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Hawaii County Mayor's Race Is Getting Lots Of Cash This Year

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Hawaii County Mayor's Race Is Getting Lots Of Cash This Year


Most top legislative races have drawn less support from political donors.

Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth has raised and spent tens of thousands of dollars more than his opponent, Kimo Alameda, in his bid to win a second term.

But so far that’s been noticeably less than at the same point four years ago, when Roth easily beat Ikaika Marzo, a business owner.

Marzo in 2020 had far fewer campaign resources than Alameda in 2024, who has attracted a broad range of donations in the contest and is considered a more serious rival.

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Both candidates have also held several fundraisers in the waning days of the general election, illustrating their need for cash to garner votes on Hawaii’s largest island.

Roth asked for money at Duc’s Bistro in Honolulu and the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel in September, while Alameda held four fundraisers in September — one each at the Kaimana Hotel in Honolulu and at the Kona Elks Club, and two at the Hilo Lagoon Center.

Roth reported more than $330,000 in contributions, including $50,000 from Sept. 17 through Oct. 21, which covers the latest filing period. Alameda received $284,000 in contributions, with $28,000 coming in during the recent reporting period.

Hawaii County Mayor's Race Is Getting Lots Of Cash This Year
Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth, left, has a campaign finance edge over challenger Kimo Alameda, but both have proven prodigious raisers of funds. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)

Meanwhile, Roth outspent Alameda by $100,000 — $340,000 to $241,000. Roth is depending heavily on TV advertising. Most of the $109,000 he paid during the recent filing period went to Hamburger Group Creative of Washington, D.C.

For his part, Alameda expended $44,000 during the same period, nearly half of it going to Oahu Publications (it owns newspapers in Hilo and Kailua-Kona) for print ads.

Both candidates have received a number of donations from local sources willing to shell out a minimum $1,000.

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For Roth, they include executives with Hilo Auto Sales, Commercial Plumbing and Kona Salt Farm. Groups giving to the mayor include Hawaii Operating Engineers Industry Stabilization, Hilo Opportunity Zone Fund, General Contractors Association of Hawaii and Big Island Federal Credit Union.

Alameda has received similarly sized donations from executives with Big Island Grown, JL Hauling and Dickinson General Contracting. Local Union 1186 IBEW PAC Fund also gave $1,000 in the recent reporting period.

The challenger, a clinic administrator and psychologist, also received $10,000 from executives with businesses in Washington state such as Cedar Grove Electric and Emerald Services.

Senate Races Of Interest

The Roth-Alameda race, which is nonpartisan, is perhaps the most high profile contested election statewide, but there are other competitive, partisan races that have attracted media and donor attention.

They include two races for the state Senate and several in the state House of Representatives.

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Republican Sen. Brenton Awa is in his first term representing District 23 (Kaneohe, Kahaluu through Laie, Kahuku to Mokuleia, Schofield Barracks and Kunia Camp) and is one of only two GOP members in the 25-member Senate.

Awa, a former television newscaster, has spoken publicly about his disdain for campaign contributions. He believes donations unduly influence legislators.

To that end, Awa has raised a mere $2,000 and spent just half of it this election cycle. He reported no contributions in his most recent filing and spent nothing on his campaign.

That stands in contrast to his Democratic opponent. And unlike Awa, Ben Shafer faced a primary opponent, former state Sen. Clayton Hee.

Shafer’s latest filing shows that he has a negative cash balance of $1,300, having spent more than the $67,000 he received in contributions.

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His most recent contributors include state Sen. Les Ihara, former legislator Pono Chong, Sheetmetal Workers Local Union 293 and AFSCME Local 646.

The District 23 seat has switched parties several times. In an indication of how fluid relations and loyalties can be, a former occupant of the seat, Gil Riviere, sponsored two fundraisers in September for Shafer at Duc’s Bistro. Riviere, a former Republican, narrowly lost his seat to Awa in 2022 as a Democrat.

