Kirstin Kahaloa swept through the Democratic competition and is headed for a general election matchup against Republican Jonathan Kennealy for the newly created House District 6, holding a commanding 63.3% of the vote, with about 90% of votes counted Saturday.
Kahaloa most recently worked as portfolio manager of sustainable industry development for Kamehameha Schools. She’s previously served as community engagement lead for the Blue Zones Project, legislative aide for state Sen. Dru Kanuha and executive director for the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. Kahaloa’s work and passion center around education and advocacy for community well-being. She’s been endorsed by a number of business and labor groups.
“I’m just very humbled. I’m ecstatic about how many people voted and humbled by the community support,” Kahaloa said. “I love Kona and I can’t wait to run in the general.”
Fellow Democrats Ilya Barannikov and Lono Mack held 9.3% and 4.2% of the Democratic votes, respectively. A full 21.2% of eligible voters did not vote in the contest.
Barannikov runs the non-profit arts-based mentorship program Hawaii-Fi, which aims to target young underprivileged youth and give them access to inspiring local creatives. He emigrated to the United States when he was 7 years old, fleeing the communist regime in Russia.
Mack was born and raised in Kailua-Kona and admitted that his “path forward was uncertain at best.” He’d turned his life around and was ready to contribute to society, he said.
House District 6, running down the coast from Kailua-Kona to Honaunau, was created by the state Reapportionment Commission when the island’s population grew enough to warrant an eighth House seat this year. The renumbered district includes Honaunau, Napoopoo, Captain Cook, Kealakekua, Keauhou, Holualoa and parts of Kailua-Kona.
“It’s especially exciting that Hawaii Island gets an additional voice in the Legislature,” Kahaloa said. “There are 12 voices and I will be one of those 12 who will work hard for our island and for the district of Kona that I represent.”
Kennealy, a former military police soldier in the Army, lists as priorities simplifying the state tax code, tackling political corruption and increasing accountability of public officials.