The Hawaii Democratic Party has announced that seven candidates have been vetted and meet the legal requirements to be considered to fill the position of State Senator representing Hilo, Senate District 1. The position became vacant when Kai Kahele resigned after being elected to be the United States Representative to Congress representing the Second Congressional District (neighbor islands and rural O’ahu).
- Laura Acasio
- Jennifer Kagiwada
- Amy Kalili
- Wilfred “Wil” Okabe
- Dennis “Fresh” Onishi
- Maureen Namaka Rawlins
- Christopher Toshiro Todd
The next step for the Democratic Party is to narrow the list down to three candidates. Those names will be submitted to the Democratic State Party Chair Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, and then to Gov. David Ige, who will make the final selection and appoint one of the three to fill the balance of Kahele’s term in the State Senate.
The 44 Democratic Party members who will vote will meet at 6 p.m. on Wed., Dec. 23, 2020. Each candidate will make a presentation. The meeting will be virtual, and streamed live on the Hawaii County Democratic Party Facebook page up until the point of voting.
The Hawaii State Legislature convenes on January 20, 2021.
Photo is former State Senator Kai Kahele, now the U.S. Representative to Congress for the neighbor islands and rural O’ahu.