Dr. Kimo Alameda officially launched his campaign for Hawaiʻi County Mayor at a community rally in Hilo over the weekend. 

“This place, and all of its wonderful and diverse people, helped shape me into the person I am today” Alameda said to over 300 supporters in the rally audience, “And like so many of you, I want to make sure that this island can continue to shape the lives of our children and grandchildren, so that they can sustain and perpetuate our local culture and identity. Our campaign is an expression of gratitude and aloha for our island, our culture, and our people.” 

Educated as a counselor and psychologist, “Dr. Kimo” worked at the state Department of Health as a mental health specialist and later as the director of the Office of Health Equity. In 2015, he entered county government as the Executive of the Office of Aging under Mayors Billy Kenoi and Harry Kim before becoming CEO of the non-profit Bay Clinic Health Center. He most recently served as vice president of business development for the newly-formed Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center, one of the largest federally-qualified health centers in the state.

In his announcement, Alameda said, “My goal is to build a Hawaiʻi where people can get educated, find good jobs, raise their families, and enjoy this beautiful ʻāina that we’ve been blessed with. “Why is the county getting in the way of us building an additional dwelling on property we already own?… Our kids don’t want to move far away… if they could, they would move out of their parents’ house and live right in the back. I know because I have seven of um and three of um said they would.”

Kimo and his wife Star reside in Hilo with their seven children and one grandchild. 

Photo credit: Dr. Kimo Alameda