Update: 2 Hawai‘i County Council races headed for a runoff in general election, preliminary reports show

Two of the nine Hawai‘i County Council seats are headed for a runoff in the Nov. 5 general election, according to preliminary primary election results posted late Saturday by the state Office of Elections.

With about 131,358 registered voters in Hawai‘i County, less than half, 44,382, cast ballots. An earlier version of the story reported five of the county council seats were headed for a runoff. After calculating percentages by removing blank and over votes, results now show only Council members Cindy Evans and Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder will meet challengers in the general election.

District 4 Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz was the only council member unopposed. She will keep her seat for the next two years. She represents lower Puna and Pāhoa. 

Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy of Hilo, who now represents District 3, is term-limited after serving 8 consecutive years. Candidate Dennis “Fresh” Onishi, a former county council member, won outright capturing 51% of the vote.

To avoid a runoff, candidates must take 50% plus one of the votes. Onishi’s closest challenger was Kelton Chang who garnered 21% of the votes.

District 3 encompasses a portion of South Hilo and part of Kea‘au.

Evans, who represents District 9 encompassing North Hilo, Hāmākua and a portion of Waimea, will go up against Waimea resident James E. Hustace in the general election.

Hustace was ahead in the primary race capturing 2,268 votes or 44% of the votes. Evans garnered 1,961 for 38% of the vote.

With 1,961 votes, Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder captured 44% of the votes. His closest challenger was former Hawai‘i County Public Works director Ikaika Rodenhurst with 1,125 votes for 25% of the vote.

Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder represents District 5, which encompasses communities in upper Puna and portions of Keaʻau.

Council members Holeka Goro Inaba, Jenn Kagiwada, Heather Kimball, Michelle M. Galimba and Rebecca A. Villegas will keep their seats after winning outright in the primary election.

Kimball, who represents District 1 encompassing North Hilo, Hāmākua, and a portion of Waimea, took 52% of the vote with 2,698 votes. Her closest opponent was Brittany Anderson who captured 22% of the vote with 1,522 votes.

Kagiwada, who represents District 2 covering Hilo and portions of South Hilo, took 63% of the vote with 4,253 votes. Her closest challenger was Blaine Bautista who trailed behind with 18% of the vote.

Galimba, who represents District 6 covering Kāʻu, portions of South Kona and Volcano, took 54% of the vote with 2,492 votes. Her closest challenger was Ikaika Kailiawa-Smith who garnered approximately 30% of the vote with a total of 1,365 votes.

Villegas, who represents District 7 encompassing a portion of North Kona and South Kona, captured 53% of the vote with a total of 2,276 votes. Her closest challenger was Zahz Manawapou Hewlen who secured 13% of the vote with 590 votes.

Inaba, who represents District 8, which encompasses North Kona, swept the race against challenger Caryl Burns with 71% of the vote garnering 2,392 votes.

Burns captured 28% of the vote with 972 votes.