Hawaii state executive official elections, 2020
 |
U.S. House • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Special state legislative • Local judges • Local ballot measures • Municipal • How to run for office |
 |
2022 →
← 2018
|
| Hawaii state executive official elections |
|---|
 |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: June 2, 2020 |
| Primary: August 8, 2020 General: November 3, 2020 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Hawaii |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2020 Impact of term limits in 2020 State government trifectas and triplexes |
| Other state executive elections |
Four state executive offices were up for election in Hawaii in 2020:
Office of Hawaiian Affairs (4 seats)
Candidates and election results
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
At-large
General election
General election for Office of Hawaiian Affairs At-large Trustee
Incumbent Keli'i Akina defeated Keoni Souza in the general election for Office of Hawaiian Affairs At-large Trustee on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Keli'i Akina (Nonpartisan) | 50.2 | 197,829 | |
 | Keoni Souza (Nonpartisan) | 49.8 | 196,206 | |
| Total votes: 394,035 | |||
 = 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 Office of Hawaiian Affairs At-large Trustee
The following candidates ran in the primary for Office of Hawaiian Affairs At-large Trustee on August 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Keli'i Akina (Nonpartisan) | 34.4 | 77,136 | |
| ✔ | | Keoni Souza (Nonpartisan) | 27.0 | 60,389 |
| Jackie Burke (Nonpartisan) | 13.1 | 29,422 | ||
| Kaipo Hanakahi (Nonpartisan) | 9.2 | 20,690 | ||
| Shane Palacat-Nelsen (Nonpartisan) | 6.8 | 15,275 | ||
| Larry Kawaauhau (Nonpartisan) | 5.3 | 11,782 | ||
| Lenson Sonoda (Nonpartisan) | 4.1 | 9,254 | ||
| Total votes: 223,948 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Hawai‘i Island Resident Trustee
General election
General election for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaii Island Resident Trustee
Keola Lindsey defeated Lanakila Mangauil in the general election for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaii Island Resident Trustee on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Keola Lindsey (Nonpartisan) | 60.6 | 231,916 |
| Lanakila Mangauil (Nonpartisan) | 39.4 | 150,554 | ||
| Total votes: 382,470 | |||
| = 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 Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaii Island Resident Trustee
The following candidates ran in the primary for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaii Island Resident Trustee on August 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Keola Lindsey (Nonpartisan) | 17.1 | 38,311 |
| ✔ | Lanakila Mangauil (Nonpartisan) | 15.5 | 34,775 | |
| Lui Hao (Nonpartisan) | 12.9 | 28,792 | ||
| Pua Ishibashi (Nonpartisan) | 10.9 | 24,393 | ||
| Kauilani Almeida (Nonpartisan) | 9.3 | 20,694 | ||
| Neolani Cashman-Aiu (Nonpartisan) | 6.9 | 15,337 | ||
| Louis Pau (Nonpartisan) | 6.4 | 14,291 | ||
| Lei Kihoi (Nonpartisan) | 6.2 | 13,828 | ||
| Kalaniakea Wilson (Nonpartisan) | 6.0 | 13,440 | ||
| Laura Desoto-McCollough (Nonpartisan) | 5.5 | 12,245 | ||
| Cyd Hoffeld (Nonpartisan) | 3.4 | 7,610 | ||
| Total votes: 223,716 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau Resident Trustee
General election
General election for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Molokai and Lanai Resident Trustee
Luana Alapa defeated incumbent Colette Machado in the general election for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Molokai and Lanai Resident Trustee on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Luana Alapa (Nonpartisan) | 55.4 | 199,004 |
| Colette Machado (Nonpartisan) | 44.6 | 160,246 | ||
| Total votes: 359,250 | |||
| = 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 Office of Hawaiian Affairs Molokai and Lanai Resident Trustee
Luana Alapa and incumbent Colette Machado defeated U'i Kahue-Cabanting in the primary for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Molokai and Lanai Resident Trustee on August 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Luana Alapa (Nonpartisan) | 42.3 | 76,733 |
| ✔ | Colette Machado (Nonpartisan) | 38.2 | 69,255 | |
| U'i Kahue-Cabanting (Nonpartisan) | 19.5 | 35,353 | ||
| Total votes: 181,341 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i Resident Trustee
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Kauai and Niihau Resident Trustee
Incumbent Dan Ahuna won election outright against Kamealoha Smith and Brittny Perez in the primary for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Kauai and Niihau Resident Trustee on August 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Dan Ahuna (Nonpartisan) | 50.5 | 92,195 | |
| Kamealoha Smith (Nonpartisan) | 30.1 | 55,025 | ||
| Brittny Perez (Nonpartisan) | 19.4 | 35,398 | ||
| Total votes: 182,618 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Context of the 2020 elections
Party control in Hawaii
Hawaii Party Control: 1992-2025
Twenty-six years of Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election.
