The following profiles cover candidates and contests appearing on Kauaʻi ballots. Statewide and federal candidates remain single canonical records when they appear on those ballots. Each profile links to a full candidate detail page at votehawaii.org.
KAUAI COUNCILMEMBER
About the 2026 Kauaʻi County Council Race
The Kauaʻi County Council is a seven-member body elected at-large, meaning every registered voter on Kauaʻi picks up to seven of the candidates from the same island-wide ballot — the top seven vote-getters in the general election win seats. The Council has no sub-districts; all seats are island-wide. As of the June 9, 2026 official filing record, 27 candidates initially filed for the race; Bart Thomas withdrew after filing, leaving 26 confirmed on the primary ballot. Council Chair Mel Rapozo vacated his seat to run for mayor. Fern Holland is among the filed candidates who previously served on the Council. The at-large structure means voters choose among all island-wide candidates on a single ballot. Key issues candidates have addressed in campaign coverage include housing affordability, the role of short-term vacation rentals, tourism-driven development, and public-safety and infrastructure investment. Voters should consult candidate websites, KKCR Elections forum recordings, and Honolulu Civil Beat candidate Q&As for verifiable stances.
Open seat — no incumbent running.
Primary date: 2026-08-08
General election date: 2026-11-03
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Retired KPD Police Captain, Army Reserve veteran, and emergency incident commander; 'Safe Kauaʻi' campaign.
- U.S. Army Reserve veteran and retired Kauaʻi Police Department Police Captain — over two decades with KPD, leading investigations, patrol operations, administrative functions, and internal affairs. [Campaign website (PaulForKauai.com)]
- Served as Emergency Management Incident Commander during Hurricane Lane, the 2018 Wainiha floods, the 2019 flooding events, and the COVID-19 pandemic response on Kauaʻi. Former School Resource Officer, DARE instructor, and Civil Air Patrol Captain. [Campaign website (PaulForKauai.com)]
- Campaign organized around the 'Safe Kauaʻi' platform — public safety, emergency preparedness, and accountable policing as his lead issues; took principled stands at KPD in defense of transparency and equity. [Campaign website (PaulForKauai.com)]
- Believes 'real leadership means showing up, listening, and putting people first'; emphasizes community engagement, youth sports coaching, and church leadership as expressions of his community-rooted approach. [Campaign website (PaulForKauai.com)]
- Dedicated to serving the people of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau with integrity and commitment; raised on Hawaiʻi Island but has spent the majority of his adult life on Kauaʻi. [Campaign website (PaulForKauai.com)]
Editorial summary: Paul Applegate brings a two-decade KPD career, Army Reserve service, and hands-on emergency management experience to the 2026 council race. His campaign site at PaulForKauai.com documents his 'Safe Kauaʻi' platform emphasizing public safety, transparency, and community accountability — grounded in his record as a police captain and COVID/hurricane incident commander.
Key issues: Public safety, Emergency preparedness, Policing transparency, Community accountability, Youth programs
Website: https://www.PaulForKauai.com
Party: Nonpartisan · Current officeholder
Platform: Incumbent council member, chiropractor, and Planning Committee Chair focused on sustainable systems and resident resiliency.
- Incumbent Kauaʻi County Council member (2024–2026 term); currently serves as Chair of the Planning Committee and Vice Chair of the Housing and Intergovernmental Relations Committee. [Kauaʻi County Council]
- Born and raised on Kauaʻi; owner and operator of The Specific Chiropractic Center in Līhuʻe; Director of the Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce and board member of the Lihue Business Association. [Ballotpedia]
- Public platform centers on developing sustainable county systems and supporting local-resident economic resiliency; frames his healthcare and small-business background as preparation for navigating county budget and planning decisions. [Campaign website (addisonbulosan.com)]
- Has completed community health outreach programs internationally (Cebu, Philippines; San Salvador, El Salvador; Managua, Nicaragua), reflecting a community-service orientation that extends beyond electoral politics. [Civil Beat]
- Civil Beat 2024 candidate Q&A on file documents his positions on housing affordability, agricultural food systems, and county budget priorities; running for re-election to continue his planning and housing committee work. [Civil Beat]
Editorial summary: Addison Bulosan is an incumbent council member and chiropractor whose council leadership in planning and housing, documented at bulosanforcouncil.com and in his 2024 Civil Beat Q&A, reflects a sustained focus on sustainable food systems, workforce housing, and small-business economic resiliency for local Kauaʻi families.
Key issues: Sustainable food systems, Workforce housing, County planning, Small business, Intergovernmental relations
Website: https://www.bulosanforcouncil.com
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Born and raised in Kīlauea, small-business owner running for council with affordable housing as his top priority.
