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Kalei Akaka
2019 - Present
2026
6
Kalei Akaka is a member of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, representing Oahu Resident Trustee. She assumed office in 2019. Her current term ends on November 3, 2026.
Akaka won re-election to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to represent Oahu Resident Trustee outright in the primary on August 13, 2022, after the general election was canceled.
Biography
Akaka received her B.A. in Communications and Marketing from Chaminade University of Honolulu. Her professional experience includes working for the Hawaii state legislature and working in the public relations field.[1]
Political career
Office of Hawaiian Affairs Oahu Trustee (2019-present)
Akaka was first elected as the Oahu Trustee for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in November 2018. She was sworn in the following January.
Elections
2022
See also: Hawaii Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees election, 2022
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Oahu Resident Trustee
Incumbent Kalei Akaka won election outright against incumbent Brendon Kalei'aina Lee, Jackie Burke, and Robert Peters in the primary for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Oahu Resident Trustee on August 13, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kalei Akaka (Nonpartisan) | 56.3 | 111,721 |
 | Brendon Kalei'aina Lee (Nonpartisan) | 18.8 | 37,321 | |
| Jackie Burke (Nonpartisan) | 15.8 | 31,354 | ||
| Robert Peters (Nonpartisan) | 9.2 | 18,178 | ||
| Total votes: 198,574 | |||
 = 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. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Oahu Resident Trustee
Kalei Akaka defeated Esther Kia'aina in the general election for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Oahu Resident Trustee on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kalei Akaka (Nonpartisan) | 55.3 | 147,725 |
| Esther Kia'aina (Nonpartisan) | 44.7 | 119,466 | ||
| Total votes: 267,191 | |||
| = 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 Oahu Resident Trustee
The following candidates ran in the primary for Office of Hawaiian Affairs Oahu Resident Trustee on August 11, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kalei Akaka (Nonpartisan) | 26.8 | 44,938 |
| ✔ | Esther Kia'aina (Nonpartisan) | 23.8 | 39,906 | |
| Samuel Wilder King II (Nonpartisan) | 22.4 | 37,468 | ||
| Paul Mossman (Nonpartisan) | 8.4 | 14,055 | ||
| Leona M. Kalima (Nonpartisan) | 8.0 | 13,334 | ||
| Jackie Kahookele Burke (Nonpartisan) | 5.3 | 8,931 | ||
| Francine Kanani Murray (Nonpartisan) | 5.3 | 8,893 | ||
| Total votes: 167,525 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2014
Elections for the Hawaii House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 3, 2014. Incumbent Nicole Lowen defeated Kalei Akaka in the Democratic primary, while Kelly Valenzuela defeated Roy Ebert in the Republican primary. Lowen defeated Valenzuela in the general election.[2][3][4]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Nicole Lowen Incumbent |
62.1% | 3,823 | |
| Republican | Kelly Valenzuela | 37.9% | 2,334 | |
| Total Votes | 6,157 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Nicole Lowen Incumbent |
62.6% | 2,128 |
| Kalei Akaka | 37.4% | 1,273 |
| Total Votes | 3,401 | |
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Kelly Valenzuela |
62.9% | 511 |
| Roy Ebert | 37.1% | 301 |
| Total Votes | 812 | |
Endorsements
Akaka was endorsed by the Hawaii Laborers’ Union (Local 368), the Hawaii Fishermens Alliance, Hawaii Local 293, Hawaii Sheet Metal Workers, the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, the United Public Workers, and AFSCME (Local 646).[5]
2012
Akaka ran in the 2012 election for Hawaii House of Representatives District 6. Akaka was defeated by Nicole Lowen in the Democratic primary on August 11, 2012.[6][7]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Nicole Lowen |
32.5% | 1,067 |
| Kalei Akaka | 31.1% | 1,022 |
| Bucky Leslie | 22.4% | 734 |
| Fred Housel | 14% | 461 |
| Total Votes | 3,284 | |
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kalei Akaka did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2014
Akaka's website has emphasized the following campaign themes:[8]
Jobs and the Economy
- Excerpt: "I believe we need to attract new businesses and ventures that incorporate purposeful and responsible economic growth and development aesthetically compatible with our environment that benefits the community as a whole, providing our people with work so they may support themselves and their family."
Education
- Excerpt: "I believe we need to provide our students with an education that provides them with ability to meet the standards and growing needs of our world and have access to higher education and professional training."
Energy
- Excerpt: "I believe we need to continue to seek methods of safe and renewable energy."
Environment
- Excerpt: "I believe our lands, waters, and skies need to be cared for with a respect for our environment and living creatures."
Pro-Government Workers
- Excerpt: "I am a strong advocate of taking care of our government employees’ wages and benefits. For too long, our state and county government employees have been forced to do more with less. These workers when they retire should receive the benefits they have earned in regards to their retirement, medical, and pension."
Culture and the Arts
- Excerpt: "I am a strong advocate of maintaining and preserving the unique traditions of Hawai‘i. In addition to being born, raised and educated in Kona, I have experienced the multicultural backgrounds of my fellow classmates and community leaders and support government involvement to foster these traditions."
See also
2022 Elections
External links
|
Officeholder Office of Hawaiian Affairs Oahu Resident Trustee |
Footnotes
- ↑ Kalei Akaka, "About," accessed July 18, 2014
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed June 6, 2014
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed August 25, 2014
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed November 12, 2014
- ↑ Kalei Akaka campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed July 18, 2014
- ↑ civilbeat.com, " Unofficial 2012 Primary election candidate list," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary election results," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Kalei Akaka campaign website, "Issues," accessed July 18, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Office of Hawaiian Affairs Oahu Resident Trustee 2019-Present |
Succeeded by - |
 |
State of Hawaii Honolulu (capital) |
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