Precinct results: In razor-thin primary, Cook takes Central Maui; King backed in South and East Maui

First-term Maui County Council Member Tom Cook finished 145 votes ahead of former Council Member Kelly Takaya King in Saturday’s primary election by winning all Central Maui precincts and splitting votes with his rival Upcountry and in West Maui. In her bid to retake her former South Maui residency seat, King prevailed in all precincts from North Kīhei to Mākena and posted strong showings in East Maui.

Out of 35 voting precincts in Maui County, Cook won 21 while King prevailed in 14. Cook fared well in working-class, traditional Democratic strongholds while King did better in progressive-leaning regions like Haʻikū, Pāʻia and Hāna and in resort communities in West and South Maui.

Cook and King move on to the Nov. 5 General Election after finishing first and second in a three-way nonpartisan race that included Kīhei resident and first-time candidate Johnny Prones. Cook garnered 11,686 votes, or 40.5%, while King took in 11,541 votes, or 40%, and Prones came away with 1,592 votes, or 5.5%. There were 3,977 blank ballots in the race, which made up 13.8% of the vote total.

Statewide primary election precinct reports are available by clicking here. Maui County results are on Pages 85 through 154.

The largest single ballot gap between the two leading candidates of in any single precinct was in Haʻikū (13-2) where King won by 409 votes. The second highest spread was in Wailuku town (10-3) where Cook had a 294-vote advantage.

Cook also did well in Kahului House District 9 precincts, including precinct 9-1, plus 185 votes; precinct 9-2, plus 163 votes; 9-4, plus 112 votes; and 9-3, plus 90 votes; and 9-5, plus 49 votes.

King’s strength came from winning all four precincts in South Maui House District 11. She took 11-1 by 281 votes; 11-2, plus 166 votes; 11-4, plus 121 votes; and 11-3, plus 65 votes. She also found favor with East Maui voters. Aside from her big win in Haʻikū, she also won East Maui (Hāna) precinct 13-3 by 103 votes and Pāʻia precinct 13-1 by 39 votes.

Elsewhere in the 13th House District, Cook edged King by six votes on Lānaʻi (13-4) and by eight votes in West Molokaʻi (13-7) and 10 votes in Kaunakakai (13-6). King took the remaining two Molokaʻi precincts — Kualapuʻu (13-8) by 31 votes and East Molokaʻi (13-5) by 22 votes.

Cook said today that the “primary election results provided valuable insights into our campaign’s performance across different regions in Maui County.”

“While reinforcing our message for building a better future in Maui County will be key; the results confirm that our core priorities of generational housing, sustainable land-use and balanced economic growth resonates with our island community,” he said. “Overall, my goal is to stay focused on these key priorities and continue being effective in the role that I have been elected to as South Maui’s County Council representative.”

Looking ahead, King said she believes many voters didn’t participate in the primary and are waiting for the General Election with more interesting races, such as the presidential contest between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

“We’re going to work really hard to get the lion’s share of votes that are still out there,” she said.

Cook said the blank votes and those for Johnny Prones “reflect a segment of the electorate that is open to change.”

“I am committed to representing all residents of Maui County, regardless of who they voted for,” he said. “As the incumbent council member for South Maui, my focus remains on addressing the policy issues that affect our community daily.”

King said her campaign kept most of its funding in reserve for the general election, judging that it would be better spent late, rather than earlier in the race.

As of campaign spending reports submitted through July 26, King reported spending $7,548.27, while Cook’s records show spending $55,793.78, or seven times more. King had a campaign surplus at the end of last month of $32,956.66, while Cook reported $11,177.55.

“We’re very excited,” King said. “We didn’t spend a lot of money on the primary,” whereas Cook “did a lot of work” to get through the primary and only came out 145 votes ahead.

King said she’s eager to share her record with voters, including work to help pave the way for two affordable housing projects in Kīhei, environmental initiatives and a youth council to help pave the way for future leaders.

Cook said he will be focusing on key issues with fellow council members: generational housing, sustainable land use and economic balance.

“I want voters, especially those who are undecided about this race, to know that my path forward involves continuing to be a diligent and effective council member, focused on these core principles,” Cook said. “By demonstrating my commitment to these values and engaging in open dialogue, I aim to appeal to all island residents who call Maui County their home.”

Both King and Cook saw mixed results in Upcountry’s 12th House District and in West Maui’s 14th House District precincts.

Cook posted a 133-vote win at precinct 12-3 in Pukalani. He had a 35-vote advantage over King at precinct 12-1 in Makawao-Haliʻimaile, and he beat her by 20 votes at precinct 12-4 in Kula south of Kalianui Gulch. King enjoyed a 90-vote win at precinct 12-2 in Olinda and Kula north of Kalianui Gulch, and she won by seven votes at precinct 12-5 in the Ōmaʻopio-Pūlehu area.

King’s best West Maui precinct was 14-4 from Kapalua, down through Nāpili and Honokōwai and including Kaʻanapali. She took that precinct by 124 votes over Cook. She also had a 70-vote advantage in precinct 14-1, which includes ballots from residents of Lahaina town makai of Honoapiʻilani Highway and living along the coast all the way to Māʻalaea. She also won by 26 votes in precinct 14-3 in the Wahikuli area south of the Lahaina Civic Center.

In precinct 14-5, which is the east side of West Maui from Waiehu to north of Kahakuloa, Cook garnered 76 more votes than King. And, in precinct 14-2, which is Lahaina mauka of Honoapiʻilani Highway and mauka of the Lahaina Bypass, Cook held a 16-vote advantage over King.

In West Maui, voter turnout was very low among residents most heavily impacted by last year’s Lahaina wildfire disaster. House District 14 voter turnout in Lahaina was 427, or 14.6%, of 2,927 registered voters in precinct 14-1; 302, or 11.7%, of 2,578 registered voters in precinct 14-2; and 232, or 12.3%, of 1,880 registered voters in precinct 14-3.

In precinct 14-4, Kapalua, down through Nāpili and Honokōwai and including Kaʻanapali, there were 7,375 registered voters, and turnout was 1,523, or 20.7%. On the other side of the West Maui Mountains, precinct 14-5 from Waiehu to north of Kahakuloa, saw 710, or 25.7%, of 2,763 registered voters turn out to cast ballots.

Countywide, voter restoration was 113,019. Primary election turnout was 28,833, or 25.5%. All votes were mailed in.

Currently, Cook chairs the Council’s Water and Infrastructure Committee. King held the South Maui Council seat for three terms from 2017 through 2022. She left the seat in 2022 to run unsuccessfully for mayor.