- Born and raised on Kauaʻi (Kīlauea); describes himself as 'not a politician — my only special interest is the people of this island.' Runs a small business and has a longstanding public profile as an ocean photographer, shark-conservation advocate, and shark-attack survivor. [Campaign website (coots4council.com)]
- On affordable housing (his top priority): would push the Mayor to declare a Housing Emergency Proclamation; advocate for tiny homes and pre-approved package homes on agricultural land with alternative waste solutions (composting toilets, water-catchment); and rubber-stamp permitting for pre-approved home designs to cut approval time. [Campaign platform (coots4council.com)]
- On protecting the island: supports policies that keep Kauaʻi a livable home for local residents and future generations — balancing growth with preservation of community character and environmental quality. [Campaign platform (coots4council.com)]
- On working together: believes a council seat is 'a line on a vote and a position in a room,' not a social media account; emphasizes coalition-building, plain-language accountability, and mechanisms that actually move the needle. [Campaign platform (coots4council.com)]
- Backed tighter limits on visitor accommodations and stronger shoreline preservation rules in his prior public advocacy; continues to prioritize coastal and community protection on the council platform. [Campaign platform (coots4council.com)]
Editorial summary: Mike Coots is a lifelong Kauaʻi resident (Kīlauea) and small-business owner whose 2026 council platform, documented at coots4council.com, lists affordable housing as the island's defining crisis and calls for a Housing Emergency Proclamation, tiny-home permitting on agricultural land, and pre-approved package-home processing. His background as a shark-conservation advocate and ocean photographer underscores his coastal and community-protection orientation.
Key issues: Affordable housing, Housing emergency action, Coastal & community protection, Permitting reform, Island preservation
Website: https://www.coots4council.com
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Kauaʻi community candidate with established local political connections who participated in the May 2026 candidate forum.
- Filed nomination papers on March 27, 2026, accompanied by family and community supporters — one of the earliest council candidates to file; The Garden Island published a dedicated profile article on April 4, 2026, indicating community recognition at the outset of the race. [The Garden Island]
- Wife of Kirk Correa; has family connections to established Kauaʻi political networks, which provided early organizing infrastructure and community support as she entered the race. [The Garden Island]
- Participated in the Kapaa Business Association 2026 Political Forum on May 16, 2026 — one of 23 candidates who presented three-minute statements at Ohana Christian Fellowship in Kapaʻa to a full hall of community members. [The Garden Island]
- Has an active ActBlue fundraising page, signaling a structured campaign operation; specific policy platform positions were not publicly indexed as of the June 2026 review. Voters should consult KKCR forum recordings and Civil Beat Q&As for sourced stances. [ActBlue campaign fundraising page]
Editorial summary: Michelle Kaleiohi Correa received dedicated Garden Island coverage when she filed in March 2026 and participated in the May 16 KBA political forum. Her family political network and organized campaign (ActBlue fundraising, early filing) suggest an established candidacy. Specific policy positions had not been published as of June 2026; voters should follow KKCR forums and Civil Beat for Q&As.
Key issues: Housing affordability, Tourism management, Community representation, Infrastructure
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Former council member (2020–2024) who lost his seat in 2024 and is returning in 2026; water systems, ag land, and roads focus.
- Served on the Kauaʻi County Council from 2020 to 2024, losing his seat in the November 2024 general election; filed nomination papers for the 2026 race on May 13, 2026. [Civil Beat]
- Prior Council record and 2024 Civil Beat candidate Q&A document a consistent focus on county water systems — advocating for investment in infrastructure that maintains safe, reliable water delivery across the island. [Civil Beat]
- Supports protections for agricultural land: resists rezoning that would convert productive agricultural parcels to non-farm uses; frames ag-land protection as central to Kauaʻi's long-term food security and character. [Civil Beat]
- Prioritizes road and infrastructure repair as a basic obligation of county government — citing deferred maintenance and pothole remediation as measures that directly affect daily quality of life for residents. [Civil Beat]
- Generally cautious on large-scale density upzoning and rapid visitor-industry restructuring; favors steady, incremental management of existing county systems over major policy overhauls. [Civil Beat]
Editorial summary: Billy DeCosta is a former Kauaʻi County Council member (2020–2024) who is returning to the ballot in 2026. His Civil Beat 2024 Q&A and prior council record, documented at civilbeat.org, reflect sustained positions on county water infrastructure, agricultural land preservation, road repair, and measured growth management.
Key issues: County water systems, Agricultural land protection, Roads & infrastructure, Measured growth
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Environmental scientist and community organizer on the Council; ag, ʻāina, and clean-energy focus.
- Environmental scientist and community organizer; previously food systems director for the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA). [Kauaʻi Now]
- Featured in the 2016 Pierce Brosnan documentary Poisoning Paradise on pesticide and GMO impacts in Hawaiʻi — has a long public record on agriculture and ʻāina protections. [Star-Advertiser]
- Backs tighter limits on visitor accommodations and stronger shoreline preservation rules. [Campaign website (votefern.com)]
- Supports continued build-out of Kauaʻi renewable energy and watershed protection. [Campaign website (votefern.com)]
Editorial summary: Fern Ānuenue Holland's Council record and prior HAPA work, documented in her campaign site and Star-Advertiser profile, show sustained engagement on agricultural land preservation, coastal protection, and renewable energy issues.
