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
Party: Nonpartisan · Backing: Independent
Platform: Former Intel operations manager and Waimea restaurant owner; filed then withdrew from the 2026 council race.
- Bart Thomas initially filed for the 2026 Kauaʻi County Council race and subsequently withdrew. His candidacy is no longer active per the Hawaiʻi Office of Elections candidate snapshot.
- Source: Hawaiʻi Office of Elections candidate filings: https://elections.hawaii.gov/candidates/
- Voters are encouraged to attend candidate forums, review local election coverage, and consult the Hawaiʻi Office of Elections voter guide for updated platform information before the August 8, 2026 primary.
Editorial summary: Bart Thomas withdrew from the 2026 Kauaʻi County Council race after initially filing. His name does not appear as a current filed candidate in the official May 2026 Hawaiʻi Office of Elections snapshot.
Key issues: County operations, Resident housing, Visitor-industry balance, Small business
Profile last reviewed: 2026-06-03