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Harry Kim (left), Wally Lau
He’s back.
Former two-term Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim pulled off an outright victory Saturday, avoiding a runoff against his closest rival, former managing director Wally Lau, in the contest to replace Mayor Billy Kenoi.
Kim finished with 51.6 percent of the vote, while Lau got only 24.9 percent of the vote.
Further down in the vote tally were former eight-year Kohala County Councilman Pete Hoffman and Marlene M. Hapai, a former University of Hawaii regent and UH-Manoa biology professor. The group led a crowded field of 13 candidates vying for the county’s top elected office.
Kim’s supporters were jubilant Saturday night after each printout showed the former mayor stretching his lead.
Calls for honesty and transparency in county government were heard on the campaign trail this year after Kenoi, who is wrapping up his second and final term, will be tried in October on criminal charges linked to the alleged misuse of his county purchasing card, or pCard.
Kim, the former civil defense director who was mayor from 2000 to 2008, said he was running to restore faith and trust in government and to “make things right.”
Kim, 76, who was edged by Kenoi in the 2012 mayoral race, ran on a shoe-string budget funded largely by donations of $10 or less.
Kim said Saturday was just another day for him, and he attended his granddaughter’s soccer game.
Lau, 68, who worked as Kenoi’s former managing director and deputy managing director for seven years, raised more than $200,000 for his campaign.
Lau said he was not in charge of overseeing Kenoi’s pCard charges and that a review of his own pCard charges found no misuse. He vowed to make sure the recommendations of the pCard audit are implemented if elected mayor.
All of the Hawaii County Council offices are contested with the exception of one: the Council seat for Hamakua. Incumbent Valerie Poindexter will return to her District 1 seat unopposed.
Most of the incumbents won their races Saturday night, but the top two in each race will face each other again in the Nov. 8 general election.
Incumbent Aaron Chung won big in District 2 over Margarita “Dayday” Hopkins. William J. Halversen came in third.
Susan Lee Loy will face Grace Castillo in the District 3 runoff. Moana M.H. Kelii came in third in the race to replace outgoing councilman Dennis “Fresh” Onishi, who ran for state Senate and appears to have lost in the Democratic primary to Sen. Kai Kahele, the son of the late Sen. Gil Kahele.
Eileen Ohara and Madie Greene made the District 4 cut, edging out Michael R. Bernard. The winner will replace Greggor Ilagan, who is running for state Senate.
Jen Ruggles knocked off incumbent Danny Peleka in District 5.
Incumbent Maile David handily beat Raina Whiting in District 6.
Incumbent Dru Kanuha won over challenger Nestorio Domingo in District 7.
Incumbent Karen S. Eoff trounced Jeffrey Citron in District 8.
Waimea veterinarian Herbert “Tim” Richards overtook incumbent Margaret Wille in District 9.
Congratulations to Harry. The Big Island made a definitive political statement against any one of Billy Kenoi’s political associates. Feel sorry for Andy Lau. Good man but was tied in too much with Kenoi’s administration as much as he tried to distance himself in the end.
totally agree with Kona Warrior. Mr Lau seems like a decent man but anyone close to the toxic Billy Kenoi will always also be damaged politically. I really admire Mr. Kim. He is a genuine public servant.
Not from the BI but glad Harry Kim got in. He’s a no nonsense type of guy and I believe he will make things better. Billy is more like a used car salesman.
The only politician, if you want to call him that, that I highly respect for his integrity, honesty, and character. All of the other BOZOS are not worth the dime they stand on for what its worth…..There is no one on Oahu that even comes close to Harry and certainly, if he was much younger, I definitely wouldn’t bet against him running against Hanabata or Schatz or Lazie……..
Congrats Mr. Kim….big island voters have a mayor who is honest and straightforward and will serve them well……
Surpised how healthy and happy Harry looks. Remember he did NOT get a heart attack. He had coronary constriction which causes pailnful ANGINA attacks requiring swallowing nitrobid for relief. He would have had a heart attack if not operated on. Usually if it is not too bad stents will be inserted to expand the point of narrowing, and you go home the next day free of pain. Amazing, no? If it is bad or cannot be done surgical intervention is done requiring cracking open the sternum and transplanting arteries from you leg to your heart after the bad arteries are removed forever. Then you take a year’s worth of strong blood thinners like Effient. You can bleed like crazy so try not to get into fights of fall off a roof. Harry was too scared of the surgery and delayed and delayed thinking he might die. Finally the angina was so painful he had no other choice but to undergo bypass surgery. By doing so he avoided a heart attack. Harry’s probably laughing at himself it wasn’t so bad. He should have done this a longer time ago. But remember one can later acquire new constrictions so twice annual cardiologist visits and the hated treadmills are necessary. Keep taking those baby aspirins or other blood thinners if necessary. If get angina or suspect it’s angina RUSH to the emergency room. Never be embarrassed to enter an ER or ride an ambulance. The alternative is DEATH and huge funerals. Now he is so happy and healthy he runs to get his old job back and WINS. Big island loves Harry, and Harry loves being Mayor. Shaka, Brah!
I heard from one of his supporters that he took his medical records for public viewing to all of his political rally’s as proof as to how fit he was to run and remain in office in good health. Can;t get more transparent than that.
Mahalo Hawaii island for choosing the most qualified man for the job. Imua big island!