Rainbow falls 3.17.08-12

Hawaii County Primary Election Guide

Your one-stop guide for primary election races in the County of Hawaiʻi, with associated research and media links.

Explainer
Hawaii Independent Staff

This compilation gives a voter the ability to access the current campaign and media available to evaluate and compare State Legislature and County level primary races for key criteria and “change potential.”

When pictures are included, they are intended to draw attention to strong challenges or candidates. These are not endorsements, but reflect candidates that could have an impact in these races, offices and Hawaii’s future.

Criteria is based on the premises articulated in the main article “Primarily Voting For Change”;
1. New Candidate (or relatively new. Challenging incumbent and/or stepping up to higher office)
2. Female (to address the gender inequity in offices)
3. Young (to address the age representation inequity in offices)
4. Grassroots (community based, public interest, not corporate-funded)

[Related: Primarily Voting For Change]

The intent in promoting change is to enhance the democratic process and expose voters to options that make primary candidate evaluation easier, versus a default to name recognition or incumbent advantage. See all the candidate specific links (orange) under each candidate and published non-campaign media and videos below in each race area and/or at the bottom of the guide.

We encourage readers to look at the basic criteria, as well as both/all of the candidates platforms and positions. Evaluate based on substantive criteria, research, community engagement and nature of campaign donors. Decisions for support, donation, advocacy and voting are up to you!

Engage mail in, early and election day voting and also encourage your ohana, organizations and communities. Make the Primary little ‘d’ democracy in the islands strong— It is where we have the widest and most diverse choices. So… People to the primary polls!

Jump to: Maui County Primary Election Guide, Oahu County Primary Election Guide, Kauai County Primary Election Guide
_____________________

State Senate District 1

Democratic Incumbent, No Challenge-
Kaialii Kahele
(808) 959-6579
[email protected]
www.senatorkahele.com
Facebook
Candidate Q&A

State Senate District 2- No Election

State Senate District 3

Brenda Ford Web

Democratic Candidate, With Opponent
Brenda Ford
(808) 323-2323
[email protected]
www.votebrendaford.com
Facebook
Candidate Q&A

Democratic Candidate, With Opponent
Dru Kanuha
(808) 989-0802
[email protected]
www.drukanuha.com
Facebook

Decision 2018: Senate District 3 Forum (video 60.00 mins)
Show ID: 4381 Features: Brenda Ford, Dru Kanuha

Candidates for state Senate District 3 offer views at community forum

State Senate District 4

Heather Kimball Web

Democratic Challenger
Heather Kimball
(808) 333-1535
[email protected]
www.hkimball.com
Facebook

Democratic Incumbent
Lorraine Inouye
(808) 430-4230
[email protected]
www.lorraineinouye.com
Facebook

Decision 2018: State Legislature Candidates
Show ID: 4382 Features: Heather Kimball @ Intro, 10.40. 39:30, 53.10 mins

Inouye, Kimball face off for state seat

_______________________________

House of Reps. District 1 (Primary winner elected outright)

Koohan Paik

Democratic Challenger
Koohan Paik-Mander
(808) 775-7758
[email protected]
Facebook

Democratic Incumbent
Mark Nakashima
(808) 775-9170
[email protected]
www.marknakashima.org
Facebook

House of Reps. District 2

Terri Napeahi

Democratic Challenger
Terri Napeahi
(808) 315-9996
[email protected]
www.votenapeahi.com
Facebook

Democratic Incumbent (from appointment)
Chris Todd
(808) 825-8636
[email protected]
www.toddforhawaii.com
Facebook

House of Reps. District 3

Raina Whiting

Democratic Challenger
Raina Whiting
(808) 464-0799
[email protected]
www.voteraina.com
Facebook
Candidate Q&A

Democratic Incumbent
Richard Onishi
(808) 959-5702
[email protected]
www.friendsforrichardonishi.com
Facebook

Teacher challenges Onishi for state House seat

House of Reps. District 4

Democratic Candidate, No Opponent
Joy San Buenaventura
(808) 935-6094
[email protected]
www.joy4puna.com
Facebook

House of Reps. District 5

Richard Creagan

Democratic Incumbent, With Opponent
Richard Creagan
(808) 929-7606
[email protected]
Facebook

Jeanne Kapela

Democratic Candidate, With Opponent-
Jeanne Kapela
(808) 854-1148
[email protected]
www.jeannekapela.com
Facebook

House of Reps. District 6

Democratic Incumbent, No Challenge
Nicole Lowen
(808) 937-8196
[email protected]
www.nicolelowen.com
Facebook

House of Reps. District 7

Democratic Incumbent
Cynthia Evans
(808) 345-5810
[email protected]
Facebook

Democratic Challenger
David Tarnas
(808) 987-5810
[email protected]
www.votetarnas.com
Facebook
Candidate Q&A

_______________________________

Hawaii County Council (Non-Partisan)