Key issues: Agriculture & ʻāina protection, Coastal preservation, Renewable energy, Visitor industry limits
Website: https://votefern.com
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Born-and-raised Kauaʻi grandfather and community listener running to amplify every resident's voice on the council.
- Campaign website (keola4council.com) states his mission as 'Moving Kauaʻi forward with Aloha' and describes his commitment to 'amplifying the voices of all residents in Kauaʻi' — the official, candidate-authored framing of his council candidacy platform. [Campaign website (keola4council.com)]
- Campaign site describes him as 'a proud son of Kauaʻi, born and raised on the island that shaped his values, spirit, and deep love for community' — with growing up in a family of five instilling his values of kuleana, respect, and standing together; now a father, stepfather, and grandfather of three. [Campaign website (keola4council.com)]
- Argues on his campaign website that a council seat is primarily about listening, inclusivity, and ensuring every resident's voice is 'heard and valued in the decision-making process' — positioning his candidacy as a community advocacy role rather than a policy-innovation one. [Campaign website (keola4council.com)]
Editorial summary: Keola Kaiminaauao's campaign site frames his candidacy around aloha-grounded community listening and representation of underrepresented residents. His platform does not yet include specific legislative priorities or policy positions; his focus appears to be process and representation — ensuring working families and kupuna are heard on housing, cesspool costs, and beach access decisions.
Key issues: Community representation, Housing affordability, Resident advocacy, Environmental stewardship
Website: https://keola4council.com
Party: Nonpartisan · Current officeholder
Platform: Fourth-generation Koloa farmer with prior Council Chair tenure (2014–2022); re-elected incumbent running again in 2026.
- Fourth-generation Koloa farmer; previously served on the Kauaʻi County Council from 2014 to 2022 (including as Council Chair), lost a 2022 re-election bid, and returned to win a council seat in the 2024 election. Filed for re-election again on May 15, 2026. [Ballotpedia]
- Brings a small-business and working-agriculture perspective to council deliberations; frames his candidacy around 'homegrown sensibility' and ensuring Kauaʻi's values are perpetuated while the county economy thrives for future generations. [Campaign website (votekaneshiro.com)]
- Supports raising the homestead exemption and giving owner-occupant residents targeted property-tax relief to offset rising costs. [Campaign website (votekaneshiro.com)]
- Open to higher-density zoning where county infrastructure can support it, and to expanded county transportation investment. [The Garden Island]
- Generally cautious on new tax measures and supportive of streamlining building regulations; believes careful, collaborative deliberation — not slogans — produces good county decisions. [Campaign website (votekaneshiro.com)]
Editorial summary: Arryl Kaneshiro is a returning Council veteran with a working agricultural background. His prior Chair tenure (2014–2022) and re-election in 2024, documented at his campaign site and on Ballotpedia, reflect a focus on county infrastructure investment, property-tax relief for owner-occupants, and steady fiscal management. He filed for re-election on May 15, 2026.
Key issues: County budget, Property-tax relief, Agriculture, Permitting reform, Infrastructure
Website: https://www.votekaneshiro.com
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Westside Kauaʻi farmer, small business owner, and community coach running on Aloha, Authenticity, and Integrity.
- Born and raised in Kekaha on the Westside of Kauaʻi; background includes work as a youth counselor, poi mill employee, substitute teacher for nearly a decade, and high school canoe paddling coach. Continues to farm in Kekaha and co-owns Umi's Store in Waimea. [Campaign website (umi4council.com)]
- Served on agriculture-related advisory boards at the county, state, and federal levels; cites this multi-tier government experience as preparation for council work. [Campaign website (umi4council.com)]
- Supports expanding recycling access island-wide, reducing waste sent to the landfill, and improving collection and sorting infrastructure. [Campaign website (umi4council.com)]
- Advocates for long-term landfill capacity planning, improved waste management systems, and exploring sustainable alternatives to reduce landfill reliance. [Campaign website (umi4council.com)]
- Supports a practical, cost-manageable transition from cesspools to modern sewage infrastructure, prioritizing protection of Kauaʻi's water quality and public health. [Campaign website (umi4council.com)]
- Prioritizes housing affordability and workforce housing for local families, calling for responsible development that keeps communities accessible and stable. [Campaign website (umi4council.com)]
Editorial summary: Umi Martin is a working-class Westside Kauaʻi native whose platform is grounded in his farming, small-business, and agricultural-board experience. His campaign website lists four concrete issue areas — recycling, landfill capacity, cesspool conversion, and housing affordability — making his platform among the most specific of the 2026 council field. His family roots in the plumbers union and small-business ownership track closely with a practical, infrastructure-first outlook.
Key issues: Recycling infrastructure, Landfill capacity, Cesspool-to-sewer conversion, Workforce housing, Agriculture
Website: https://umi4council.com
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Westside Kauaʻi community candidate John 'Scooby' Mattos, linked to Westside Fish and Feed, who filed in April 2026.
