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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

MARTIN, Umi

Party: Nonpartisan · Backing: Independent

Platform: Westside Kauaʻi farmer, small business owner, and community coach running on Aloha, Authenticity, and Integrity.

  • Born and raised in Kekaha on the Westside of Kauaʻi; background includes work as a youth counselor, poi mill employee, substitute teacher for nearly a decade, and high school canoe paddling coach. Continues to farm in Kekaha and co-owns Umi's Store in Waimea.
  • Served on agriculture-related advisory boards at the county, state, and federal levels; cites this multi-tier government experience as preparation for council work.
  • Supports expanding recycling access island-wide, reducing waste sent to the landfill, and improving collection and sorting infrastructure.
  • Advocates for long-term landfill capacity planning, improved waste management systems, and exploring sustainable alternatives to reduce landfill reliance.
  • Supports a practical, cost-manageable transition from cesspools to modern sewage infrastructure, prioritizing protection of Kauaʻi's water quality and public health.
  • Prioritizes housing affordability and workforce housing for local families, calling for responsible development that keeps communities accessible and stable.

Editorial summary: Umi Martin is a working-class Westside Kauaʻi native whose platform is grounded in his farming, small-business, and agricultural-board experience. His campaign website lists four concrete issue areas — recycling, landfill capacity, cesspool conversion, and housing affordability — making his platform among the most specific of the 2026 council field. His family roots in the plumbers union and small-business ownership track closely with a practical, infrastructure-first outlook.

Key issues: Recycling infrastructure, Landfill capacity, Cesspool-to-sewer conversion, Workforce housing, Agriculture

Website: https://umi4council.com

Profile last reviewed: 2026-06-03

Other candidates in this race