Maui Election

Political hui, ‘Onipa’a 2022, announced the launch of their district tour, with a first public event set for Monday, Sept. 26, 2022 in Kīhei. The hui includes Maui County Council candidates Noelani Ahia, Nara Boone, Jordan Hocker, Gabe Johnson, Robin Knox, Tamara Paltin, Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, and Shane Sinenci.

Voter turnout in Maui County was 34.8% for the 2022 Primary Election, with 39,493 ballots cast out of 113,427 registered voters.  

Late Saturday night, Maui native Nohe U’u-Hodgins was ahead in the race for the Maui County Council Makawao-Haʻikū-Pāʻia residency seat, which is being vacated by Council Member Mike Molina, who is running for mayor. Both the Makawao-Haʻikū-Pāʻia and the Kahului residency seats are hotly contested council races. Residents throughout the county may vote for all nonpartisan council races, regardless of the residency seat. 

“It was a little sad to see the first results,” Maui County Council Member Kelly King said via phone from her watch party in Kahului this evening. “It was really so positive. People really wanted a choice. I don’t think there’s that big of a difference between Bissen and Victorino.”

Check back for up to date election results, which will be posted here as updates are received throughout this evening and into tomorrow, with Maui updates listed first.

With a handful of people showing up after Maui’s only voter service center in Wailuku closed at 4:30 p.m. Friday, some said they were confused about hours and drop-off locations for this year’s Primary Elections, which closes tonight at 7. Maui Now has compiled tips for voting last minute in Maui County.

Harry Brown, Waiehu Kou Hawaiian Home Lands resident, said he’s voting this year because local elections are important to local people — like him. “Not only is it a right, it’s an opportunity for me to voice my concern, my choosing,” he said this afternoon. “I figure if I don’t vote, no grumble.” As of Thursday, there were 25,050 mail ballots processed by the County of Maui Office of the County Clerk, Deputy County Clerk James Krueger said this afternoon. In 2020, there were 43,257 mailed ballots in the primary.

Three candidates for Maui County mayor unveiled Saturday what they would do to manage tourism during a time when the islands have reopened to near-record numbers of visitors.

Some of the top candidates vying for Maui County mayor blasted this year’s budget as “bloated” while hitting other key local topics such as affordable housing, tourism management and homelessness.

The Office of Elections on Maui has released a list of Voter Service Centers and Places of Deposit for election ballots as the Primary Election nears on Aug. 13, 2022.

Maui Economic Opportunity hosts its 50th Kūpuna Aloha Luncheon on Saturday, July 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Grand Wallea in South Maui.

The Hawaiʻi Nurses’ Association OPEIU Local 50 announced the endorsement of Angus McKelvey in the 6th District State Senate race. Also, the West Maui Taxpayers Association invites West Maui voters to a 2022 Primary Candidates Night on Thursday, July 21, 2022 at the Lahaina Civic Center, Social Hall.

The Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations Maui/Lānaʻi Mokupuni Council hosts a candidate forum at its monthly meeting this Thursday, July 14, 2022.

Maui Hotel & Lodging Association announces early endorsement of Josh Green in governor’s race; UPW endorses Kai Kahele for Governor; Friends of Tasha Kama to hold fundraiser dinner, July 6

To submit information on campaign fundraisers, endorsements, and community meet & greet events, send items to [email protected].

With primary elections on the horizon, Hawaiʻi students will host a candidate forum on KFVE- TV with the following major candidates vying for the office of governor in the Democratic primary election: Vicky Cayetano, Josh Green, and Kai Kahele.

To submit information on campaign fundraisers, endorsements, and community meet & greet events, send items to [email protected].

On Maui, crowded races include the Kahului Council seat where seven candidates are running. Thereʻs also five people running for the Makawao-Haʻikū-Pāʻia council vacancy, and five in the race for the District 13 House seat.

Councilmember Kelly Takaya King plans to announce this afternoon that she is entering the race for Mayor of Maui County. According to her campaign, “supporters and fans of her work on the Council have urged Ms. King to jump into the race for Mayor.”

Congressman Kaialiʻi Kahele officially filed his nomination papers on Monday morning in the race for Hawaiʻi’s next governor.