Kaʻū News Briefs July 28, 2024

Mayor Mitch Roth

THERE WILL BE A RUNOFF IN THE RACE FOR MAYOR of Hawai'i County and the most likely matchup will be Mayor Mitch Roth and Dr. Kimo Alameda, according to one of Hawai'i's most quoted political analysts, Colin Moore. Moore also points to Bree Kobayashi and Seaula Jr. Tupa'i as candidates with supporters.

    The election ends Aug. 10, the last day that citizens can vote - it's only in person since ballots were already sent out and are returning in the mail. Aug. 10 is the day for the completion of counting of all mail-in ballots returned by registered voters. Learn how to register and still vote at 

Dr. Kimo Alameda

www.hawaiielections.gov.

    Moore is a professor at the School of Communication and Information Program at University of Hawai'i and Director for the Matsunaga Institute for Peace. He works with the University of Hawai'i Economic Research Organization. He has a Masters and PhD from Harvard University Department of Government.
   In an analysis provided to John Burnett, reporter for Hawai'i Tribune-Herald newspaper, Moore predicted that "Roth isn't going to win on primary night" but won't lose to other candidates in the Primary. Regarding Roth and Alameda, Moore said, "I think we're likely to see them both move forward."
    The contest is non partisan and is over on Aug. 10 if any candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote in the Primary. Otherwise the top two vote getters face a runoff in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Seaula Jr. Tupa'i

    In Moore's analysis, he points out that Roth has the backing of International Longshore & Warehouse Union, Laborers' International, International Union of Operating Engineers, and the Plumbers & Pipefitters. However, Alameda gained the endorsement of United Public Workers and Hawai'i Government Employees Association, the two biggest unions representing workers in government. Also endorsing Alameda is the State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers.

    The next candidate spending report, showing donations to campaigns, was due at the state Campaign Spending Commission on July 31. 

Bree Kobayashi

     For the June 30 report, Roth showed $226,513 in campaign contributions and $132,350.26 in expenditures. Alameda reported contributions of $140,252.32 and expenditures of $106,735.84. Kobayashi reported $48,615 coming in, and expenditures of $27,244.05. Tupa'i reported receiving $10,591.09 with $11,278.73 spent. Mayoral candidates Daniel Cunningham, Kavin Kahikina and Yumi Kawano have no Campaign Spending Commission reports filed.

    In the June 30 report, "I think the smart money is on Roth and Alameda because they have the money to spend," Moore told the Tribune Herald. "Raising money is also an indication of what level of support you have in the community, especially if you're getting a lot of mid-level donations. I think that indicates a broad support among people who are politically active, because the people who give are the ones who, often, will tell their friends and neighbors to vote for you — especially the mid-level donations. The big donations tend to be, usually, people with some kind of interest in the outcome of the election because they're business owners or something like that, often trying to buy goodwill." See who gives money to whom at https://ags.hawaii.gov/campaign/reports/election-summaries/.
    Moore advocates for publicly funded elections and wrote a report on it for UHERO at  https://tinyurl.com/yc5nd5rv.

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LEARN KAʻŪ HISTORY AT AUG. 18 REUNION: The public is invited to learn more about the history of Kaʻū and to interact with locals who grew up here during the Kaʻū High Reunion to be held on Sunday, Aug. 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center.
    The PBS film Kaʻū Sugar: A Town Remembers will be shown. The filmmaker is Cliff Watson, whose wife grew up in Pāhala. Oldtimers who worked for the plantation, including Eddie Andrade, will be on hand to interact with the public. Kaʻū Multicultural Society will put on its history display.
    Another film Kaʻū Coffee, the Gold that Replaced Sugar, will also be shown.
    Attendees are invited to bring a pot luck dish. Sponsor of the event is Kaʻū High Alumni & Friends.

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,

5,500 in the mail, 2,000 on the streets Volcano to Miloli'i
 See www.kaunews.com