Maui Election

The Maui County Democratic Party will host a general election kick-off rally at the Maui Waena Intermediate School Cafeteria on Thursday, September 4 starting at 5:30 p.m.

Mayoral Candidate Nelson Waikiki Jr. filed a lawsuit against state Elections Chief Scott Nago, contesting the results of the election. It was among three separate challenges to the primary election that were dismissed by the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court.

The group was comprised of several Chamber members, the majority of which are business owners, who interviewed candidates for state and county offices.

A lawsuit was filed in state Supreme Court today challenging the make-up election held on Friday, August 15, for two Hawaiʻi Island precincts that were closed on primary election day due to the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Iselle.

Key races remained unchanged after Friday night’s make-up election for two precincts on Hawaiʻi Island that were impacted by Tropical Cyclone Iselle, and the addition of 800 absentee ballots on Maui that were unaccounted for in Saturday’s Primary.

The state Office of Elections will conduct a special election on Friday, Aug. 15, as planned to accommodate voters from two polling places that were unable to vote on Saturday because of Hurricane Iselle.

Hanabusa is seeking a temporary restraining order to delay the special election planned for Friday at Keonepoko Elementary School, with the case scheduled to be heard before Judge Greg Nakamura at 10:30 a.m. today.

The votes could make a difference in the US Senate race where just 1,635 votes separate Brain Schatz from Colleen Hanabusa in the Democratic primary.

Maui County continues to have the lowest voter turnout in the state with just 32.2% of the county’s 85,581 registered voters turning out to cast ballots.

Representative Justin Woodson will hold on to his seat in the state house following Saturday’s winner-take-all primary; while other incumbents from Maui advance in their respective races to compete in the November general election.

Arakawa held a commanding lead throughout the night with 17,492 votes (63.6%), ahead of Paltin, who garnered 3,331 votes (12.1%). The two face each other in the general election on November 4, 2014.

Saturday’s primary election featured four Maui council races, each of which were narrowed to the top two vote-getters in each district.

The closest race of the night was for US Senate, which remains undecided due to the outstanding votes from two polling places on Hawaiʻi Island that were unable to open because of the aftermath of Hurricane Iselle.

Roads leading to polling places at the Hawaiʻi Paradise Community Center and Keoneopoko Elementary School remained closed on Friday afternoon. Voting for those in the affected areas will be done by absentee ballot.

Mufi Hannemann is a candidate for the office of Governor in the State of Hawaiʻi. Hannemann is the only Independent candidate vying for the seat, and among a total of 12 individuals identified as candidates in the race on the 2014 ballot.

Eleanora “Elle” Cochran is a candidate for the County Council, West Maui seat. She is among a list of three individuals identified as candidates on the 2014 ballot.

Terez Amato is a candidate for the State Senate, District 6 seat. She is one of two Democrats running for the seat, and one of four individuals identified as candidates in the race on the 2014 ballot.

Mike White is a candidate for the County Council, Makawao-Haʻikū-Pāʻia seat. He is among a list of four individuals identified as candidates on the 2014 ballot.

Van Tanabe is a candidate for the office of Governor in the State of Hawaiʻi. Tanabe is among a list of three democratic candidates vying for the seat, and among a total of 12 individuals identified as candidates in the race on the 2014 ballot.

Christopher-Travis Kawaikekoa Jun Lum Lee is a candidate for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Oʻahu residency seat. Lum Lee is among a list of four individuals identified as candidates in the race on the 2014 ballot.