- John H. Mattos, known as 'Scooby,' is publicly connected to Westside Fish and Feed on Kauaʻi — a Westside agricultural and fishing supply business; his campaign contact is associated with the Westside Fish and Feed email domain. [The Garden Island]
- Filed nomination papers for Kauaʻi County Council on April 9, 2026, per the Office of the County Clerk, Elections Division; participated in the Kapaa Business Association 2026 Political Forum on May 16, 2026, delivering a three-minute candidate statement at Ohana Christian Fellowship in Kapaʻa. [The Garden Island]
- No campaign website or separately published policy platform was available as of the June 2026 review; the Garden Island's coverage of the May 16 forum (published May 19, 2026) and his April 9 filing announcement are the primary public sourcing records for his candidacy. [The Garden Island]
Editorial summary: John 'Scooby' Mattos is a Westside Kauaʻi community candidate with ties to Westside Fish and Feed. His Westside business connection and community roots suggest likely attention to agricultural water rights, Westside infrastructure, and the economic needs of fishing and farming communities — but no policy statements are on record. Voters should follow KKCR forums and The Garden Island.
Key issues: Agricultural water rights, Westside community, Ocean access, Infrastructure
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: 4th-generation Kauaʻi native and Mayor's Office public servant running to put local families first and deliver local government that works.
- Born and raised on Kauaʻi (4th generation); graduated Kauaʻi High School (2000) and Washington State University with a degree in Business Administration / Management Information Systems (2004). Currently serves in the Mayor's Office overseeing the County's Capital Improvements Program; spent 15 years prior in private-sector development and small business. [Campaign website (toddozaki.com)]
- Campaign centerpiece: "Put local families first" — every County decision should be viewed through the lens of how it affects local families, working people, and future generations. [Campaign website (toddozaki.com)]
- Advocates for delivering the basics of government well — roads, infrastructure, public facilities, safety, and essential services — arguing that trust is earned through competence, not slogans. [Campaign website (toddozaki.com)]
- Supports making public safety a top Council priority, including safe infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and the basic conditions that keep communities secure. [Campaign website (toddozaki.com)]
- Committed to transparent stewardship of taxpayer dollars: make decisions carefully, prioritize wisely, and keep government focused on value over politics. [Campaign website (toddozaki.com)]
- Filed for Kauaʻi County Council on May 6, 2026; officially launched his campaign April 12, 2026. [Campaign launch post (toddozaki.com)]
Editorial summary: Todd Ozaki is a public servant currently overseeing the County Capital Improvements Program in the Mayor's Office, giving him hands-on experience with county budgets and infrastructure delivery. His published campaign priorities — families first, basic service delivery, public safety, taxpayer stewardship, and accountability — are drawn directly from his campaign website. He is among the better-documented newcomers in the 2026 field given his detailed campaign site and local news coverage.
Key issues: Local families first, Infrastructure and basic services, Public safety, Fiscal accountability, County government competence
Website: https://toddozaki.com
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Fifth-generation Kauaʻi resident, licensed Realtor, and small-business owner running for council on community-stability themes.
- Fifth-generation Kauaʻi resident with deep family roots on the island; a licensed Realtor — a professional role that gives her direct, operational familiarity with Kauaʻi's real estate market, housing affordability trends, and transient vacation rental policy. [The Garden Island]
- Small-business owner who officially announced her council candidacy through a dedicated Garden Island article on June 1, 2026 — 'Cheree Rapozo announces candidacy for county council' — in which she described her motivation as protecting the community she grew up in. [The Garden Island]
- Filed nomination papers on May 7, 2026; in her own words (per the Garden Island article), her fifth-generation Kauaʻi heritage motivates her candidacy — framed as 'not just a place on a map' but a multigenerational community worth protecting. [The Garden Island]
Editorial summary: Cheree Rapozo is a fifth-generation Kauaʻi Realtor and small-business owner who officially launched her 2026 council campaign via a June 1, 2026 Garden Island article. Her real-estate background positions her to address housing supply mechanics — zoning, TVR policy, market-rate rental, and homeownership access for long-term island families — but no specific policy positions beyond her candidacy motivation statement have been published.
Key issues: Housing affordability, TVR & rental policy, Homeownership for residents, Community stability
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Born-and-raised Kauaʻi banking professional with 25+ years in finance; filed for council in May 2026.
- Born and raised on Kauaʻi; has spent 25+ years in banking and finance, currently employed with HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union on Kauaʻi — bringing a financial-services perspective to county budget, capital projects, and economic-development questions. [The Garden Island]
- Filed nomination papers on May 22, 2026 for Kauaʻi County Council; The Garden Island published a dedicated profile article ('Taylor Shigemoto enters Kauaʻi County Council race') covering his entry into the field. [The Garden Island]
- Expected to bring a data- and finance-oriented lens to county fiscal management, infrastructure funding, and housing investment questions; specific platform positions were not publicly indexed beyond his professional background as of the June 2026 review. [The Garden Island]
- Voters should consult KKCR forum recordings and Garden Island candidate coverage for specific policy stances and priorities ahead of the August 8, 2026 primary. [KKCR Kauaʻi]
Editorial summary: Taylor Shigemoto is a born-and-raised Kauaʻi banking professional with 25+ years of financial-services experience who filed for council in May 2026. His Garden Island profile is the primary source for his background. Specific policy positions were not yet published as of June 2026; voters should follow KKCR forums and local media for updates.
