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Sunday, August 11, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 10, 2024

'Ua and her mom Michelle Galimba
Photo by Ursula D'Angelo
MICHELLE GALIMBA RECEIVED MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF THE VOTES and will not face a runoff with Ikaika Kailiawa-Smith, according to the tally of the votes cast, minus the number of blank votes in the contest. Without an announcement from county or state election authorities naming outright winners and candidates facing runoffs, numerous media outlets including this one followed the percentages listed on the state's official reporting and reported that there will be runoffs in several County Council races. That reporting included blank votes in its calculations.
    Civil Beat, which removed the blank votes from its calculations, reported, "Council member Michelle Galimba also won reelection outright in her four-way race in the huge District 6, which extends from the Volcano area through Pahala, South Point and Hawaiian Ocean View Estates and to Kealakekua.
"Galimba led with 54.9%, while challengers Ikaika Kailiawa-Smith had 30%, Kyle Jones had 9.7% and Marie Burns had 5.2%."
    The contest is over in the primary if one candidate takes more than 50 percent of the votes cast.
The council seat is for Kaʻū and the rest of District Six into South Kona and Puna.
    From her father Al Galimba's family home in Wai'ohinu with her daughter 'Ua and her dad Al Galimba, friends and family, the Council member said, "I love democracy. Whether by running for office, supporting a candidate or simply voting, it gives us all a stake in how our government runs. It takes a lot of heart to run for office and I have a profound respect for my fellow candidates for District 6. A big mahalo to the voters for their continued support."
    Galimba said she plans to work on affordable housing and toward the expansion of the Animal Control and Protection Agency to address urgent needs of animals and people. She said she will continue to work on challenges of increased drought and sea level rise, and to build more sustainable, equitable and resilient communities and economies. 
Ikaika Kailiawa-Smith and his wife Alyssia.
Photo from campaign
    Challenger Kailiawa-Smith ran on a platform of getting things done, food security and economic development. He moved away from the island with his wife Alyssia years ago. They recently came back with their four children. He campaigned on food sustainability and creating jobs so that young families can stay home and work where they grew up. He also opposes the proposed resort development at Punalu'u.
    He also said, "We need to get at least one transfer station open seven days a week, fix our roads and work with state representatives to fix the school bus situation!"
     
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MAYOR MITCH ROTH FACES A RUNOFF WITH DR. KIMO ALAMEDA on Nov. 5. The 10:56 p.m. print out on Saturday for Hawai'i County showed Roth with 37.1 percent, 17,196 votes. Alameda followed with 36.8 percent, 12,403 votes, Breeani R.P. Kobayashi followed with 19.3 percent, 8,961 votes. Tupai Jr. followed with 11.2 percent, 5,175 votes. They were followed by Yumi T.R. Kawano with 417, Daniel H. Cunningham with 342 and Kavin H. Kahikina with 297 votes. 

HAWAI'I COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY KELDON BRAUN AKONI WALTJEN ran unopposed to retain his position. He took in 31,690 votes.

Register to vote for the Nov. 5
General Election.
U.S. SEN. MAZIE HIRONO WON THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY on Saturday, this time with 84.8 percent of the vote. The Republican winner is Bob McDermott with 42.6 percent. The Green Party candidate Emma Jane Avila ran unopposed. They will face off in the Nov. 5 General Election.

KAʻŪ'S MEMBER IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JILL TOKUDA, won the primary on Saturday. She ran unopposed for the Democrats. She will face Republican Steve Bond in the General Election on Nov. 5. He also ran unopposed.

STATE SENATOR DRU KANUHA ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary on Saturday and will face Republican Kurt Sullivan in the General Election on Nov. 5. Sullivan also ran unopposed.

STATE REP. JEANNE KAPELA won the Democratic Primary on Saturday, with 66.8 percent of the vote. She beat Chantel Makuaole-Perrin. Kapela will face Republican Ashley Oyama who ran unopposed for the Republicans and Frederick Fogel, who ran unopposed for the Libertarians. The General Election is Nov. 5.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.



The Reunion features the screening of a PBS film Ka'u Sugar,
A Town Remembers 
on the history of the sugar plantation
 and the closing of the mill in 1996. It will also feature a film 
on history of the local coffee industry.