Kawakami’s campaign office confirms Kauaʻi mayor plans to run for Kouchi’s Senate seat in 2026

The campaign office for Kauaʻi Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami has confirmed the mayor intends to run for Hawaiʻi Senate District 8 in 2026, with the support of the current seat holder, Senate President Ron Kouchi.

“In cooperation with Sen. Kouchi, Mayor Kawakami has declared with the Hawaiʻi Spending Commission that he intends to run for Hawaiʻi Senate District 8 in 2026,” wrote Dan Giovanni, the Chair of Friends of Derek Kawakami, in an email response to Kauaʻi Now on Wednesday.

Speculation about Kawakami filing for the District 8 seat, which represents Kaua’i and Niʻihau, circulated last month when Civil Beat reported in its Sunshine Blog that Kouchi was going to hold a pricey fundraiser for Kawakami at The Pacific Club in Honolulu on Sept. 10.

The article questioned why Kouchi, one of the state’s highest-ranking politicians, would hold the gathering for Kawakami, who is not on the ballot this year and will term out as mayor in 2026.

In his email response Wednesday, Giovanni confirmed that Kouchi had held the Sept. 10 event for Friends of Kawakami. He also noted Kawakami had to declare his intention to run for the seat before accepting any campaign funds.

“In accordance with the Hawaiʻi Campaign Spending Commission rules, a person serving the final years of his/her term may not raise campaign funds unless he/she has declared with (the spending commission) that they intend to run for a specific office,” Giovanni said.

However, he added that – as both Kouchi and Kawakami explained at The Pacific Club event – their respective decisions “are subject to change.” 

Kouchi, who is in his late 60s, has held the District 8 seat since 2012, and has been Senate President since 2015. It has not been confirmed whether Kouchi will retire or seek another office. A representative for Kouchi could not immediately be reached for comment. 

According to an image of the promotional flyer, tickets for The Pacific Club event cost $1,350, a six-person table was $7,500, and an 8-person table was $10,000.

Giovanni did not say how much money was raised during the Sept. 10 fundraiser, and the latest online data from the Hawai’i Campaign Spending Commission only runs through Aug. 10.

Kawakami was first elected mayor of Kaua’i on Nov. 6, 2018, receiving 65.1% (16,801) of the vote, defeating current County Council Chair Mel Rapozo, who received 30.9% (7,970) of the vote. 

In the Nov. 8, 2022 election, Kawakami received 73.3% (18,249) of the vote, defeating Michael Roven Poai, a Kapa’a machine operator, who garnered 21.1% (5,267) of the vote. 

Before becoming mayor, Kawakami was a Kaua’i County Council Member from 2008 to 2011, as well as from 2016 to 2018. He also was previously the State Rep. for House District 14 – Hanalei, Princeville, Kīlauea, Anahola, Kapaʻa and Wailua – from 2011 through 2016.

In an email request to county Public Information Officer Alden Alayvilla to speak with Kawakami about his potential plans to run for the Senate, he said: “Since this deals with the Mayorʻs campaign, you must reach out to the campaign itself.”

Giovanni did not respond to a request for an interview with Kawakami.

During his State of the County address in March 2024, Kawakami described focusing on issues including infrastructure, waste management, and wildfire prevention in his final term as mayor.