A precinct-by-precinct analysis of the primary election results released this week by the state Office of Elections shows pockets of support for some Kaua‘i candidates while exposing gaping holes for others in the 14th District, which runs from northern Kapa‘a
A precinct-by-precinct analysis of the primary election results released this week by the state Office of Elections shows pockets of support for some Kaua‘i candidates while exposing gaping holes for others in the 14th District, which runs from northern Kapa‘a on the Eastside to the end of the highway on the North Shore.
Several Kaua‘i County Council candidates who finished in the bottom rung overall saw high numbers on the North Shore, but were unable to carry that support down into Anahola and Kapa‘a. And vice versa.
Others, even less seasoned candidates, found consistent support throughout the district.
Often, and perhaps not as surprisingly, a candidate’s strongest numbers coincided with their hometown precinct. But dramatic exceptions left this theory hanging by a chad.
First-time council candidate Lani Kawahara of Kapa‘a, who finished eighth overall, managed a fourth-place finish in the 14th District with 2,199 votes. Her rank held fairly steady throughout the region.
Fellow first-timer Derek Kawakami of Lihu‘e, who finished sixth overall, was bumped to the seventh highest vote-getter in the district with 1,861 votes. He made up low numbers on the North Shore where he finished 18th in Hanalei and 12th in Kilauea primarily by tallying a high number of absentee votes and finishing in the top eight in two Kapa‘a precincts.
The other six of the top seven candidates overall were shuffled around some but maintained strong numbers through absentee votes and ballots cast at the district’s five polling sites.
Wailua resident Tim Bynum, who is seeking his second two-year term, captured the most votes in Hanalei and Kilauea, followed closely by Princeville resident Jay Furfaro who currently serves as council chair and is going after his fourth term.
While not a big surprise to see these two incumbents at the top given their overall marks, the third highest in Hanalei with 261 votes was Kilauea resident Scott Mijares who finished 15th in the district and 19th overall.
The numbers fail to show whether his strong support from North Shore residents was due to his hometown location or his political message ringing true to those voters. Mijares was far from the lone example of council candidates finishing low overall but high in North Shore precincts.
The hometown location theory fails to apply to Bruce Pleas of Kekaha who finished fifth in Hanalei with 226 votes, but 14th overall, just making the cutoff to advance to the general election on Nov. 4.
But it could apply to Kilauea resident Linda Pasadava who was 16th overall but the sixth highest vote-getter in Hanalei and 11th in the district with 1,194 votes.
Furfaro was the leading candidate in absentee ballots for the 14th District and votes at the precincts in Anahola and Kapa‘a. He topped the district with 3,005 votes and finished first overall.
It was in the same categories that Lihu‘e resident Bill “Kaipo” Asing, a long-time councilman, returned to the top five. The second highest vote-getter overall, he finished third in the district with 2,492 votes.
Another long-time councilman, Lihu‘e resident Ron Kouchi, finished seventh at the Kapa‘a Elementary School polling site and eighth at the Anahola Hawaiian Homes Clubhouse. But with ample absentee voting support and a fifth-place showing at Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center, he finished sixth in the district with 1,894 votes and fourth overall.
First-time candidate Dickie Chang of Lihu‘e saw his numbers hold fairly steady from one precinct to the next. He finished fifth in the district with 2,028 votes and seventh overall.
Koloa resident Daryl Kaneshiro, who finished 17th in Hanalei, ended up eighth in the district with 1,737 votes after receiving broad support in Kapa‘a. The fifth highest vote-getter overall, he is a former councilman who returned to his seat this summer after Asing stepped down as chair to serve as mayor until Dec. 1.
The appointments were due to the unexpected June 22 death of the late Mayor Bryan Baptiste. The next elected mayor will serve the remaining two years left on his term.
The race is between Lihu‘e resident JoAnn Yukimura, a former mayor and long-time councilwoman, and first-time candidate Bernard Carvalho of Kapa‘a, who serves as county Parks and Recreation director.
Yukimura dominated Hanalei and Kilauea, but Carvalho picked up big gains in Anahola and Kapa‘a. He also collected 1,037 absentee votes compared to Yukimura’s 673 in the district.
Carvalho finished 2,378 votes in the district and 7,143 overall compared to Yukimura’s 1,888 in the district and 5,372 overall. Both will appear on the general election ballot in 40 days.
For complete results, visit hawaii.gov/elections
Look to upcoming editions of The Garden Island for breakdowns of the 15th and 16th districts.