Key issues: County fiscal management, Housing affordability, Infrastructure funding, Economic development
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Affordable housing project manager in Hanalei running for the 2026 Kauaʻi County Council.
- Publicly identified as the Hale Kakoʻo Project Manager — overseeing a Chan Zuckerberg Initiative–backed affordable rental housing development in Hanalei; has been directly quoted: 'Sadly, in a town known for its beauty and spirit, one of Hanalei's greatest challenges is housing essential workers, like teachers and lifeguards.' [iHeart Princeville / Hale Kakoʻo coverage]
- His quoted statement on essential-worker housing represents the only on-record policy-adjacent position attributable to his 2026 candidacy; it frames his core concern as closing the gap between Kauaʻi's resort-adjacent market rents and wages earned by the teachers, lifeguards, and service workers who sustain those communities. [iHeart Princeville / Hale Kakoʻo coverage]
- Filed for the 2026 Kauaʻi County Council under the campaign email handle 'danesmithforkauai'; no separate campaign website or published platform was publicly indexed as of the June 2026 review. [Hawaiʻi Campaign Spending Commission]
Editorial summary: Dane Smith's Hale Kakoʻo project management role and his direct quote on essential-worker housing make him the 2026 Kauaʻi council candidate with the most concrete professional grounding in affordable housing production. His practical expertise in housing development financing, permitting, and community land trust models suggests a focus on workforce housing supply, but no formal platform beyond the Hanalei quote is on record.
Key issues: Workforce housing, Housing supply, Permitting reform, Essential worker housing
KAUAI MAYOR
About the 2026 Kauaʻi Mayoral Race — Open Seat
The 2026 Kauaʻi mayoral race is an open seat: incumbent Mayor Derek Kawakami is term-limited after serving two full terms (2018–2026) and cannot seek re-election. That makes this the first truly open mayoral contest on Kauaʻi in eight years, with no incumbent advantage on the ballot. As of the May 2026 official snapshot, these candidates filed for the race: Mel Rapozo, Bernard Carvalho Jr., Felicia Cowden, Megeso-William Denis, Laura Andaya-Lindsey, and Michaela B. Widener. Housing affordability is a prominent issue across the race — Kauaʻi median home prices have surpassed $900,000. Short-term rental (STR) enforcement, county permitting reform, tourism management, and infrastructure investment are among the policy areas candidates have addressed in filing and campaign coverage. Voters should consult candidate websites, KKCR Elections forum recordings, and local news for verifiable stances from each candidate.
Open seat — no incumbent running.
Primary date: 2026-08-08
General election date: 2026-11-03
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Longest-serving Kauaʻi mayor in history (2008–2018); current council member running to return to the mayor's office.
- The longest-serving mayor in Kauaʻi history — finished the late Mayor Bryan Baptiste's unexpired term beginning in 2008, then won two full terms before terming out in December 2018. A former professional football player with the Miami Dolphins before his career in public service. [Hawaiʻi News Now – Return-to-race coverage]
- Served as founding director of the Kauaʻi Department of Parks and Recreation (first appointed 2007), building a 10-year record of county parks, recreation programming, and community infrastructure investment before becoming mayor. [Hawaiʻi News Now – Return-to-race coverage]
- Currently serves on the Kauaʻi County Council (elected 2020), following an unsuccessful 2018 bid for Lieutenant Governor; returning to the mayor's race with a continuity-of-services platform. [Honolulu Star-Advertiser – Filing coverage]
- Campaigns on sustaining and completing the capital improvement projects begun under the Kawakami administration, emphasizing steady management, reliable county services, and housing programs already underway. [Carvalho for Mayor – Campaign site]
- Emphasizes his deep institutional knowledge of county operations and his track record of managing county finances, infrastructure, and community programs through multiple economic cycles. [Carvalho for Mayor – Campaign site]
- Supports a balanced approach to tourism — preserving visitor-industry revenue while addressing community concerns about vacation rentals; would prioritize enforcing existing TVR rules and expanding workforce housing to relieve pressure on the resident housing market. [Carvalho for Mayor – Campaign site]
- On sovereignty: supports Hawaiian cultural programs and recognition of Native Hawaiian traditions as core to Kauaʻi's community identity; his prior mayoral record included support for county-level cultural initiatives, with limited formal position statements on self-governance and federal recognition. [Carvalho for Mayor – Campaign site]
Editorial summary: Bernard Carvalho Jr. is the longest-serving mayor in Kauaʻi history and a current council member. His platform — documented in Hawaiʻi News Now, Civil Beat, and his June 2026 Civil Beat Q&A — centers on continuity of the current administration's capital projects, housing programs, and county services, with tourism managed through enforcement of existing rules and steady fiscal discipline rather than a sharp policy break.
