If a candidate does not win at least 50 percent plus one of the Primary Election vote, then the top two candidates in each council race will face off in the General Election. Blank votes are eliminated when calculating this final percentage.
Heidi Tsuneyoshi beat Robert Bunda to represent District 2 (Mililani Mauka, Wahiawa, Mokuleia, Waialua, Haleiwa, Pupukea, Sunset Beach, Kahuku, Laie, Hauula, Punaluu, Kahana, Kaaawa, Kualoa, Waiahole, and Kahalu). Tsuneyoshi is a community liaison with Council Chair Ernie Martin and Bunda is a former Senate member and Senate President and served on the Board of Directors for HART. Tsuneyoshi pulled an impressive 7,700 of the total vote count to Bunda’s 4,100. The other two candidates received a combined 4,200 votes with 1,650 blank ballots cast.
In District 4 (Hawaii Kai, Kuliouou, Niu Valley, Aina Haina, Wailupe, Waialae-Iki, Kalani Valley, Kahala, Wilhemina Rise, Kaimuki, portions of Kapahulu, Diamond Head, Black Point, Waikiki, and Ala Moana Beach Park), incumbent Trevor Ozawa will face off against Thomas Waters. Waters is a former representative in the State House of Representatives. This is his second attempt to unseat Ozawa. With only 2,700 votes separating the two, they will be vying for the 4,500 votes that were collected by Natalie Iwase as well as 3,600 blank ballots.
Incumbent Carole Fukunaga beat both her challengers, Ikaika Hussey and Tyler Dos Santos-Tam to represent District 6 (portions of Makiki, Downtown Honolulu, Punchbowl, Pauoa Valley, Nuuanu, Alewa Heights, Papakolea, Fort Shafter, Moanalua, Halawa, Aiea, Kalihi Valley, and portions of Liliha and Kalihi). With 11,400 votes, Fukunaga soundly beat her opponents despite negative ads. Many believe the negative campaigning hurt Dos Santos-Tam in his race. Democratic leaders from the district expect to see Tam run for office in the future.
Heading straight to the general and bypassing the primary because there are only two candidates to represent District 8 (Lower Aiea, Pearlridge, Waimalu, Newtown, Pearl City, Seaview, Crestview, Waipio Gentry and Waipahu) are incumbent Brandon Elefante and challenger Kelly Kitashima. Newcomer Kitashima will have an uphill battle against Elefante but many in the district believe her grassroots approach is strong. Facing Elefante’s $50,000 war chest versus her $12,500, she may struggle to pay for the collateral piece needed to win the larger city council district races.