District 1

Valerie Poindexter, Incumbent
(808) 962-6048
[email protected]
www.valeriepoindexter.org
Facebook

Abraham Sadegh
(808) 345-4471
[email protected]

District 2

Aaron Chung, Incumbent
(808) 937-4772
[email protected]
Facebook

William Halversen
(808) 238-2250
[email protected]

Decision 2018: County Council Districts 2 & 5 Forum (video 30.00 mins)
Show ID: 4376 Featuring: Aaron Chung- D2, Frederic Wirick- D5

District 3

Incumbent, No Challenge
Susan Lee Loy
(808) 895-9545
[email protected]
www.voteleeloy.com
Facebook

District 4

Eileen O'Hara

Eileen O’Hara, Incumbent
(808) 896-1902
[email protected]
www.ohara4puna.com
Candidate Q&A

Ashley Kierkiewicz
(808) 989-4004
[email protected]
www.ashley4puna.com
Facebook
Candidate Q&A

Decision 2018: County Council Districts 4 Forum (video 30.00 mins)
Show ID: 4375 Featuring: Eileen O’Hara, Ashley Kierkiewicz

Lava a hot topic for Puna council candidates

District 5

Matthew Kanealii-Kleinfelder

Matthew Kanealii-Kleinfelder
(808) 756-3933
[email protected]
Facebook
Candidate Q&A

Frederic Wirick
(808) 557-7620
[email protected]
www.wirickccd5.com
Facebook
Candidate Q&A

Decision 2018: County Council Districts 2 & 5 Forum (video 30.00 mins)
Show ID: 4376 Featuring: Aaron Chung- D2, Frederic Wirick- D5

Lava a hot topic for Puna council candidates

District 6

Maile David, Incumbent
(808) 987-6167
[email protected]
www.mailedavid.com
Candidate Q&A

Richard Abbett
(808) 333-6241
[email protected]
Facebook

Yumi Kawano
(808) 443-9202
[email protected]
Facebook

District 7

Rebecca Villegas

Rebecca Shute-Villegas
(808) 960-2805
[email protected]
Facebook

Kelly Drysdale
(808) 896-0777
[email protected]
Facebook
Candidate Q&A

Bronsten Kossow
(808) 217-7285
[email protected]
www.bronstenkossow.com
Facebook

Cynthia Nazara
(808) 756-0105
[email protected]
Facebook

Decision 2018: County Council Districts 7 Forum (video 30.00 mins)
Show ID: 4377 Featuring: Rebecca Shute-Villegas, Bronsten Kossow, Kelly Drysdale

District 7 hopefuls address issues at West Hawaii forum

District 8

Incumbent, No Challenge
Karen Eoff
(808) 938-3580
[email protected]
www.kareneoff.com
Facebook
Candidate Q&A

District 9

Maya Parish

Margaret (Maya) Parish
(808) 747-3277
[email protected]
www.mayaparish.org
Facebook
Candidate Q&A

Herbert (Tim) Richards III, Incumbent
(434) 466-1637
[email protected]

Decision 2018: County Council Districts 9 Forum (video 30.00 mins)
Show ID: 4378 Featuring: Maya Parish, Tim Richards III
_______________________________

Hawaii Island Election & Media Links:

Early Voting- Mail & Walk In
Early walk-in dates are as follows: Primary Election: Monday, July 30 - Thursday, August 9

HAWAI’I ELECTIONS 2018: Where Do I Vote?

HAWAI‘I ELECTIONS 2018: Who’s Running for What?

Hawaii Island Voters Guide

Campaign Spending Reports
Search by Name or Office; Click name, click ‘View Report’ for 7.31.17 and 1.30.18 ‘Schedule A- Contributions Received’

Decision 2018: State Legislature Candidates (video 60.00 mins)
Show ID: 4382- Features: Raina Whiting, Jeanne Kapela, Chris Todd, Heather Kimball

Honoka’a Forum Features Senate D4, House D1 Races (video)

2 Of These 4 Candidates Will Represent Puna On County Council (video)

State House District 1: Incumbent to face first-time candidate

Big Island: Volcano Politics Play Out In Lava-Swamped Council District

Big Island: Incumbent’s Surprise Withdrawal Opens Up Council Race

Incumbent County Council members raising more dough than challengers

Challengers in two Big Island legislative races are outraising incumbents

Candidates Say ‘Pay To Play’ Is Unfair For Newspaper Voter’s Guide

Absentee applications being sent to lava victims

Polling place to open in Pahoa on election day

Candidates report contributions as election season kicks into gear

The campaign money game: Two legislative challengers out-raise incumbents

Election 2018: Challengers seek incumbent face-time

Primary matchups take shape

Candidate list set: Election already won for 4 candidates

Election Map- Hawaii Island

Election Maps Statewide

Super PACs spending to influence the vote

We Need Public Financing Of Political Campaigns