Elise Hatsuko Kaneshiro

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Elise Hatsuko Kaneshiro

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 8, 2020

Personal

Birthplace

Honolulu, Hawaii

Religion

Christian

Contact

Campaign website

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Elise Hatsuko Kaneshiro (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District. She lost in the Republican primary on August 8, 2020.

Kaneshiro completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Elise Hatsuko Kaneshiro was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. She earned an undergraduate degree from Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University in 2017. She earned a graduate degree from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law in 2020.

Elections

2020

See also: Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020

Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (August 8 Republican primary)

Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (August 8 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Hawaii District 2

The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. House Hawaii District 2 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kaiali'i Kahele (D)	63.0	171,517
		Joseph Akana (R)	30.9	84,027
		Michelle Rose Tippens (L)	2.5	6,785
		Jonathan Hoomanawanui (Aloha Aina Party)	2.4	6,453
		Ron Burrus (Nonpartisan)	1.0	2,659
		John Giuffre (American Shopping Party)	0.2	661

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 272,102
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2

Kaiali'i Kahele defeated Brian Evans, Brenda Lee, and Noelle Famera in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2 on August 8, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kaiali'i Kahele	76.5	100,841
		Brian Evans	9.4	12,337
	Submit photo	Brenda Lee	8.1	10,694
		Noelle Famera	6.1	7,992

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 131,864
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• David Cornejo (D)
• Ryan Meza (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2 on August 8, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joseph Akana	44.1	15,107
		Elise Hatsuko Kaneshiro	15.4	5,294
	Submit photo	David Hamman	10.0	3,430
	Submit photo	Robert Nagamine	8.4	2,887
	Submit photo	Nicholas Love	7.6	2,616
		Steven Bond	6.5	2,218
	Submit photo	Felipe San Nicolas	4.3	1,465
		Karla Gottschalk	2.8	953
	Submit photo	Raymond Quel	0.9	305

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 34,275
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2

Ron Burrus defeated Byron McCorriston in the primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2 on August 8, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ron Burrus	59.2	1,308
	Submit photo	Byron McCorriston	40.8	901

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,209
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Aloha Aina Party primary election

Aloha Aina Party primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2

Jonathan Hoomanawanui advanced from the Aloha Aina Party primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2 on August 8, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jonathan Hoomanawanui	100.0	3,423

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,423
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

American Shopping Party primary election

American Shopping Party primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2

John Giuffre advanced from the American Shopping Party primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2 on August 8, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Giuffre	100.0	134

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 134
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2

Michelle Rose Tippens advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2 on August 8, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michelle Rose Tippens	100.0	1,014

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,014
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2020

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released May 14, 2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Elise Hatsuko Kaneshiro completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kaneshiro's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Elise Hatsuko Kaneshiro was born in 1995 at the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her father is a retired schoolteacher and her mother is a technology specialist.

Elise was raised in Waipahu, attending preschool at The Children's House in Pearl City. She is a 2013 graduate of Iolani School, where she was a member of the varsity cheerleading team. Elise received a generous scholarship to attend Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University, majoring in Finance & Supply Chain Management. During her undergraduate career, she worked for The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas and Teach for America.

Elise continued her education, enrolling at the University of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law. During her time there, she served as a board member of Advocates for Public Interest Law and the Pacific-Asian Legal Studies Organization. Elise worked for the Sex Abuse Treatment Center and on the Hawaii Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. She recently completed her educational journey with a pro bono placement at the Susannah Wesley Community Center. Elise is preparing to take the bar exam in September and will represent Hawaii as a positive voice in Washington D.C.!

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Create individual financial freedom and diversify our state's economy
• Promote wellbeing with nutrition, exercise, therapy, and spiritual sanctuaries
• Provide practical and accessible education to the next generation

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Economy & Financial Freedom, Wellness & Preventative Healthcare, Education & Opportunity, Housing & Community Development, National Security & Veterans Care

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Yes, the Bible.

What legacy would you like to leave?

It is my mission to create a society in which all are empowered to reach their full potential.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

9/11 happened when I was 6 years old. I was in the first grade and remember waking up to the news of what happened because we are a half-day behind the east coast. This event shaped the lives of an entire generation, and I will never forget the resiliency of our nation and its people.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Challenges I perceive our nation facing over the next decade concern national security, aging, and the economy.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Yes, they are: Ways and Means, Appropriations, Oversight and Reform, Education and Labor, Natural Resources, Veterans' Affairs, Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, and Financial Services.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Yes, my friend who lives and works on Maui has been having difficulty receiving unemployment insurance. She is a restaurant server at a very popular restaurant in Lahaina and was also employed as a home aide for a caregiving company. She was one of the only people I knew upon moving to Maui, and she was always extremely welcoming and hospitable. It pains me to know that she is struggling during this time, with extreme uncertainty about her financial future. She is a hard worker who loves her job and establishes long-lasting relationships with her customers that visit from the mainland. Despite the many hardships she is facing, she has made the effort to encourage me as I pursue this candidacy. It's people like my friend, Krystille, who inspire me to make a difference for my community by going to Washington D.C.!

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2020 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. President U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

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External links

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Footnotes

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Hawaii's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Mazie Hirono (D)

Brian Schatz (D)

Representatives

District 1

Ed Case (D)

District 2

Jill Tokuda (D)

Democratic Party (4)