A look back at the career of Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi
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STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Mayor Billy Kenoi and Darryl Oliveira, Hawaii County Acting Civil Defense administrator, discuss preparation plans for Tropical Storm Flossie at the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency on July 28, 2013. Kenoi died today after a battle with cancer. He had been diagnosed in late 2015 with myelofibrosis, but didn't share it publicly until 2018.CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Four Hawaii mayors, including Kauai's Bernard Carvalho, Jr. and Big Island's Billy Kenoi, met with legislators to discuss their budget plans on Jan. 6, 2010.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Big Island Pastors pray over former Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi's sister Keola Kenoi and son Justin, center,m at Hilo's Queen Liliuokalani Gardens during May 2018's Alu Ka Pule: A prayer for Billy Kenoi who is receiving treatment for cancer in California.GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi met with the media at the Capitol rotunda to explain his recent use of county credit cards for personal expenses on April 1, 2015.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Big Island mayor-elect Billy Kenoi waved to drivers as a post-election thank you gesture on Nov. 5, 2008. With him are campaign workers John Medeiros, left, Charmaine Shigemura, and Randy Kuwahara.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi received a greeting from Kuulei Hughes-Okada, president of Hale o Na Alii, Halau O Kalakaua, following his inauguration ceremony on Dec. 1, 2008.Pool Photo / Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Mayor Billy Kenoi sits with his attorneys Todd Eddins, right, and Richard Sing, left, during the closing arguments of his trial in Hilo Circuit Court on Oct. 31, 2016. Kenoi was tried and later found not guilty on all counts related to his alleged abuse of a county-issued purchasing card. He faced four counts of theft.CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Mayor of Hawaii Billy Kenoi spoke at the state Capitol on July 7, 2014. The governor, county mayors and Office of Hawaiian Affairs met to sign a joint commitment for the Aloha+ Challenge: A Culture of Sustainability – He Nohona ‘Ae‘oia. The statewide initiative has six targets in clean energy, local food production, natural resource management, waste reduction, smart sustainable communities and green workforce and education by 2030.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Friends and family braved the rain at Hilo's Queen Liliuokalani Gardens during May 2018's Alu Ka Pule: A prayer for Billy Kenoi who is receiving treatment for cancer in California.CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
OHA Chief Executive Officer Kamana'opono Crabbe, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Big Island Mayor of Billy Kenoi at the state Capitol on July 7, 2014. The governor, county mayors and Office of Hawaiian Affairs met to sign a joint commitment for the Aloha+ Challenge: A Culture of Sustainability – He Nohona ‘Ae‘oia. The statewide initiative has six targets in clean energy, local food production, natural resource management, waste reduction, smart sustainable communities and green workforce and education by 2030.COURTESY PHOTO
Big Island mayoral candidate Billy Kenoi, left, waved by a Kona roadside in this campaign photo from August 2008.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Mayor Billy Kenoi and Darryl Oliveira, Hawaii County Acting Civil Defense administrator, discuss preparation plans for Tropical Storm Flossie at the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency on July 28, 2013.Pool Photo / Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Mayor Billy Kenoi is sworn in to testify during his trial in Hilo Circuit Court on Oct. 26, 2016.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Hilo Mayor Billy Kenoi appeared before the Hawaii County Council on April 22, 2015.Pool Photo / Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Mayor Billy Kenoi hugs friends and family after receiving a not guilty verdict from the jury completing his trial in Hilo Circuit Court on Nov. 1, 2016.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Hilo Mayor Billy Kenoi appeared before the Hawaii County Council on April 22, 2015.Pool Photo / Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Mayor Billy Kenoi hugs friends and family after receiving a not guilty verdict from the jury completing his trial in Hilo Circuit Court on Nov. 1, 2016.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Big Island Mayor-elect Billy Kenoi hugged a supporter at his downtown Hilo campaign headquarters on Nov. 4, 2008.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Big Island Mayor-elect Billy Kenoi told supporters at his Hilo headquarters on Nov. 4, 2008, that even someone like himself with bad school grades from rural Kalapana can succeed if one never gives up.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Billy Kenoi hugs a child after returning to his Hilo campaign headquarters from Kona on Nov. 4, 2008.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Mayor Billy Kenoi testifies during a joint Senate Ways and Means and Finance hearing at the state Capitol on Jan. 26, 2015.Pool Photo / Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Mayor Billy Kenoi's attorneys Todd Eddins and Richard Sing talk to the media outside of the courthouse after receiving a not guilty verdict from the jury completing Kenoi's trial in Hilo Circuit Court on Nov. 1, 2016.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Mayor Billy Kenoi testifies during a joint Senate Ways and Means and Finance hearing at the state Capitol on Jan. 26, 2015.CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle, left, Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi, Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, and Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho during a press conference on May 2, 2012.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Cultural practioner Kaniala Akaka blessed the opening of a new section of the Saddle Road on the Big Island yesterday while Federal Highway Administration official Rick Suarez, center, and Big Island Mayor Bill Kenoi held a long maile lei on Dec. 11, 2008.CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi gives a high-five to Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. Seated between them is Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa on July 7, 2014. The governor, county mayors and Office of Hawaiian Affairs met to sign a joint commitment for the Aloha+ Challenge: A Culture of Sustainability – He Nohona ‘Ae‘oia. The statewide initiative has six targets in clean energy, local food production, natural resource management, waste reduction, smart sustainable communities and green workforce and education by 2030.COURTESY PHOTO
Big Island mayoral candidate Billy Kenoi cheered on primary election night when good news flashed on the screen on Oct. 28, 2008.Pool Photo / Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Mayor Billy Kenoi testifies during his trial in Hilo Circuit Court on Oct. 26, 2016.Pool Photo / Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Mayor Billy Kenoi nods to jurors after receiving a not guilty verdict from the jury completing his trial in Hilo Circuit Court on Nov. 1, 2016.Pool Photo / Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Mayor Billy Kenoi and his wife Takako leave the courtroom after receiving a not guilty verdict from the jury completing his trial in Hilo Circuit Court on Nov. 1, 2016.