Hawaii utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[1]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
Hawaii is an all-mail voting state, which means that its elections are conducted mostly by mail. There are voter service centers that are open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time on Election Day where a voter may vote in person, drop of their voted mail ballot, or register to vote. Voter service centers are also open with varying hours for ten business days prior to each election.[2][3]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Hawaii, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of the state, and at least 18 years old. Pre-registration is available beginning at age 16.[4][5]
Registration can be completed in the following ways:[4]
Online: Visit olvr.hawaii.gov. You must have a current Hawaii Driver’s License or State ID, and a social security number to complete an application online.
Mail: Print & submit a completed Voter Registration Application to your Clerk’s Office. Paper application must be submitted to the county elections division by 4:30 PM on the tenth day before each election.
In-person: Visit the Office of Elections or a Clerk’s Office to submit an application in person.
Applications are available at any of the following locations: [4]
- County Elections Divisions
- Clerk’s Offices
- State Libraries
- U.S. Post Offices
- Most State Agencies
- Satellite City Halls
Same-day voter registration is available at voter service centers, to register and vote in-person, beginning 10 days prior and through election day. Once you are registered, you do not need to re-register for another election unless your residence address, mailing address, or name changes.[4]
Automatic registration
- See also: Automatic voter registration
Hawaii offers automatic voter registration for eligible individuals through the Department of Motor Vehicles when they complete a driver license or state ID application, and the Department of Health and Department of Human Services when applying to receive public assistance.[4]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Hawaii has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
- See also: Same-day voter registration
Hawaii allows same-day voter registration.
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Hawaii, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible. The voter registration application includes the following language: "The residence stated in this affidavit is not simply because of my presence in the State, but was acquired with the intent to make Hawaii my legal residence with all the accompanying obligations therein."[5]
Verification of citizenship
Hawaii does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "any person who knowingly furnishes false information may be guilty of a Class C felony."[6]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[7] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
Hawaii's Online Voter Registration System, run by the Hawaii Office of Elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Voters in Hawaii are not generally required to present identification while voting.
When registering to vote for the first time, a Hawaii Driver License, Hawaii State ID, or the last 4-digits of the voter's Social Security Number is required. If none of these can be provided, one of the following must be provided as proof of identification:
- A current and valid photo identification; or
- A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.[5]
Early voting
Hawaii permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
Hawaii conducts its elections by mail. All eligible voters automatically receive mail ballots, which must be returned election officials by close of polls on Election Day.[2]
Past elections
2018
The following elections took place in 2018:
- Hawaii state executive official elections, 2018
- Hawaii gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 11 Republican primary)
- Hawaii gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 11 Democratic primary)
- Hawaii lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 11 Republican primary)
- Hawaii lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 11 Democratic primary)
- Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees election, 2018
- Hawaii gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
See also
| Hawaii | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Hawaii Legislature, "Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 12–31," accessed September 3, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 State of Hawaii - Office of Elections, "Voting in Hawaii," accessed November 4, 2025 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "HIvoting" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ State of Hawaii - Office of Elections, "Voter Service Centers and Ballot Drop Boxes," accessed November 4, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 State of Hawaii Office of Elections, "Registration," accessed November 5, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 State of Hawaii Office of Elections, "Voter Registration and Permanent Absentee Application," accessed November 5, 2025 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "regapp" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ State of Hawaii Office of Elections, "Hawaii Voter Registration Application," accessed November 5, 2025
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