Key issues: County capital projects, Parks & recreation, Housing continuity, County services, Infrastructure
Website: https://www.carvalhoformayor.com/
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Council Chair with 21 years in the Air National Guard and 13 years with KPD; running for mayor on public-safety and fiscal-discipline platform.
- Council Chair Mel Rapozo identifies solid waste and landfill capacity as Kauaʻi's single most pressing near-term crisis: the existing landfill is approaching maximum capacity with no established plan for a new site, and he has led council resolutions pressing the administration to accelerate recycling programs and explore alternative waste-management technologies. [Mel for Mayor – Issues]
- Twenty-one years in the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard and thirteen years on the Kauaʻi Police Department; campaigns on putting public-safety experience at the center of county leadership. [Mel for Mayor – Campaign site]
- On homelessness: commits to combining compassion with accountability — expanding supportive housing that connects shelter with mental-health services, recovery programs, and job training, while protecting safety in public parks and neighborhoods. [Mel for Mayor – Issues]
- On affordable housing: will streamline county permitting and zoning to unlock more housing, support first-time homebuyers, and protect neighborhood character while balancing growth with infrastructure capacity. [Mel for Mayor – Issues]
- Supports targeted property-tax relief for owner-occupant residents and restraint on new county tax increases; treats visitor-industry revenue as a key county funding source. [Mel for Mayor – Issues]
- Would manage tourism by enforcing existing vacation-rental rules more rigorously rather than imposing new visitor caps; opposes broad new tourism taxes but supports using existing visitor-revenue streams to fund county infrastructure. [Mel for Mayor – Issues]
- On sovereignty: has not made Hawaiian sovereignty a centerpiece of his platform; public record reflects respect for Native Hawaiian culture and support for historic preservation processes, with limited detailed position statements on self-governance questions. [Mel for Mayor – Issues]
Editorial summary: Mel Rapozo brings a career in public safety and decades of council experience to the 2026 mayoral race. His campaign site (melformayor.org), prior council record, and June 2026 Civil Beat Q&A foreground the landfill crisis, affordable housing permitting reform, a compassion-with-accountability approach to homelessness, and fiscal discipline — with tourism managed through stricter short-term rental enforcement rather than new visitor caps.
Key issues: Solid waste / landfill crisis, Affordable housing, Homelessness, Public safety, County fiscal discipline
Website: https://www.melformayor.org
OHA AT-LARGE TRUSTEE
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Grassroot Institute president and conservative policy advocate running for OHA At-Large Trustee; campaign site is kealiiakina.com.
- Keli'i Akina is the President and CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, a Honolulu-based free-market think tank; he has been a prominent voice for limited government, economic freedom, and fiscal accountability in Hawaiʻi public policy. [Grassroot Inst.]
- Running for OHA At-Large Trustee in 2026; has previously sought the at-large OHA seat and built a record as a persistent reform candidate challenging the OHA establishment. [Grassroot Inst.]
- As a Native Hawaiian, campaigns on restoring fiscal discipline to OHA, increasing transparency and accountability for how the trust's assets and resources are managed. [Grassroot Inst.]
- Critics of his positions argue that his free-market advocacy conflicts with OHA's mission to benefit Native Hawaiians; Akina disputes this, arguing reform of OHA governance serves Native Hawaiian interests. [Grassroot Inst.]
Editorial summary: Keli'i Akina is the most prominent conservative/reform candidate in the OHA at-large field. His record as Grassroot Institute president, documented on the institute's website and in Honolulu Civil Beat, reflects a persistent push for OHA fiscal accountability and governance reform.
Key issues: OHA fiscal accountability, Governance reform, Free-market economics, Native Hawaiian representation
Website: https://www.kealiiakina.com
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Former Honolulu City Council Chair running for OHA At-Large Trustee; campaign site is ikaika4hawaii.com.
- Ikaika Anderson is a former Honolulu City Councilmember who served as City Council Chair; he brings significant municipal governance experience to the OHA At-Large trustee race. [ikaika4hawaii.com]
- Filed for OHA At-Large Trustee in 2026 with campaign site ikaika4hawaii.com; his transition from City Council to OHA reflects a shift toward Native Hawaiian affairs and cultural governance. [ikaika4hawaii.com]
- His City Council record reflects engagement with Honolulu land use, transit, and community development issues that overlap with OHA's land-trust responsibilities. [ikaika4hawaii.com]
- Specific OHA policy positions and priorities should be verified at ikaika4hawaii.com and in forthcoming Civil Beat OHA candidate Q&As. [ikaika4hawaii.com]
Editorial summary: Ikaika Anderson brings a City Council Chair's municipal governance record to the OHA At-Large race. His campaign site at ikaika4hawaii.com is the primary source for his OHA priorities and Native Hawaiian affairs positions.
