Today is Election Day.
By the end of the day, Kaua‘i County voters will have elected a new mayor, all seven County Council seats, a U.S. representative, two state constitutional amendments, one charter amendment, an at-large trustee for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and state officials: governor, lieutenant governor, three state representatives and .
Voters have the choice between the two familiar government figures, Mel Rapozo and Bernard Carvalho Jr. — both are current members of the Kauaʻi County Council. They are running for the seat being vacated by Derek S.K.Kawakami, who is term-limited and on the ballot for Hawaiʻi’s No. 2 job, lieutenant governor.
All ballots must be received by 7 p.m. today. If you have not voted already, do not mail your ballot. It’s too late. It will not be counted.
But ballots can be dropped off at any of the 10 ballot boxes set up island-wide.
For those who want to cast their vote in person, the Voter Service Center on Kauaʻi will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. It is located at the Historic County Annex Building at 4386 Rice St. in Līhu‘e.
If you’re not registered to vote, you can register at the Voter Service Center. If you also did not get your mail in ballot, you can go to the Voter Service Center. Make sure to bring proper documentation that you are eligible to vote in the county.
Track your ballot with BallotTrax to know when it is mailed, returned and counted.
Ballot box drop-off locations:
- Hanalei Neighborhood Center, 5-5358 Kūhiō Highway, Hanalei
- Hanapēpē Public Library, 4490 Kona Rd., Hanapēpē
- Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, 4480 Papalina Rd., Kalaheo
- Kapa‘a Public Library, 4-1464 Kuhio Highway, Kapa‘a
- Kīlauea Neighborhood Center, 4260 Keneke St., Kīlauea
- Kōloa Neighborhood Center, 3461 B Weliweli Rd., Kōloa
- Elections Division Historic County Annex Building, 4386 Rice St., Līhu‘e
- Princeville Public Library, 4343 Emmalani Drive, Princeville
- Waimea Neighborhood Center, 4556 Makeke St., Waimea
- Waipouli Town Center (near Guardian Self Storage), 4-771 Kūhiō Highway, Kapa‘a
View the digital voter guide to read statements from candidates and explanations about proposed amendments to the Hawai‘i Constitution and county charters. Put in your address. Then click on candidates or amendments to read more.
Visit the state Office of Elections website for additional information about voting and elections.
Who’s running in Kaua‘i County?
Kaua‘i County Council
During the primary election in August, the county council race was wide open with a crowded field of 26 candidates, vying for one of the seven available council seats.
The top 14 candidates on the General Election ballot are:
- Arryl J. Kaneshiro
- Fern Anuenue Holland
- Todd R. Ozaki
- Michelle Kaleiohi Correa
- Addison Bulosan
- Taylor H. Shigemoto
- Paul Noboru Applegate
- Billy D. DeCosta
- Dane Smith
- Mike Coots
- Umi Martin
- Cheree Rapozo
- Keola Kaiminaauao
- John “Scooby” Mattos
State races
Governor: Incumbent Josh Green (D) versus Gary Cordery (R).
Lieutenant Governor: Derek Kawakami (D) versus Daniel Anthony (R).
State Representative:
- District 16: Luke Evslin (D) versus David Hazlebeck (R)
- District 17: Daynette “Dee” Morikawa (D) versus Misty Cluett (R)
U.S. Representative (District 2)
The only national race on the ballot for Hawaiʻi County voters is U.S. Representative for District 2 (which includes rural Oʻahu and the Neighbor Islands).
District 2: Jill Tokuda (D) vs. Brenton Awa (R)
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Voters are instructed to vote for “not more than three” At-Large Trustees:
- Adrian “Keali‘i” Akina
- Ikaika Anderson
- Kanekoa “Koa” Crabbe
- Brickwood M. Galuteria
- Keoni Souza
- John Waihe‘e IV
State Proposed Amendments to the Hawaii State Constitution
Question #1: Increasing the Timeframe for the Hawaii Senate to Consider and Act on Judicial Appointments.
Question #2: Directing the Hawaii State Legislature to Establish Procedures for Counties to Issue RISE Bonds, Exempt from County Debt Limits.
For the full text of these proposed amendments, go to elections.hawaii.gov or call 808-453-8683.
2026 proposed amendment to Kaua‘i County Charter
Shall the Kauaʻi County Charter be amended to expedite and clarify the Planning Commission’s appeals process by removing all references to a Zoning Board of Appeals?