Another Senate race pits Democrat Cedric Gates against Republican Samantha DeCorte. The District 22 seat (Koolina, Nanakuli, Maili, Waianae, Makaha and Makua) is temporarily occupied by Cross Makani Crabbe, who was appointed to the position this summer to replace Democrat Maile Shimabukuro, who stepped down in May and endorsed Gates.

Gates, a state representative, pulled in $139,000 in contributions and spent $148,000. But he still has $12,000 in cash on hand, thanks in part to funds transferred from his previous House campaigns.

Recent contributors to Gates include Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole. Gates spent $17,000 during the latest reporting period, including for advertisements in the publication Westside Stories and to pay for postage on mailers.

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DeCorte has raised and spent far more modestly — $48,000 and $36,000, respectively. Contributors include businessman Christopher Flaherty. DeCorte’s latest expenditures include paying for graphic design, printing and text messaging.

And In The House

The District 22 race is one of several in the Ewa and Westside regions of Oahu that have seen Republicans make gains in recent elections. They include three House races where GOP incumbents hope to fend off Democratic challengers. Democrats currently hold 45 of the 51 House seats.

In one of those races, Democrat Corey Rosenlee, a former head of the Hawiai State Teachers Association, is challenging Rep. Elijah Pierick for the District 39 seat (Royal Kunia, Village Park, Honouliuli, Hoopili and portions of Waipahu).

Rosenlee has raised $30,000 in donations but has spent $47,000, an amount that includes $20,000 the candidate gave to himself. His contributors include the HGEA Political Contribution Account, the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, the United Public Workers PAC and state Reps. Della Au Belatti and Sean Quinlan.

The candidate spent $22,000, according to his most recent filing, with most of the money going to pay for mailing campaign postcards.

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Moderator Blaze Lovell interviewed House District 39 candidates Corey Rosenlee and Elijah Pierick at a recent forum. (Civil Beat/2024)

Pierick reported $40,000 in contributions in the current election cycle but has spent only $17,000. Most of his expenses went to Meta, the company that runs Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp.

One of the contributors to Pierick, James Adamson, is listed on Pierick’s filing as having an unknown occupation because, as the representative wrote in his report, “I was sign waving and he gave me a check.”

House and Senate districts are much smaller political divisions than counties, which is why legislative campaigns spend so much money on mailers and postage.

Anthony Makana Paris, a Democrat running against GOP incumbent Diamond Garcia in District 42 (portions of Varona Village, Ewa, and Kapolei, and Fernandez Village), paid Cardinal Services of Honolulu nearly $5,000 for printing and mailing charges in October. Roughly the same amount went to Service Printers of Honolulu for similar services.

Paris has spent $38,440 this election, using up nearly all of the $39,275 he raised. Contributors include Masons Local 630 PAC.

Garcia has raised and spent much less. Contributors include Pono Petroleum of Kapolei, while expenditures include $590 to American Campaign Finance of Honolulu for a database subscription. Garcias also paid Villages of Kapolei magazine $1,397 for an advertisement.

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Meanwhile, GOP incumbent David Alcos is up against Democrat John Clark III in the District 41 House seat (portion of Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe and Barbers Point). Neither had raised much money, nor spent much.

Nevertheless, Alcos paid $1,535 for food and beverage related to his campaign at the Costco Wholesale Corporation Golf Tournament Event, and another $2,940 for events and activities at the Coral Creek Golf Course in Ewa Beach. And Clark paid $1,257 to Reskyu of Honolulu for postcards and $2,717 to Cardinal Mailing Services of Honolulu for postage fees to mail the postcards.



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Hawaii

First Alert Forecast: Bring out the sunscreen! Blue Skies and light winds

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First Alert Forecast: Bring out the sunscreen! Blue Skies and light winds


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Today thru the weekend, it’ll be nice beach weather during the daytime with light winds and minimal rainfall. A few windward showers are possible over the eastern half of the state, but an overall drier trend is expected heading into the weekend.

