Many have asked me for a concise, island by island – “If I lived in the district, this is who I would vote for” listing of candidates. The criteria I used to evaluate the candidates and come to a decision is posted here:
PLEASE SHARE WIDELY.
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U.S. House of Representatives
CD1 Jarrett Keohokalole
CD2 Jill Tokuda
Lieutenant Governor Della Au Belatti
Read: Why I believe Della Au Belatti is the best choice for L.G.
Office of Hawaiian Affair (OHA) – I’m not making any recommendations on this one.
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Hawaiʻi Island
State House of Representatives – Hawaiʻi Island
District #2 Holt, Cristina (Tina)
Hilo
District #3 Keawekane, Kuulei (Kiana)
Portion of Hilo · Keaukaha · Orchidlands Estate · Ainaloa · Hawaiian Acres · Fern Acres · Portions of Kurtistown & Keaʻau
State Senate – Hawaiʻi Island
Senate District #2 Aynessazian, Tanya Yamanaka
Puna
County Council – Hawaiʻi Island
District #2
Kagiwada, Jennifer (Jenn)
District #4
Hoffeld, Cyd L.
District #5
Matson, Shannon
District #6
Canelas, Justin R.
District #7
Powers, Manu
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Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi
State House of Representatives – Maui
District #10 Kaho’ohanohano, Ki’i
Portion of Waiehu · Paukūkalo · Wailuku · Wailuku Heights · Waikapū · Hayashi Village
District #12 Kuoha, Keoni
Makawao · Hāliʻimaile · Pukalani · Kula · Pūlehu · ʻUlupalakua · Kanaio · Kahikinui
District #14 Kiakona, Pa’ele
Lāhainā · Kahakuloa · Waiheʻe · Maʻalaea · Olowalu · Lahainaluna · Kaʻanapali · Mahinahina · Kahana · Honokahua
State Senate – Maui
No recommendations
Maui Mayor – Incumbent Mayor Bissen, Richard T. Jr.
Maui Council
Councilmember (East Maui)
Sinenci, Shane
Councilmember (West Maui)
Paltin, Tamara Akikio
Councilmember (Kahului)
Kamekona, Carol Lee
Councilmember (South Maui)
King, Kelly Takaya
Councilmember (Upcountry)
Pahia, Bobby
Councilmember (Molokaʻi)
Rawlins-Fernandez, Keani
Councilmember (Lānaʻi)
Johnson, Gabe
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Kauaʻi and Niʻihau
Kauaʻi Mayor, State Senate, State House of Representatives – No recommendations
Kauaʻi County Council – Each voter may cast up to 7 votes.
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City and County of Honolulu – Oʻahu
State House of Representatives – Oʻahu
District #19 Pacarro, Kahi
Waiʻalae-Kāhala · ʻĀina Haina · Niu Valley · Kuliʻouʻou
District #21 Morrow, Jake Takaya
Pālolo Valley — St. Louis Heights — Kaimukī — Maunalani Heights — Wilhelmina Rise —
District #26 Fujinaka, Janel S.
Makiki, Tantalus, Punchbowl, and Papakōlea
District #28 Alves, Nadia
Sand Island · Iwilei · Chinatown
District #30 Kealoha, Kekoa O Pololu
Kalihi · Kalihi Kai · Keʻehi Lagoon · Hickam Village
District #39 Rosenlee, Corey
Royal Kunia, Village Park, Honouliuli, Ho‘opili, and Portion of Waipahu
District #42 Paris, Anthony Makana
Portions of Varona Village, ‘Ewa, and Kapolei, Fernandez Village
District #45 Kaopua, Kalehua
Waiʻanae · Mākaha
State Senate – Oʻahu
Senate District #13 Nakamura, Jordan Kapono
Dowsett Highlands · Puʻunui · Nuʻuanu · Pacific Heights · Pauoa · Punchbowl · Pālama · Liliha · Iwilei · Chinatown · Downtown
Senate District #14 MacPherson, Christy
Kapālama, ‘Ālewa, Kalihi, Kalihi Valley, Ft. Shafter, Moanalua Gardens & Valley, Red Hill
Senate District #17 Brown, Nani
Portion of Mililani · Mililani Mauka · Waipiʻo Acres · Launani Valley · Wahiawā · Whitmore Village
Honolulu City Council
District VI
Dos Santos Tam, Tyler
District II
Weyer, Matt
Note: The above are my personal choices “If I lived in the district…” and do not represent the position of any organization. My decision was made after much thought, speaking directly with many candidates, reading the websites, the Civil Beat interviews, and talking to others.
I believe the above listed candidates share my core values of putting people and the planet above corporate profits, AND will serve in a manner that is proactive, working together with their colleagues, and our community, to resolve the many challenges facing our island home.
I purposefully focused primarily on “new candidates” and refrained from endorsing incumbents and uncontested races in the State legislature.
A longer version of the above listings that includes a narrative as to “why” I might be supporting the various candidates, can be seen at 2026 Primary Election – Candidates You Can Count On
Please help spread the word.
Imua.
Gary Hooser
Who is this guy Gary Hooser?
GaryHooser's Blog 
what about OHA, I’ve never voted on it before, I don’t know the impact,
Mahalo for the note and question: I posted on this question earlier today…and basically I’m not making any recommendations with regards to OHA candidates https://garyhooser.blog/2026/07/21/on-the-oha-discussion/
why not Dane Smith for Kauai county council?
Excellent question. Other likeminded friends have also asked me this. I do not know Dane personally and he has not reached out requesting support or asking for my vote. I have conducted some basic research and while he has many positive attributes that make him seem like a natural candidate to support, he is also on the PRP list of endorsed candidates and has received over $45,000 in SuperPac support from them (in the form of direct mailing election support to Kauai residents). This is a HUGE amount of money from a local Kauai County Council race perspective. AND PRP’s “subject matter focus” is construction and development…their membership includes the Carpenters Union AND 250 contractors/developers…the biggest of the big companies in Hawaii. Dane also enrolled in the PRP candidate training program which generated additional “in kind” campaign funding support. Sooo…since my personal “subject matter focus” is environmental protection AND campaign finance reform (getting big money out of politics)…I thought it best not to endorse Dane at this time. Should he publicly come out in support of publicly funded elections, reforming our campaign spending laws to prohibit government contractors and related persons/entities from donating to campaigns, and in general acknowledge the negative impact of Big Money on the democratic process – then I’d be happy to reconsider my decision. Note: I’m not questioning Dane’s honesty or integrity…but each of us has a different “world view” and if PRP believes that Dane’s world view is aligned with theirs…so much they are willing to spend $45,000 plus to get him elected (the standard legal maximum for a Council race individual donation is $2,000) – then that gives me pause. Read this short biography piece to better understand my position. https://garyhooser.blog/2026/08/06/lets-cut-to-the-chase-big-money-is-a-corrupting-influence-on-our-democracy/