Hawaii County Council and Maui Mayoral Candidates Raise Over $130,000 in Campaign Funds

Candidates for the nine‑member Hawaiʻi County Council have collected more than $131,000 in contributions during the six months leading up to the August primary. The top fundraiser, Manu Powers, raised nearly $21,000 from 39 individual donors and has spent the money on campaign materials such as banners, mailers and a website. Other candidates, including Ren del Rosario, JoNelle Fukushima, Jennifer Kagiwada and Wendy Botelho, each raised over $10,000, while incumbent Heather Kimball reported total fundraising of about $34,000.

In Maui, 73‑year‑old councilmember and vice‑chair Yuki Lei Sugimura has entered the 2026 mayoral race, emphasizing the high cost of housing, infrastructure improvements and the rebuilding of Lahaina after the 2023 wildfires. Sugimura pledges to streamline permit processes, invest in water and road infrastructure, and accelerate both residential and commercial recovery efforts.

Both races highlight the importance of local fundraising and policy priorities as candidates seek to address housing affordability, tourism‑related challenges and disaster recovery in Hawaii’s counties.