Gradually diminishing trade winds will deliver just a few showers to windward areas of the smaller islands for the next day or so, while windward Big Island will continue to receive passing showers. Light and variable winds and mostly dry weather are expected statewide from Thursday night into Sunday. A weak front may move over the islands from the northwest late this weekend. This front is expected to bring little in the way of rainfall, however, and winds will remain fairly light.

Download HNN’s weather app for everything you need to plan your day.(Hawaii News Now)

A series of northwest and north-northeast swells are due later this week. Several small bumps along the way for north shores, but a medium north swell builds today and an overlapping swell arrives late Saturday, peaking Sunday into Monday. Surf should remain below high surf advisory criteria for the foreseeable future.

Get weather updates every ten minutes and your 7-Day First Alert Forecast on HNN Sunrise, weekdays with Guy Hagi and weekends with Billy V. Meteorologist Drew Davis has your forecasts on This is Now, First at Four and Hawaii News Now at 6:30. And join Chief Meteorologist Jennifer Robbins at 5, 5:30, 6, 9 and 10 and Ben Gutierrez on weekends.

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Top booster cuts university funding over shocking athletics ouster

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Top booster cuts university funding over shocking athletics ouster


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – One day after the abrupt firing of University of Hawaii athletics director Craig Angelos, questions remain on exactly why he was suddenly let go.

The decision has upset many UH supporters and they’re making their feelings known.

Longtime UH supporter and businessman Mike Kawazoe founded the Rainbow Collective in April of last year as a way to raise funds for the department and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) money for student-athletes.

In that time, the collective raised over $1 million, and Kawazoe applauds Angelos’ work in generating revenue and securing successful business ventures for the program.

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He says he was shocked at the firing and says no one from the university has reached out to him explaining the decision.

Related post: University of Hawaii abruptly fires athletics director Craig Angelos after 18 months

“I think that if there was an egregious reason for this to occur, I think that everyone would get on board and say we understand why this move was made. It’s been crickets,” he said.

“If you’re using performance as the excuse, that makes zero sense from anyone close to the program,” said Kawazoe.

Kawazoe said while the collective will still donate funds for individual student-athletes and NIL opportunities, he will personally no longer donate any money directly to the university.

“We’re at a critical juncture here as all of these moving parts are going on and transitioning with deals on the table,” he said. “The ink on the paper is not signed yet and details to be worked out. It’s a critical time. The timing could not be worse.”

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Learn more: Student-athletes, sports community incensed over ousting of UH athletics director

Attorney Jeff Portnoy is the former athletics committee chair for the university’s Board of Regents. He says this kind of sudden dismissal shows dysfunction, and can damage a program for years.

“It’s just another nail in what has been, unfortunately, the building of a coffin and under what circumstances, can Hawaii maintain a Division I football program when you have this kind of discord, which is being played out not only locally, but nationally? No one can say it’s a good thing,” he said.

The university has had five athletics directors since 2008. When the search for Angelos’ replacement begins early next year, Portnoy is worried that the current state of the department will ward off any serious candidates.

“How do you run a Division I football program with not having the NIL money? With not having the institutional money and playing on a football field where you’re lucky if you get 10,000 people? I don’t know who would take the job, but I’m sure there’s somebody out there that will think about it.”

We have yet to hear from UH President David Lassner on the decision, but he will be speaking with the Board of Regents Thursday at 9 a.m. at UH Manoa.

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The public is also welcome to submit testimony.



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Kamala Harris flees on vacation to Hawaii with Doug after devastating loss and with Europe bracing for WWIII

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Kamala Harris flees on vacation to Hawaii with Doug after devastating loss and with Europe bracing for WWIII


Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff have fled to Hawaii after her election loss and as Europe faces the possibility of war. 

