Kelly King files nomination papers as a candidate for the South Maui Council seat. Courtesy photo.

Surrounded by supporters, long time Kīhei resident and former Hawaiʻi State Board of Education Representative Kelly King filed her nomination papers on April 8 to run for the Maui County Council South Maui seat.

King is perhaps best known for her role as Vice President of Pacific Biodiesel, a locally owned renewable fuel company that pioneered the biodiesel industry with its first processing plant built on Maui in 1996.

Throughout her 37 years on Maui, King has been an active community member, spearheading community playgrounds on the island, lobbying for air conditioning for Kīhei Elementary School, serving as chair of Hui Mālama Learning Center and winning her first election attempt for the Maui seat on the Board of Education.

More recently, the mother of two children has been working side by side with her husband, running Hawaiʻi’s only commercial biofuel business now in its 20th year. As VP, she helped create collaborations and partnerships for various agricultural projects as well as develop working relationships with State agencies, county governments and national organizations like Clean Cities, USDA and the Environmental Protection Agency.

With a focus on collaboration and service, King says she is running for office “because there is a need for better representation on the Council, for elected officers who choose to serve the community rather than create a political pathway for higher office.”

“Through Pacific Biodiesel, we have proven that progress and profit can be pono,” King said, “and I’d like to bring that concept to county governance.”

King said her platform is built on the need for transparency and communication, and added that the community plans are a huge concern that will be critical issues in the next two years. Other concerns she intends to prioritize if elected include workforce development, affordable housing, agriculture and recycling.

King said she will be to be accessible to everyone in order to understand county issues from all sides and emphasized her “experience as a policy-maker, her business acumen running a successful company, her environmental involvement and her broad community support.”

“I’m a fast learner, I have contacts throughout the State and County, and I truly care about the well-being of my community,” King said.