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Neurodivergent-friendly voter information for Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 17

About House District 17 — North & East Kauaʻi (Anahola / Kīlauea / Hanalei)

House District 17 is the most geographically sprawling of Kauaʻi's state house seats, sweeping from the agricultural flatlands of Anahola and Kīlauea up through the Hanalei valley and the north shore all the way to the Nāpali coast. The seat is held by incumbent Rep. Daynette (Dee) Morikawa, who has represented north and east Kauaʻi since 2009 and is seeking another term in 2026 against Republican challenger Chad K. Schimmelfennig. Morikawa's tenure has been anchored in the House Finance and Agriculture committees, where she has worked to secure neighbor-island infrastructure appropriations and back agricultural land protection — both perennial priorities for a district where farming families, rural homesteaders, and north-shore residents coexist with one of the most visited coastlines in the state. Key issues for the district include short-term rental regulation and its effect on long-term housing availability in communities like Hanalei and Princeville; state investment in rural roads and flood-resilience infrastructure following recurring weather damage along the northern coastline; and the future of agricultural lands in the Hanalei watershed.

Primary date: 2026-08-08

CLUETT, Misty

Party: Republican · Backing: Establishment

Platform: Republican challenger for Kauaʻi's House District 17 (North & East Kauaʻi); campaign site is mistycluett.com.

  • Filed as a Republican candidate for STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 17 (North & East Kauaʻi — Anahola, Kīlauea, Hanalei corridor) in 2026; campaign website is mistycluett.com.
  • Running against incumbent Democratic Rep. Daynette (Dee) Morikawa, who has represented the district since 2009.
  • Also filed alongside Democratic challenger Chad K. Schimmelfennig, making 2026 the first contested HD17 race in several cycles.
  • District 17 issues include short-term rental regulation and its impact on north-shore housing availability, state investment in rural roads and flood-resilience infrastructure, and agricultural land preservation in the Hanalei watershed.
  • Voters should follow local candidate forums and Civil Beat Q&As for the candidate's specific positions and platform priorities before the August 8, 2026 primary.

Editorial summary: Misty Cluett is a Republican challenger in the HD17 race covering North and East Kauaʻi. Her campaign site at mistycluett.com is the primary source for her platform; voters should also attend KKCR election forums and monitor Civil Beat Q&As for detailed position statements before the August 8 primary.

Key issues: North Kauaʻi issues, Short-term rental policy, Rural infrastructure

Website: https://mistycluett.com

Profile last reviewed: 2026-06-03

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