The couple is on Kalaoa, which is on the west side of the big island of Hawaii. They are hunkered down in the sun after Donald Trump’s landslide victory in the 2024 presidential election.

The couple will be able to enjoy long walks on its scenic beaches as the shadow war looms over Europe.

Russia has signaled it will retaliate with full-scale nuclear war after Ukraine launched US-made missiles over the border on Tuesday. The United States Embassy in Kyiv issued an urgent warning on Wednesday morning that Russia might launch ‘a significant air attack,’ closing the embassy and telling Americans to shelter in place.

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It’s unclear how long Harris and Emhoff will be on the island, which is the southernmost point of the United States.

The couple usually spends the Thanksgiving holiday on Hawaii. It’s unclear if Emhoff’s children or any of the Harris family members will join them.

Harris’ office did not respond to DailyMail.com’s inquiry. Local papers report she’s staying about a week.

Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff arrived on the big island of Hawaii on Tuesday evening

President Joe Biden has not publicly stated his plans for Thanksgiving. In the past, the Biden clan has decamped to Nantucket for the holiday.

The local papers say preparations are being made on the island for the presidential arrival and that the Secret Service has ordered 200-plus turkey dinners from a local restaurant.

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Harris, meanwhile, has retreated from the public eye since her devastating loss.

She appeared with Biden on Veteran’s Day at Arlington National Cemetery and then had lunch with him at the White House the next day. 

But she has been behind closed doors for a week 

Harris, however, is prepared to fly back from Hawaii to break any tie votes in the Senate if needed.

She delayed her trip in the event that she would be needed for votes in the Senate to confirm judges, one of her aides told NBC News. She is not expected to be needed as no major battle is expected over judicial nominees until December.

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President Biden is working to fill all the empty judicial openings in his final few months in office as he seeks to top the 234 judges Trump secured during his first term.

Harris, as vice president, is the president of the Senate and breaks any 50-50 votes.

Schumer has made it clear he’s determined to get the confirmations done before Biden leaves office and that he would use the lame-duck session – the period between the election and when the new president is inaugurated – to confirm more judges.

Republicans did the same in late 2020 as Trump was finishing his first term.

‘We are going to use the lame duck to confirm judges. And we’re going to do everything we can to get as many judges done as possible, trying to overcome the Republican obstruction,’ Schumer told NBC. 

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Harris and Emhoff are regular vacationers to Hawaii.  

She won Hawaii’s four electoral votes in the Nov. 5 election and received 60.6% of the overall count in the state versus 37.5% for Trump. 

The war between Russia and Ukraine is heating up

The war between Russia and Ukraine is heating up

Meanwhile, the war between Russia and Ukraine is heating up.  

Vladimir Putin’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov warned that Moscow would ‘react accordingly’ after Ukraine launched its latest strike.

In a dramatic escalation on the 1,000th day of the conflict, Kyiv launched six ‘ATACM’ missiles from an undisclosed location over the border into Russian territory. 

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Such attacks are expected to increase in frequency after Biden approved the use of ATACMS earlier this week. 

The strikes triggered a fiery explosion at a depot in Karachev, believed to be storing ammunition supplied by North Korea, around 75 miles from the Ukrainian border. 

At the same time, Vladimir Putin provocatively signed off changes to Russia’s laws on nuclear weapons to make it easier for them to be deployed against Ukraine in retaliation.

The amendments allow Russia to launch a nuclear attack in response to a conventional weapons strike – such as one by long-range missiles.

As the situation grows, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer offered his biggest hint yet that No.10 would authorize Ukraine to fire UK Storm Shadow missiles into Russia.

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Both Moscow and Kyiv appear to be stepping up their attacks ahead of President-elect Trump’s inauguration in January. 

Trump has said he wants to bring a swift end to the war in Ukraine but has not said how leading to uncertainty about what his solution will be and what level of support he will give Ukraine. 



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