Nearly 100 supporters gathered at Hanakaʻōʻō, Canoe Beach on Monday as Pāʻele Kiakona officially launched his general election campaign for State House District 14, flanked by union leaders, kūpuna, fire survivors, land stewards, and a former opponent now standing in his corner.

“The message from West Maui was clear: this is not a typical campaign. This is a movement,” according to organizers.

Kiakona announced that all five of Hawaiʻi’s largest labor unions, HGEA, ILWU Local 142, HSTA, United Public Workers, and UNITE HERE! Local 5, have endorsed his campaign, along with a broader coalition of endorsing organizations. Together they represent nearly 96,000 working people across the state. To the campaign’s knowledge, no Green Party candidate in Hawaiʻi’s history has ever earned this level of labor support, according to his campaign.

“Those unions didn’t bet on a party label,” Kiakona said. “They bet on a record. They looked past the letter next to my name and asked a simpler question: who has actually been on the ground with our members, and who will be there when it counts?”

Stephen “Steve” West, Division Director of ILWU Local 142’s Maui Division, answered that question directly: “His feet are rooted in this earth. His actions speak louder than words,” said West. “Our members have committed to supporting him. It’s about our future. It’s about our children. It’s about the actions of today planting the seeds for tomorrow.”

Among those standing with Kiakona was Ashley Olson, Maui Chapter President of the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association and a former Democratic candidate for District 14. After finishing second in the Democratic primary, Olson announced HSTA’s formal support for Pāʻele Kiakona.

“Every step of the way, with every word out of his mouth, with every action, he has only supported our community,” Olson said. “He hasn’t supported special interests. HSTA is proud to offer our support.”

After the press conference, representative with Unite Here! Local 5, Jason Valdez, jumped on camera to express their union support.

The gathering drew voices from across the community. Shannon Iʻi, Vice President and Stewardship Lead of Kaiāulu Initiatives and a Lahaina fire survivor, rooted the afternoon in the language of place.

“ʻĀina is that which feeds,” she said. “What are we feeding our community? How are we serving this ʻāina to be able to flourish?”

Aunty Ginger Prince, kūpuna advisory board member of the Lahaina Community Land Trust came to show her support. “I said of course, I’m voting for him… We are standing behind you,” she said.

Kiakona closed with the weight of the moment: three hurricanes threatening Hawaiʻi in a single season, families still displaced three years after the fire, workers who teach classrooms, clean rooms, fix roads, and staff hospitals unable to afford to live in the community they serve, according to his campaign.

“Since when can a plane fly without both wings?” he said. “It’s not the lines. It’s not the color. It’s not the left or the right. It’s the individual… My name is but a product of this place. I’m an echo of the voices that came before, of the voices that stand beside me. Lahaina will be proof that a community that stands together can outlast any storm.”

After the speeches, supporters took to the highway with signs. “With 35 days until Nov. 3, the campaign moves into full ground game: canvassing, phone banking, and showing up the way Lahaina has always shown up. Kiakona has accepted zero dollars from real estate PACs, developers, or corporate interests,” according to campaign organizers.

District 14 includes: Kahakuloa, Waihe‘e, portions of Waiehu and Mā‘alaea, Olowalu, Lahaina, Lahainaluna, Kā‘anapali, Māhinahina Camp, Kahana and Honokahua. Pāʻele Kiakona won an uncontested primary for the Green Party nomination. In the General Election, he faces incumbent Republican Rep. Elle Cochran, who switched parties mid-session, and Democrat Sne Patel who won a battle for the Democratic party nomination.