Maui Candidate Waikiki Arrested Following Mayoral Forum

Nelson Waikiki. MPD photo.

By Maui Now Staff

Maui mayoral candidate Nelson N. Waikiki Jr. was arrested on Tuesday night following a mayoral candidate forum in Makawao.

The 49-year-old was located at the Seabury Hall campus on Olinda Road, where he was placed under arrest for allegedly violating conditions of release on bail, police said.

The arrest was made at 8:59 p.m., following the conclusion of a candidate forum co-sponsored by the Haʻikū, Kula, Makawao and Pukalani community associations.

The event was held in Makawao, and was broadcast live on Akakū Maui Community Television from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Police say Waikiki was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at last report.

Hawaii News Now reported on April 14 that Waikiki was granted supervised release in April after serving jail time while awaiting sentencing for an investment scheme involving Opunui Water Company and Opunui Land and Water Company. Authorities said that one of the claims he made to investors was that he had partnered with high-profile politicians, including President Barack Obama.

During his release, he filed papers to become a candidate for Maui mayor.

Upon filing for candidacy, a challenge surfaced based on concerns raised about the residency requirement which challenged the validity of the addresses listed on his nomination papers as non-existent.

The challenge was thrown out after the County Clerk issued a determination that Waikiki’s paperwork was in compliance with state election laws since he updated both his residential and mailing addresses prior to the filing of his nomination papers.

Other candidates on the ballot include: incumbent Mayor Alan Arakawa; Alana Kay, who ran for the South Maui council seat in 2010; Tamara Paltin, a county employee who has been a vocal advocate for the preservation of Honolua Bay; Orion Kopelman, who was among the candidates who ran for mayor in the 2010 primary; and Beau Hawkes of Makawao.