If the below doesn’t make you sit up and take notice AND take action, I really don’t know what to say.
But Bob Marley does, and he says it better than I ever could.
“It’s not all that glitters is gold. Half the story has never been told.
So now you see the light. You stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights”.
Read on about how big money is seeking to control the outcome of our upcoming August 8 Primary Election, AND see a list of the candidates benefiting.
Important Caveat: I’m not questioning the character or integrity of the candidates listed below. However it goes without saying that this Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP) SuperPac, For A Better Tomorrow, would not be providing such generous support unless it believed these candidates will in the future, support the SuperPac (and by extension PRP’s) pro-development, big business, big money, agenda.
Further, though it’s illegal for the SuperPac to “coordinate” the funding and media purchases with the candidate, it’s a given that each of the below listed candidates have some “relationship” with PRP and or related entities. This relationship may be personal friendships, interviews, participation by the candidate in a PRP workshop or candidate training program – or other.
Regardless as to whether it’s a SuperPac, a nonprofit advocacy organization, a labor union, or an individual like myself – no one offers support to any candidate unless they feel strongly the candidate supports the basic core values and world view of that org or person offering the support.
Please take action to support 2026 Primary Election – Candidates we can count on – who are saying NO to big money and big development and YES to putting the rights and needs of people and the planet above profits.
Just the facts:
Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP) and their SuperPac “For A Better Tomorrow” are funding candidates they believe support their world view.
Below is a list.
Per the 07/09/26 disclosure report, $1,466,000 (rounded) was spent (in this one report) by SuperPac “For A Better Tomorrow” on “ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS – 2026 PRIMARY/1ST SPECIAL ELECTION for electioneering communications” (mailings, radio, tv, social media etc) in support or opposition of candidates in Hawaiʻi State and County campaigns.
This funding paid for “electioneering communications” in support of candidates running for Lieutenant Governor, Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi Mayoral campaigns, State Legislative seats AND County Council candidates in every County.
SuperPac “For A Better Tomorrow” is connected to Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP) and financed via Hawaiʻi Carpenters Market Recovery Program Fund and Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters Political Action Fund Account.
Below is an exact listing of the various candidates, communication/media companies that were funded, the funding amounts, and the date the funding was utilized – per the actual Campaign Spending Commission reports.
Eddie Ombac
Red Horse Strategies $7,819
7/09/26
Chantel Perrin
Red Horse Strategies $8,184
7/09/26
Tommy Waters
Red Horse Strategies $23,543
7/09/26
Heather Kimball
Red Horse Strategies $8,799
7/09/26
Derek Kawakami
Orlattle LLC d/b/a The Adwell Group $125,000
6/25/2026 – 8/8/2026
Bernard Carvalho, Dane Smith, Todd Ozaki
Orlattle LLC d/b/a The Adwell Group $105,000
7/1/2026 – 8/8/2026
Yuki Lei Sugimura
Polaris Campaigns, Inc. $60,000
7/5/2026 – 8/8/2026
Bernard Carvalho
Targeted Platform Media, LLC $114,659
7/1/2026 – 8/8/2026
Derek Kawakami
Targeted Platform Media, LLC $436,952
7/4/2026 – 8/8/2026
Yuki Lei Sugimura, Kauanoe Batangan, Derrick Cabiles, Ashley Lindsey
Orlattle LLC d/b/a The Adwell Group $255,000
7/6/2026 – 8/8/2026
Tommy Waters, Tricia Nakamatsu, Donna Mercado Kim, Rachele Lamosao, Andrew Phonsouvanh, Ian Ross, Michael Ratcliffe, Loren Doctolero, Daisy Hartsfield, Darius Kila
Orlattle LLC d/b/a The Adwell Group $289,500
7/6/2026 – 8/8/2026
Chantel Perrin, Eddie Ombac, Heather Kimball
Orlattle LLC d/b/a The Adwell Group $30,000
7/11/2026 – 8/8/2026
GaryHooser's Blog 
Thanks for the information Gary. This reinforces what I already suspected regarding Superpacs and buying influence.
Gary, In your experience what did Derek do in the last 8 years as mayor that is an example of selling out to big money or big power? I don’t know of anything so I would like to know, really. I know he was the only mayor to require that tourists (at a certain point during covid) stay in a hotel 3 days, test negative, then go to public places. Tourist industry hated him for that but he did it. Kauai ended up with lowest rate of infections and deaths in state, and possibly US. He did the right thing. What did he do that was wrong and an example of selling out to big money or big power? Affordable housing is what I think he pushed for on Kauai.
Thanks Gary. Looking forward to your reply:) Chad
Hello Chad and thanks for the interesting question. The Mayor’s failure to hold the Coco Palms developers accountable and the multiple issues revolving around the lax oversight of various Koloa developments, don’t really strike me as “selling out”…more just a failure to strictly enforce the law in these examples. Similarly, the Mayors appointment to the 7 members Kauai Planning Commission, one individual who is a member of the Carpenters Union (who funds the PRP SuperPac), and appointing another individual who is an owner of a major general contracting company to fill a position on the Commission designated to represent “environmental” interests – though I question the judgment is not “selling out”…Do you know of something that I’m missing? The fundamental basis for my concerns written about in this particular blog post is about the fundamental corruption of the political process…caused by huge amounts of money poured into an election by special interests.The mere presence of such large amounts of money inhibits new candidates from engaging in the process as it is impossible to compete. It is without question that the donors of such large sums have an advantage over everyone else when it comes to access to policy makers. The Mayor, like every other person will return their calls first, cancel other appointments to accommodate their schedules, and bend over backwards to help them when he can. I’m not saying he is a sell out…I’m saying that the extremely large amounts of money…are inherently bad for elections and democracy, corrupt the process, and give an unhealthy and unfair advantage to those candidates who do not run in those business, political and social circles. It concerns me that the Mayor has not come out publicly to support campaign finance reform, publicly funded elections, and similar initiatives that would limit this excess and level the playing field for all candidates. Mahalo for asking…and the conversation and discussion is good for all I think.
Gary please let me know if this is the way to contact you.
I would really appreciate an answer to my questions. Whatever you think.
Otherwise it seems like speculation on a person who seems to have been a responsible elected official.
Aloha, Chad
I responded above and responded also to your email Chad…apologies that this blog comment section may be a bit clunky…am hoping the email makes it through. LMK