Kauaivotes.org

Neurodivergent-friendly voter information for Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi

KAUAI COUNCILMEMBER

About the 2026 Kauaʻi County Council Race

The Kauaʻi County Council is a seven-member body elected at-large, meaning every registered voter on Kauaʻi picks up to seven of the candidates from the same island-wide ballot — the top seven vote-getters in the general election win seats. The Council has no sub-districts; all seats are island-wide. As of the June 9, 2026 official filing record, 27 candidates initially filed for the race; Bart Thomas withdrew after filing, leaving 26 confirmed on the primary ballot. Council Chair Mel Rapozo vacated his seat to run for mayor. Fern Holland is among the filed candidates who previously served on the Council. The at-large structure means voters choose among all island-wide candidates on a single ballot. Key issues candidates have addressed in campaign coverage include housing affordability, the role of short-term vacation rentals, tourism-driven development, and public-safety and infrastructure investment. Voters should consult candidate websites, KKCR Elections forum recordings, and Honolulu Civil Beat candidate Q&As for verifiable stances.

Open seat — no incumbent running.

Primary date: 2026-08-08

COOTS, Mike

Party: Nonpartisan · Backing: Grassroots

Platform: Born and raised in Kīlauea, small-business owner running for council with affordable housing as his top priority.

  • Born and raised on Kauaʻi (Kīlauea); describes himself as 'not a politician — my only special interest is the people of this island.' Runs a small business and has a longstanding public profile as an ocean photographer, shark-conservation advocate, and shark-attack survivor.
  • On affordable housing (his top priority): would push the Mayor to declare a Housing Emergency Proclamation; advocate for tiny homes and pre-approved package homes on agricultural land with alternative waste solutions (composting toilets, water-catchment); and rubber-stamp permitting for pre-approved home designs to cut approval time.
  • On protecting the island: supports policies that keep Kauaʻi a livable home for local residents and future generations — balancing growth with preservation of community character and environmental quality.
  • On working together: believes a council seat is 'a line on a vote and a position in a room,' not a social media account; emphasizes coalition-building, plain-language accountability, and mechanisms that actually move the needle.
  • Backed tighter limits on visitor accommodations and stronger shoreline preservation rules in his prior public advocacy; continues to prioritize coastal and community protection on the council platform.

Editorial summary: Mike Coots is a lifelong Kauaʻi resident (Kīlauea) and small-business owner whose 2026 council platform, documented at coots4council.com, lists affordable housing as the island's defining crisis and calls for a Housing Emergency Proclamation, tiny-home permitting on agricultural land, and pre-approved package-home processing. His background as a shark-conservation advocate and ocean photographer underscores his coastal and community-protection orientation.

Key issues: Affordable housing, Housing emergency action, Coastal & community protection, Permitting reform, Island preservation

Website: https://www.coots4council.com

Profile last reviewed: 2026-06-03

Other candidates in this race