Hawaii County Council primary results point to a reshaped nine-member body next term, as voters backed new contenders for four open seats and advanced several races to November.
Three sitting council members, Ashley Kierkiewicz, Matt Kanealiʻi-Kleinfelder and Rebecca Villegas, are terming out this year, and Michelle Galimba did not seek reelection. Those departures could alter the council’s balance and priorities.
Early returns showed Manu Powers leading in District 7, Shannon Matson in District 5, Guy Enriques in District 6 and Eileen O’Hara in District 4, according to election results.
Among incumbents, Dennis “Fresh” Onishi secured reelection outright with 63.5% of the vote over Kelton Chang and will continue representing District 3, which includes south Hilo. Onishi, a county employee for more than two decades and a former council member for Districts 3 and 4, said he was grateful voters supported his work and that he looks forward to continuing ongoing projects.
Heather Kimball also won outright with 59.9%. Ren Del Rosario finished with 34.8% and BJ Penn received 5.2%. Kimball thanked supporters and said her experience will matter with so many new members expected next term.
District 2 incumbent Jenn Kagiwada, whose area includes North Hilo and downtown Hilo, led a five-way field with 50.6%, enough to avoid a runoff. Wendy Botelho was second at 17.7%. Kagiwada said she was grateful for voter support and welcomed the competition.
In the crowded District 6 contest, the island’s largest district from Volcano Village to Kealakekua, Guy Enriques led with 30.8% and Zed Kaʻapana Aki had 23.1%. They will meet again in November. Aki, a first-time candidate, said he looks forward to serving the community if he advances, while Enriques said he was encouraged by the early tally.
Council Chair Holeka Inaba in District 8 and incumbent James Hustace in District 9 ran unopposed.
Hawaii County Council primary results reshape the council
The council sets county laws, property tax rates and the budget, and guides development across the 4,000-square-mile island of about 209,000 residents. In the coming term, members will face tight finances as the county grapples with a projected deficit.
They will also decide the future of the Homeless and Housing Fund, work to meet federal deadlines to fix wastewater systems and address concerns tied to the recently adopted General Plan 45.
Of the candidates who surpassed 50% and appear set to win outright, only one is a newcomer: Powers.
Powers is poised to represent District 7, which covers North Kona, after taking 66%. She defeated Mark Henriques and Eddie Ombac to fill the seat vacated by Villegas. Raised in Kalapana and a Kona resident since 2001, Powers is a longtime small business owner and community organizer who serves on several nonprofit boards and committees.
Running a grassroots campaign, Powers declined union, corporate and PAC money. She still raised more than $27,000 this cycle, primarily from Kona small business owners, the second-highest haul among council candidates behind Kimball. She thanked her opponents for their commitment and said the race highlighted both challenges and opportunities ahead.
Advancing To The General Election
Four contests appear headed to the November general election because no candidate cleared 50%.
In District 5, covering upper Puna, Matson led a five-way race with 24.1%. She is likely to face Ikaika Rodenhurst, at 23.4%, to succeed term-limited Matt Kanealiʻi-Kleinfelder.
His wife, Dawn Kanealiʻi-Kleinfelder, trailed Rodenhurst by just 46 votes with 22.2%. The former District 5 councilman pursued a State House seat this year but lost the Democratic primary for House District 5 to incumbent Jeanne Kapela by a wide margin.
Matson called the race too close to call after the first printout, thanking supporters and volunteers. Rodenhurst, reached after coaching football at Keaʻau High, said he was awaiting final results and appreciative of voter support.
O’Hara topped the District 4 field with 36.9%. The former one-term councilmember lost her 2018 reelection bid to Kierkiewicz during the Kīlauea eruption that devastated lower Puna.
She will face Lloyd Enriquez, who received 26.7%. O’Hara said she expected such results with multiple strong candidates in the race and expressed appreciation for the support.
The general election is Nov. 3. Ballots are expected to arrive in mailboxes around Oct. 16.
For information on how ballots are processed and tallied statewide, readers can refer to Hawaii ballot counting deemed secure ahead of primary.
Official details on voting and ballot drop box locations are available from the Hawaiʻi Office of Elections. County-specific election resources can also be found through the County of Hawaiʻi.
