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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

DECOSTA, Billy D.

Party: Nonpartisan · Backing: Establishment

Platform: Former council member (2020–2024) who lost his seat in 2024 and is returning in 2026; water systems, ag land, and roads focus.

  • Served on the Kauaʻi County Council from 2020 to 2024, losing his seat in the November 2024 general election; filed nomination papers for the 2026 race on May 13, 2026.
  • Prior Council record and 2024 Civil Beat candidate Q&A document a consistent focus on county water systems — advocating for investment in infrastructure that maintains safe, reliable water delivery across the island.
  • Supports protections for agricultural land: resists rezoning that would convert productive agricultural parcels to non-farm uses; frames ag-land protection as central to Kauaʻi's long-term food security and character.
  • Prioritizes road and infrastructure repair as a basic obligation of county government — citing deferred maintenance and pothole remediation as measures that directly affect daily quality of life for residents.
  • Generally cautious on large-scale density upzoning and rapid visitor-industry restructuring; favors steady, incremental management of existing county systems over major policy overhauls.

Editorial summary: Billy DeCosta is a former Kauaʻi County Council member (2020–2024) who is returning to the ballot in 2026. His Civil Beat 2024 Q&A and prior council record, documented at civilbeat.org, reflect sustained positions on county water infrastructure, agricultural land preservation, road repair, and measured growth management.

Key issues: County water systems, Agricultural land protection, Roads & infrastructure, Measured growth

Profile last reviewed: 2026-06-03

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