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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

KAIMINAAUAO, Keola

Party: Nonpartisan · Backing: Grassroots

Platform: Born-and-raised Kauaʻi grandfather and community listener running to amplify every resident's voice on the council.

  • Campaign website (keola4council.com) states his mission as 'Moving Kauaʻi forward with Aloha' and describes his commitment to 'amplifying the voices of all residents in Kauaʻi' — the official, candidate-authored framing of his council candidacy platform.
  • Campaign site describes him as 'a proud son of Kauaʻi, born and raised on the island that shaped his values, spirit, and deep love for community' — with growing up in a family of five instilling his values of kuleana, respect, and standing together; now a father, stepfather, and grandfather of three.
  • Argues on his campaign website that a council seat is primarily about listening, inclusivity, and ensuring every resident's voice is 'heard and valued in the decision-making process' — positioning his candidacy as a community advocacy role rather than a policy-innovation one.

Editorial summary: Keola Kaiminaauao's campaign site frames his candidacy around aloha-grounded community listening and representation of underrepresented residents. His platform does not yet include specific legislative priorities or policy positions; his focus appears to be process and representation — ensuring working families and kupuna are heard on housing, cesspool costs, and beach access decisions.

Key issues: Community representation, Housing affordability, Resident advocacy, Environmental stewardship

Website: https://keola4council.com

Profile last reviewed: 2026-06-03

Other candidates in this race