Hawai‘i Island incumbent senators and reps move on to General Election following primaries

Hawai‘i Island incumbents for Hawai‘i State Senate and House of Representatives will move on to the General Election on Nov. 5 following the primaries on Saturday.

Sen. Lorraine Inouye, representing Hilo, Pauka‘a, Papaikou and Pepe‘ekeo in District 1, won outright against challenger and fellow Democrat, Laura Acasio in Saturday’s primary election.

Inouye captured 63% of the vote with 7,096 votes over Acasio’s 4,123 votes, garnering 36% of the vote.

Sen. Dru Kanuha, who represents Kona, Ka‘ū and Volcano in District 3, ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket garnering 5,874 votes. He will go up against Republican Kurt “Sulli” Sullivan, who garnered 1,551 votes in the primary, on Nov. 5 in the general election.

Big Island Now calculated percentages by removing the blank and over votes.

Sen. Tim Richards, a Democrat representing North Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikōloa and North Kona in District 4, ran unopposed and will retain his seat.

In the House, residents will see a shakeup.

The late Mark Nakashima, who represented Hāmākua, a portion of Hilo and Kaūmana in District 1, was the sole candidate on the District 1 ticket.

Sixty-one-year-old Nakashima, who died in July from health complications, was elected to the seat in 2008. On Saturday, he garnered 3,538 votes.

Gov. Josh Green will pick Nakashima’s successor.

Hawai‘i County Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy ran for the House in District 2 to represent Hilo. She ran outright against fellow democrat Tanya Yamanaka garnering 70% of the vote with 4,030 votes. There was no Republican challenger.

Lee Loy will replace Rep. Richard Onishi, who is retiring in the fall.

Democrat Chris Todd, who represents Portion of Hilo, Keaukaha, Orchidlands Estate, Ainaloa, Hawaiian Acres, Fern Acres, portions of Kurtistown and Kea‘au in District 3, ran against fellow Democrat Kiana (Keawekane) Kanahele, capturing 56% vote with 1,990 votes. He will face off in November against Republican Kanoa Wilson, who garnered 647 votes and Libertarian Austin D. Martin, who got 14 votes.

will go up against Republican Kanoa Wilson.

Greggor Ilgan, who represents Black Sands Beach Subdivision, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaiian Beaches, Kalapana, Koa‘e, Leilani Estates, Nānāwale Estates, Pāhoa, Pohoiki and Seaview Estates in District 4, ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket and will go up against Republican Keikilani Ho.

Democrat Jeanné Kapela, who represents Portions of Kea‘au and Kurtistown, Mountain View, Glenwood, Fern Forest, Volcano, Pāhala, Punalu‘u, Nā‘ālehu, Wai‘ōhinu, Hawaiian Ocean View and Ho‘okena in District 5, overwhelmingly defeated her Democratic challenger Chantel Makuaole-Perrin with 82% of the vote garnering 2,749 votes.

She will meet Libertarian Fredrick Fogel in the general election.

Democrat Kristin Kahaloa, who represents Hōnaunau, Nāpō‘opo‘o, Captain Cook, Kealakekua, Keauhou, Hōlualoa, Kailua-Kona in District 6, also kept her seat against Democratic challenger John Betlach in a landslide.

Kahaloa garnered 92% of the vote with 2,987 votes. Betlach had 236 votes.

Kahaloa will go up against Republican Sylvie M. Maddison in November.

Democrat Nicole Lowen, who represents Kailua-Kona, Honokōhau, Kalaoa, Pu‘uanahulu, Puakō and a portion of Waikōloa in District 7, ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket and will go up against Republican Timothy Dalhouse.

Democrat David Tarnas, who represents Hawi, Hala‘ula, Waimea, Makahalau, Waiki‘i, Waikoloa, Kawaihae and Mahukona in District 8, also ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket and will go up against Republican Monique Cobb-Adams Perreira in the general election.