Kawakami re-elected as Mayor of Kaua’i

Voters on Kaua‘i overwhelmingly cast their ballots to re-elect Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami. He captured nearly 75% of the vote to defeat Michael Poai.

After the second printout, Kawakami had 13,273 votes (74.9%) while Poai garnered 3,514 (19.8%). After the third printout released this morning, the mayor had 18,127 votes (73.3%) while Poai captured 5,227 votes (21.1%).

“I’m extremely grateful,” Kawakami said, crediting his re-election team for the victory.

“All I had to do was let them do their job,” Kawakami said. “I’m also extremely grateful to the people of Kauaʻi for giving me this opportunity to serve another four years.”

The mayor said he will continue to focus on infrastructure and improve government operations.

“We want to continue to create an environment where people can grow, thrive and be successful,” he said.

Kawakami was praised for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as he took steps to protect the Garden Isle from widespread infection. He attributes his decisions surrounding the health crisis to his parents as they taught him to surround himself by people he trusted.

He was also taught to make right decisions even if they’re unpopular.

“Change is uncomfortable, and we are an administration that represents change,” the mayor said.

Kaua‘i County Council:

Kauaʻi is the only county in Hawaiʻi that does not have districts. Fourteen candidates ran for seven council seats.

The top seven vote-getters after the second printout were: Luke A. Evslin, Bernard Carvalho, Addison Bulosan, Mel Rapozo, KipuKai L.P. Kualiʻi, Ross K. Kagawa and Felicia Cowden.

As of the third printout, the top five vote-getters remained the same. However, Felicia Cowden moved into the sixth spot while Bill DeCosta captured the seventh.

Carvalho, Cowden, Kualiʻi, DeCosta and Evslin all are on the current County Council.

Kagawa was edged out of the top seven spots by DeCosta by a mere 158 votes.

Trailing behind Kagawa by more than 1,000 votes is Ferne Anuenue Holland, Lila Balmores Metzger, Rachel M. Secretario, Shirley R. Simbre-Medeiros, Roy Saito and Nelson H. Mukai.