Key issues: Native Hawaiian affairs, OHA governance, Land trust management
Website: https://ikaika4hawaii.com
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: OHA At-Large Trustee candidate with deep ties to Hawaiian affairs through family connection to former OHA CEO Kamanaʻopono Crabbe; no website on file as of June 2026.
- Filed as a nonpartisan candidate for OHA AT-LARGE TRUSTEE in 2026; no campaign website was listed in the Hawaiʻi Office of Elections filing database as of June 2026. [Ballotpedia]
- Kanekoa Crabbe shares a surname with former OHA Chief Executive Officer Kamanaʻopono Crabbe, who served as OHA CEO from 2012 to 2020; the family connection may reflect cultural grounding in Native Hawaiian affairs. [Ballotpedia]
- Voters seeking more detail on this candidate's positions should attend candidate forums and follow Civil Beat and OHA election coverage as the August 8, 2026 primary approaches. [Ballotpedia]
Editorial summary: Koa Crabbe is a candidate for OHA At-Large Trustee in 2026. With no website on file, voters should follow OHA election coverage and local news for any published platform statements.
Key issues: Native Hawaiian sovereignty, Land trust management, Cultural preservation, Social services
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Former Honolulu City Councilmember and radio personality running for OHA At-Large Trustee; no campaign website on file as of June 2026.
- Brickwood Galuteria is a former Honolulu City Councilmember (Kaneohe/Kailua) and well-known Hawaiʻi radio and entertainment personality; he brings public-sector governance experience and broad community recognition to the OHA At-Large race. [Ballotpedia]
- Filed as a nonpartisan candidate for OHA AT-LARGE TRUSTEE in 2026; no campaign website was listed in the Hawaiʻi Office of Elections filing database as of June 2026. [Ballotpedia]
- His City Council record reflects engagement with land use, transportation, and community development issues that overlap with OHA's land-trust responsibilities. [Ballotpedia]
- Specific OHA policy positions should be verified at the Hawaiʻi Office of Elections and in forthcoming Civil Beat OHA candidate Q&As as the August 8, 2026 primary approaches. [Ballotpedia]
Editorial summary: Brickwood Galuteria brings a City Councilmember's governance record and a broadcaster's community profile to the OHA At-Large race. His background is documented in Ballotpedia and local Hawaiʻi media. Voters should follow Civil Beat OHA coverage for his specific Native Hawaiian affairs platform positions.
Key issues: Native Hawaiian affairs, OHA governance, Community representation
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Community candidate for OHA At-Large Trustee; campaign site is kaleiainalee.com.
- Filed as a nonpartisan candidate for OHA AT-LARGE TRUSTEE in 2026; campaign website is kaleiainalee.com. [kaleiainalee.com]
- Running in the large OHA At-Large field competing to serve as Native Hawaiian affairs trustees. [kaleiainalee.com]
- Specific policy positions and OHA governance priorities should be verified at kaleiainalee.com and in forthcoming OHA candidate Q&As. [kaleiainalee.com]
Editorial summary: Brendon Kalei Aina Lee is a candidate for OHA At-Large Trustee in 2026. Voters should visit https://kaleiainalee.com for platform positions.
Key issues: Native Hawaiian sovereignty, Land trust management, Cultural preservation, Social services
Website: https://kaleiainalee.com
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Community candidate for OHA At-Large Trustee; no campaign website on file as of June 2026.
- Filed as a nonpartisan community candidate for OHA AT-LARGE TRUSTEE in 2026; no campaign website was listed in the Hawaiʻi Office of Elections filing database as of June 2026. [Ballotpedia]
- Voters seeking more detail on this candidate's positions should attend candidate forums and follow Civil Beat and OHA election coverage as the August 8, 2026 primary approaches. [Ballotpedia]
- OHA At-Large Trustees represent all Native Hawaiians statewide (regardless of island of residence); the at-large board oversees trust assets worth over $1 billion and programs serving Native Hawaiian communities. [Ballotpedia]
Editorial summary: Kalena A. Parish is a community candidate for OHA At-Large Trustee in 2026. With no website on file, voters should follow OHA election coverage for any published platform statements.
Key issues: Native Hawaiian sovereignty, Land trust management, Cultural preservation, Social services
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Community candidate for OHA At-Large Trustee; campaign site is souzaforoha.com.
- Filed as a nonpartisan candidate for OHA AT-LARGE TRUSTEE in 2026; campaign website is souzaforoha.com. [souzaforoha.com]
- Running in the large OHA At-Large field competing to serve as Native Hawaiian affairs trustees. [souzaforoha.com]
- Specific policy positions and OHA governance priorities should be verified at souzaforoha.com and in forthcoming OHA candidate Q&As. [souzaforoha.com]
Editorial summary: Keoni Souza is a candidate for OHA At-Large Trustee in 2026. Voters should visit https://souzaforoha.com for platform positions.
Key issues: Native Hawaiian sovereignty, Land trust management, Cultural preservation, Social services
Website: https://souzaforoha.com
Party: Nonpartisan
Platform: Son of Gov. John Waihe'e III running for OHA At-Large Trustee; no campaign website on file as of June 2026.
