Voters in Hawaii’s 1st House District will face an unusual situation in the upcoming state primary: Rep. Mark Nakashima, 61, passed away on July 11 yet will still appear on the ballot as a viable candidate.
According to the Hawaii Office of Elections, his name will stay on the ballots since they were printed before his passing. Nakashima was the only candidate running for the seat, assuring his victory.
“Given that the Honorable Mark. M. Nakashima would have met (the electoral) requirements, he would have been declared duly and legally elected after the Primary Election,” Hawaii Chief Election Officer Scott Nago said in a statement after the sole candidate’s death.
Hawaii State Rep. Mark Nakashima, who passed away on July 11, 2024, will still appear on the primary ballot as a viable candidate.
More: Hawaii’s state primary is Aug. 10. Here are tips for what’s on the ballot, how to vote
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Once the results are tabulated and a winner is announced, Gov. Josh Green must appoint someone within 60 days from a list of three candidates submitted by Nakashima’s political party, the Democratic Party.
Nakashima, 61, had battled diabetes for years and faced significant health complications, according to his family. He also received a kidney transplant in January 2023.
Nakashima served as chairman of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, chairman of the Committee on Economic Development, chairman of the Committee on Labor and Public Employment and vice chairman of the Higher Education Committee.
“Rep. Nakashima’s legacy of service, dedication to education, and commitment to sustainable energy will continue to inspire us all,” said Green. “He was a gentle yet fierce advocate for Hawaii’s residents, and we honor his memory and contributions to our community and state.”
On social media, many constituents shared condolences and praised Nakashima’s service. “Mark Nakashima was a fine community leader,” Lark J. Morin of Lāhainā, Maui, said. “Thank you for all you’ve done.”
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Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hawaii lawmaker’s death creates ballot complication for voters
This U.S. Geological Survey map shows the location of a magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck off Hawaii island’s southwest coast Friday night.
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A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck off the southwest coast of Hawaii island Thursday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The epicenter of the quake, which hit at 8:17 p.m., was about 34 miles west-southwest of Captain Cook at a depth of about 24 miles below sea level, USGS officials said. It did not generate a tsunami threat to the islands, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
USGS said in a statement that the earthquake “was related to bending of the ocean crust and upper brittle mantle (the lithosphere) by the weight of the islands.” No impact to the Mauna Loa volcano nor the ongoing Kilauea eruption was expected.
The USGS self-reported “Did you feel it?” online survey for the earthquake generated well over 200 responses, mostly on the Big Island but including several from Oahu and Maui.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Democratic Party of Hawaii selected three nominees to fill the vacant Senate District 18 seat, serving Central Oahu, Mililani, Waipio and Waipahu, after Sen. Michelle Kidani’s retirement.
Kidani’s retirement took effect on June 30.
The party announced Thursday that Sechyi Laiu, Beth K Fukumoto, and Danielle Bass were submitted for selection to fill the seat.
Laiu is a senior Hawaii civil service administrator with more than 15 years of experience in commercial, family, immigration and legislative law. He is the litigation coordinator for the Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and was a staff attorney for the city on transportation, public safety, legal affairs and salary compensation.
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Fukumoto is a political columnist, longtime Miliani resident and former state representative. She served as vice chair of the House committees on Tourism and Veterans, Military and International Affairs and Culture and the Arts.
Bass is a fourth-generation, lifelong Miliani resident, with more than 20 years of experience serving Central Oahu and Hawaii. She served as Legislative and Committee Manager in the House and advanced sustainability and resilience initiatives and policies as the state’s sustainability coordinator.
The governor will choose one of the three to serve as the next state senator for Central Oahu.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Honolulu (KHON2) – Navigating the many programs and services available for young children can be overwhelming, but First 5 Hawaii is making it easier for families to find the support they need.
Designed for families with children from birth to age 5, First 5 Hawaii is the state’s first comprehensive online resource that helps connect parents and caregivers with state and federal programs they may qualify for.
By answering a few simple questions, families can quickly discover resources tailored to their specific needs.
The website serves as a one-stop shop, partnering with 18 state and federal programs to help connect families with services such as preschool, child care assistance, health coverage, nutrition programs including WIC and SNAP, parenting support, developmental screenings, and special needs services.
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Parents can also explore age-appropriate activities, child development information, and helpful parenting resources.
What sets First 5 Hawaii apart is its personalized eligibility screening tool.
Instead of searching multiple websites and applying for programs one at a time, families can use a single resource to identify benefits they may qualify for across early learning, health care, nutrition, housing assistance, and more.
Even families who aren’t sure they qualify are encouraged to give it a try. The online eligibility screener is free, confidential, and only takes a few minutes to complete.
Many families are surprised to learn they may be eligible for programs they didn’t know existed.
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By bringing trusted resources together in one convenient location, First 5 Hawaii helps remove barriers for busy parents and makes it easier to access services that support healthy child development during the most important early years of life.
To learn more or complete the eligibility screener, visit the First 5 Hawaii website.
