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KAUAI MAYOR

About the 2026 Kauaʻi Mayoral Race — Open Seat

The 2026 Kauaʻi mayoral race is an open seat: incumbent Mayor Derek Kawakami is term-limited after serving two full terms (2018–2026) and cannot seek re-election. That makes this the first truly open mayoral contest on Kauaʻi in eight years, with no incumbent advantage on the ballot. As of the May 2026 official snapshot, these candidates filed for the race: Mel Rapozo, Bernard Carvalho Jr., Felicia Cowden, Megeso-William Denis, Laura Andaya-Lindsey, and Michaela B. Widener. Housing affordability is a prominent issue across the race — Kauaʻi median home prices have surpassed $900,000. Short-term rental (STR) enforcement, county permitting reform, tourism management, and infrastructure investment are among the policy areas candidates have addressed in filing and campaign coverage. Voters should consult candidate websites, KKCR Elections forum recordings, and local news for verifiable stances from each candidate.

Open seat — no incumbent running.

Primary date: 2026-08-08

DENIS, Megeso-William

Party: Nonpartisan · Backing: Independent

Platform: Former Fortune 500 IT executive running for Kauaʻi mayor on a 'Kauaʻi 1st' people-before-government platform.

  • Frames his campaign as a 'Kauaʻi 1st movement of the people': government exists to serve residents, not special interests; committed to transparent, accountable, and collaborative governance between the Mayor's Office, county departments, the council, and the community.
  • Wants to restore local decision-making by returning authority to the Mayor, county administrators, and the people of Kauaʻi — ensuring policies improve quality of life for residents rather than outside interests.
  • Proposes establishing a Cultural Kūpuna Council to formally guide protection of burial grounds, heiau, sacred sites, natural medicines, cultural identity, ahupuaʻa maintenance, and long-term ecological stewardship, honoring the rights and wisdom of Kanaka Maoli and Hawaiian Nationals.
  • Would hire a full-time County of Kauaʻi Auditor for fiscal oversight, transparency, and responsible management of public funds; and streamline county operations to reduce permitting delays for residents.
  • Prioritizes food sovereignty: protect local control of agriculture, land, and water; expand local organic food production; reduce environmental toxins; support mental-health services and humane shelter solutions.

Editorial summary: Megeso-William Denis is a Kauaʻi resident and former IT executive running on a 'Kauaʻi 1st' platform emphasizing local decision-making, cultural stewardship, fiscal oversight through a county auditor, and food sovereignty. His platform, documented at megesoformayor.com, blends progressive land/culture values with calls for institutional accountability.

Key issues: Local decision-making, Food sovereignty & land stewardship, Cultural preservation, County fiscal accountability, Permitting reform

Website: https://www.megesoformayor.com

Profile last reviewed: 2026-06-03

Other candidates in this race