LIHUE — With less than two months until the General Election, Kauai candidates can be seen along the island’s main roads, waving and smiling at passing cars. They are also at community events — from the Pilgrimage of Compassion to
LIHUE — With less than two months until the General Election, Kauai candidates can be seen along the island’s main roads, waving and smiling at passing cars.
They are also at community events — from the Pilgrimage of Compassion to Alakai Public Charter School’s celebration meeting.
All of this is in effort to increase exposure — and increase campaign contributions.
In the race for Kauai County Council, Gary Hooser, Derek Kawakami, Ross Kagawa, Arthur Brun, and JoAnn Yukimura have the most contributions, according to the Campaign Spending Commission.
For this election period, Hooser has raised a total of $59,193.09, according to disclosure reports from the Campaign Spending Commission.
The highest individual contributions include: William Silva, Bill Kreutzmann and Rosalie Danbury, who each contributed $2,000 and Eileen Kechloian, who donated $1,500 to Hooser’s campaign. There are also several $1,000 contributions, including donations from Anne Earhart, Kevin Pietschker, Ned Dana and William Irvine.
According to a release from his campaign team, Friends of Gary Hooser, the incumbent has raised over $8,000 in “matching funds.”
About 450 Kauai residents contributed $100 or less to the campaign, to make it possible, the release said. The state of Hawaii will match those contributions.
According to the disclosure report, Hooser’s campaign has spent $64,542.97. The bulk of those funds, 45 percent, has been spent on advertising.
Kawakami, who gave up his seat as a state representative to run for county council, has raised $43,775.11.
The largest individual contributions to Kawakami’s campaign came from Dan Mackey and Charles King, who each donated $1,000. Hawaii Laborers and Employers Cooperation and Education Trust Fund donated $1,700, while Shioi Construction, Inc. donated $1,500.
Kawakami has spent $54,983.68 on his campaign, according to the disclosure report. Like Hooser, most of Kawakami’s money has been spent on advertising. So far, $18,485.19 has been spent on advertising.
Brun, a potential newcomer to the council, has raised $30,554.50. Mackey has contributed the most to Brun’s campaign, donating $2,000.
Brun also has support from Hawaii Laborers and Employers Cooperation and Education Trust Fund, which donated $2,000 and United Public Workers, $1,000.
His campaign has spent $19,057.42 to date.
Ross Kagawa and JoAnn Yukimura have raised $34,086.20 and $25,132 respectively.
Arryl Kaneshiro, Mel Rapozo, KipuKai Kuali’i, all incumbents, and Norma Doctor Sparks have made strides in their campaign contributions:
• Kaneshiro: $22,435
• Rapozo: $17,080
• Kuali’i: $13,041
• Doctor Sparks: $11,885
Juno-Ann Apalla, a newbie to the county council race, has raised $9,440.80. She is followed by Mason Chock, incumbent, who has raised $8,092.77.
Matt Bernabe and Richard Fukushima, two more newcomers to the race, round out the campaign funding. Bernabe’s campaign team, Friends of Matt Bernabe, raised $3,122 while Richard Fukushima has raised $1,557.
In the race for House of Representatives, Dee Morikawa, incumbent, a Democrat who represents Niihau, Lehua, Koloa and Waimea, has raised $27,405.
Organizations like the Patsy T Mink Political Action Committee, Hawaii Association of Realtors and the United Public Workers PAC have donated $2,000, $1,100 and $1,000 to Morikawa’s campaign.
She spent $21,221.29 on her campaign, $2,935 went toward advertising.
Her rival, Sharon Franks, a Republican, has raised $620.
Nadine Nakamura, Democrat, and Sandra Combs, Republican, are vying to represent District 14, which makes up of Hanalei, Princeville, Kilauea, Anahola, Kapaa and Wailua.
To date, Nakamura has raised $48,774.59. Organizations like Hawaii Laborers PAC, and the Hawaii Association of Realtors have donated to her campaign, contributing $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.
Combs has raised $9,060. Most of the money in her account was put in the coffer by Combs herself.
In the race for prosecuting attorney, challenger Arin leads Justin Kollar, incumbent, in campaign contributions.
To date, Friends of Lisa Arin has raised $26,557.55. She received $1,000 from the United Public Workers PAC.
Kollar’s campaign has raised $17,620.53. He has spent $15,125.85, most of which has been spent on advertising and printing.
