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Neurodivergent-friendly voter information for Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 14

About House District 14 — West Kauaʻi / Niʻihau

House District 14 covers the west side of Kauaʻi — Waimea, Kekaha, Hanapēpē, Port Allen, ʻEleʻele, and the neighboring island of Niʻihau — stretching from the dry, sun-drenched Waimea Canyon corridor to the southernmost tip of the island. The seat is open in 2026: long-time incumbent Rep. Dee Morikawa chose not to seek re-election after more than a decade representing the district. Five candidates filed by the June 2026 final deadline and are on the August 8 primary ballot. Key issues for the district include water rights and irrigation infrastructure serving the remaining agricultural lands; support for small farms and diversified agriculture on former plantation acreage; and workforce housing access for families priced out of the visitor-economy resort corridor.

Open seat — no incumbent running.

Primary date: 2026-08-08

BALINBIN, Kanamu

Party: Democratic · Backing: Independent

Platform: Repeat Democratic candidate for HD14 (West Maui/Lāhainā); covered by Civil Beat at civilbeat.org.

  • Kanamu Balinbin is a repeat Democratic candidate for HD14 (West Maui / Lāhainā area); per Civil Beat coverage at civilbeat.org, he ran in the 2024 Democratic primary for the seat covering 'Kahakuloa, Waihee, portions of Waiehu and Maalaea, Olowalu, Lahaina, Lahainaluna, Kaanapali, Mahinahina Camp, Kahana, and Honokahua.'
  • Balinbin's third consecutive HD14 Democratic primary run demonstrates sustained commitment to representing the West Maui community; the district includes Lāhainā, devastated by the August 2023 wildfire, making recovery, housing, and land rights central issues for the seat.
  • No campaign website was listed in the Hawaiʻi Office of Elections 2026 filing database at elections.hawaii.gov for Balinbin as of May 2026; voters may monitor civilbeat.org as the August 8, 2026 primary approaches for platform coverage.

Editorial summary: No published campaign platform statements were identified for BALINBIN, Kanamu as of the May 2026 review. Voters should monitor civilbeat.org as the August 8, 2026 primary approaches.

Key issues: Lāhainā wildfire recovery, West Maui community, Housing & rebuilding, Local representation

Profile last reviewed: 2026-06-03

Other candidates in this race