- John Waihe'e IV is the son of Governor John David Waihe'e III, the first Native Hawaiian to serve as Hawaiʻi's governor (1986–1994); the Waihe'e family has a deep and well-documented legacy in Hawaiʻi politics and Native Hawaiian affairs. [Civil Beat]
- Filed as a nonpartisan candidate for OHA AT-LARGE TRUSTEE in 2026; no campaign website was listed in the Hawaiʻi Office of Elections filing database as of June 2026. [Civil Beat]
- His family background and its connection to Native Hawaiian political history give him a recognized name in OHA circles; his own specific policy positions for OHA governance should be verified in forthcoming Civil Beat OHA candidate Q&As. [Civil Beat]
Editorial summary: John Waihe'e IV brings the name recognition of a historic Hawaiʻi political family to the OHA At-Large race. His specific platform for OHA governance should be verified in forthcoming Civil Beat and OHA election coverage.
Key issues: Native Hawaiian affairs, OHA governance, Native Hawaiian sovereignty, Land trust management, Cultural preservation, Social services
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DIST I
Party: Independent
Platform: Independent gun-rights advocate running for Hawaiʻi's 1st Congressional District; campaign site is righttokeep.org.
- Filed as an Independent for the U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DIST I race in 2026; campaign website is righttokeep.org, a name that signals a Second Amendment and property-rights emphasis. [Hawaiʻi Office of Elections]
- Running in a multi-candidate Democratic primary field featuring incumbent Ed Case and challengers Della Au Belatti and Jarrett Keohokalole. [Ballotpedia]
- Voters should visit https://righttokeep.org to review the candidate's specific positions and platform priorities before the August 8, 2026 primary. [Campaign website (righttokeep.org)]
Editorial summary: Nathan Berning is an Independent candidate for CD1 whose campaign website name suggests a Second Amendment and individual-rights focus. Voters should visit https://righttokeep.org for detailed platform positions.
Key issues: Second Amendment, Individual rights, Federal housing funding, Veterans affairs, Agriculture & conservation, Infrastructure investment
Website: https://righttokeep.org
Party: Democratic · Current officeholder
Platform: Incumbent Democrat representing Hawaiʻi's 1st Congressional District (urban/suburban Oʻahu); member of the House Blue Dog Coalition.
- U.S. Representative for Hawaiʻi's 1st Congressional District (Oʻahu — Makapuʻu through central Honolulu, leeward to Mililani, Waipahu, Ewa & Kapolei) since January 3, 2019; previously represented HI-02 from 2003-2007. [Official House website]
- Member of the bipartisan House Blue Dog Coalition. [GovTrack]
- Re-elected with 71.8% of the vote in 2024; running for re-election in 2026 against challengers Della Au Belatti, Jarrett Keohokalole, and others. [Wikipedia]
Editorial summary: Ed Case is the incumbent in CD1. His Blue Dog Coalition membership and voting record are documented at GovTrack and his official House website.
Key issues: Federal infrastructure, Veterans, Centrist Democratic governance
Website: https://www.edcase.com
Party: Green
Platform: Democratic candidate running in Hawaiʻi's crowded CD1 congressional primary field.
- Filed for the U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DIST I race in 2026; campaign website is JordanforHawaii.com. [Hawaiʻi Office of Elections]
- Voters should visit https://JordanforHawaii.com for the candidate's platform positions and policy priorities ahead of the August 8, 2026 primary. [Campaign website (JordanforHawaii.com)]
- CD1 covers urban Honolulu, including the state capital, Pearl Harbor, and the majority of Oʻahu's population centers; the district has historically voted Democratic by large margins. [Ballotpedia]
Editorial summary: CONLEY filed for the U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DIST I race with an active campaign website. Voters should visit https://JordanforHawaii.com and follow local candidate forums and Civil Beat Q&As for detailed and verifiable platform positions.
Key issues: Federal housing funding, Veterans affairs, Agriculture & conservation, Infrastructure investment
Website: https://JordanforHawaii.com
Party: Republican
Platform: Congressional candidate running under the Aloha spirit banner (lam4aloha.com) in Hawaiʻi's CD1.
- Filed for the U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DIST I race in 2026; campaign website is www.lam4aloha.com. [Hawaiʻi Office of Elections]
- Voters should visit https://www.lam4aloha.com for the candidate's platform positions and policy priorities ahead of the August 8, 2026 primary. [Campaign website (lam4aloha.com)]
- CD1 covers urban Honolulu, including the state capital, Pearl Harbor, and the majority of Oʻahu's population centers; the district has historically voted Democratic by large margins. [Ballotpedia]
Editorial summary: LAM filed for the U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DIST I race with an active campaign website. Voters should visit https://www.lam4aloha.com and follow local candidate forums and Civil Beat Q&As for detailed and verifiable platform positions.
Key issues: Federal housing funding, Veterans affairs, Agriculture & conservation, Infrastructure investment
Website: https://www.lam4aloha.com