place the same emphasis on teaching civics and helping students understand how government works.

While Reagan's election was the first major historical event I remember, the event that had the greatest impact on me was September 11, 2001. Like millions of Americans, I watched in shock as the attacks unfolded. I remember the disbelief when the second plane struck the World Trade Center, the horror of learning that the Pentagon had also been attacked, and the heartbreaking stories of people making final calls to their loved ones. I mourned for months afterward.

What affected me most was not only the loss of life, but the realization that profound hatred and evil exist in the world. At the same time, I witnessed extraordinary courage and selflessness. The firefighters, police officers, first responders, and ordinary citizens who risked or gave their lives to help others demonstrated the very best of humanity in the face of tragedy. Those events left a lasting impression on me and deepened my appreciation for the freedoms, security, and resilience that many of us often take for granted.