Donald Cataluna of Koloa, incumbent Office of Hawaiian Affairs member representing Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, has been declared the winner of his re-election contest by reason of default. In a court case filed by state Attorney General Mark Bennett at the
Donald Cataluna of Koloa, incumbent Office of Hawaiian Affairs member representing Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, has been declared the winner of his re-election contest by reason of default.
In a court case filed by state Attorney General Mark Bennett at the behest of state Office of Elections Chief Elections Officer Dwayne D. Yoshina, due to a challenge by Cataluna, Cataluna’s former opponent, Leona Mapuana Kalima, did not contest allegations that she was not a bona fide resident of Kaua‘i at the time of filing her nomination papers, and is hence ineligible to run to represent Kaua‘i.
As a result, Office of Elections officials declared that Cataluna is the outright winner of the contest by default, as no other candidates had filed to run in the OHA Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau contest.
Cataluna’s name will not appear on the ballot, since he has won this race, which voters statewide vote on.
Cataluna was informed of his victory Monday by state elections officials, and his initial reaction was “wow,” he said.
“I thought I still had to run, like the prosecuting attorney,” Cataluna said of Craig De Costa, who won the office of county prosecuting attorney at the primary election and whose name appeared on the ballot even though he ran unopposed. Technically, De Costa needed one vote at the primary election to get elected.
Cataluna was making plans to begin newspaper advertising, and travel to the other islands to campaign for re-election, he said. As a result of his name not being on the ballot, some of his yard signs will be donated to St. Raphael Catholic Church in Koloa, he said.
Magnetized car signs will be modified to include the word “mahalo,” and Cataluna still plans to do some roadside sign-waving, also to say “mahalo,” he said.
“Of course” it’s a big relief, winning re-election to a four-year term without even having to go through the Tuesday, Nov. 2 general election, he said, “because we run statewide.” While he planned on concentrating on Kaua‘i, he also was also planning on spending much time on O‘ahu, “because that’s where the votes are.”
Not having to travel interisland to campaign is a bit bittersweet for Cataluna, he said, as he would have been able to touch bases with folks he knows from the 11 years he lived on the Big Island, and 15 years on Maui, when he worked in the sugar industry.
Cataluna, 68, had kind words for Kalima, his would-be challenger.
“She thought she was right in doing it,” Cataluna said of her filing to run against Cataluna for the Kaua‘i-Ni‘ihau OHA seat even though she was not a Kaua‘i resident.
Had she not admitted to not being a Kaua‘i resident and agreed to have her name taken off the ballot, she could have faced felony fraud charges for misrepresenting her residency status to state officials, Cataluna said.
“Some of her supporters are going to be sad,” Cataluna said.
Kalima could not be reached for comment.
The 2004 general election marks the second time that all registered voters will be able to cast votes for OHA candidates.
Previously, only Native Hawaiian registered voters could vote in OHA races.
Martin Rice, head of the Democratic Party of Kaua‘i, said the party sent out congratulations to Cataluna “on this victory, and is confident that the life-long Democrat will continue to be a strong advocate for Kaua‘i’s Hawaiian community.”
Cataluna was first appointed to the OHA seat representing Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau by then-Gov. Ben Cayetano after the death of the Rev. Moses “Moke” Keale Sr., after leaders in the state Legislature could not agree on a successor. Cataluna was elected to the Kaua‘i-Ni‘ihau OHA seat in 2000.
Rice and the Kaua‘i Democratic Party also sent out congratulations to De Costa on his victory in Saturday’s primary election. De Costa will assume his new post on Wednesday, Dec. 1, replacing outgoing Democrat Michael Soong, who plans to open his own law practice.
“The Kaua‘i Democratic Party wishes De Costa the best of luck in his new position, knowing that he will represent the people of Kaua‘i to his utmost ability,” Rice said.
Paul C. Curtis, associate editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net.
