Well-known names dominate the OHA races in the first results

The name recognition of two career politicians, Peter Apo and Lei Ahu Isa, may have helped them stand out in a large field of candidates for the sole seat in the race for trustee for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. But after initial results were announced Saturday night, the race seemed too close to predict a winner. Incumbent Kelii Akina, who has served as trustee since 2016, had a nearly 7,000-vote lead over Ahu Isa, with Apo just behind. The two leading candidates will face off in the general election.

Seven candidates vied for the seat, including Brendon Kaleiaina Lee, a former OHA trustee, who came in fourth, and Patty Kahanamoku Teruya, chair of the Nanakuli-Maili Neighborhood Board, in fifth place.

Kaialii Kahele appears to have won the election for trustee in Hawaii, as he was able to win more than half of the votes, namely 56.92%. This put him well ahead of his nearest opponent, Z. Kaapana Aki, who received just under a quarter of the votes with 30,259 votes or 24%.

Kahele will likely not be considered elected until all votes are counted, in which case the candidate who receives over 50% of the vote in the primary will be considered elected.

Four candidates are vying for the Hawaii-based trustee's seat, replacing incumbent OHA Vice Chair Mililani Trask, who dropped out of the race and is supporting Kahele.

Of the four, Kahele, who ran unsuccessfully as a Democratic candidate for governor in 2022, is the best known. He has served in Congress, representing Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2021 to 2023 and the 1st district in the state Senate from 2016 to 2020.

Incumbent Luana Alapa, 63, resident trustee on Molokai, had a considerable lead over her three rivals in the first results announced, receiving 49,461 votes, just under half the vote, or 49.11%. Her closest competitor was R. Kunani Nihipali, with almost a third of the vote, or 29.79%.

Since only two candidates filed for the position of Kauai Resident Trustee, the race will automatically be decided in the general election.

The race for a seat on the OHA Board of Trustees is non-partisan.