U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele ended months of speculation Saturday by announcing that he is running for governor in the Aug. 13 Democratic primary.
What had suddenly become a two-candidate gubernatorial race Wednesday with the withdrawal of former Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell now is back up to three Democratic candidates: Kahele, Lt. Gov. Josh Green and Vicky Cayetano, a business entrepreneur and former first lady.
Kahele made his announcement at the Boys &Girls Club of the Big Island in his hometown of Hilo via Facebook Live.
He did not take questions nor did he explain why he is not seeking a second term representing Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District, which covers the neighbor islands and rural Oahu, after just 16 months in office.
Instead, Kahele said he deplored donations from outside Hawaii and candidates who could be “owned and controlled by big money” funded by “wealthy donors from the mainland who want to control the economics of this state.”
He pledged that he will not accept donations above $100 from corporations, unions and political action committees and will participate in the state’s public funding program.
“If we cannot win with a campaign uncorrupted by max donations and big outside money, then we have truly lost. Hawaii is not for sale,” Kahele said.
But in a followup statement, Kahele touted he has been endorsed by the Ironworkers Local 625 and the Plasterers &Cement Masons, Local 630.
Kahele cannot use donations from his federal congressional campaign for a state race.
With 98 days to go until the primary, Kahele said, “I need your help. We do not have much time and I cannot do this alone.”
He emphasized his roots as a Native Hawaiian and his military service.
Kahele fought in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as a C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules pilot. He remains a lieutenant colonel in the Hawaii Air National Guard, based out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
He also continues to fly Airbus A330 wide-body planes on domestic and international routes for Hawaiian Airlines.
Speculation about Kahele’s future before Saturday’s announcement already had disrupted the races for lieutenant governor and his congressional seat — and potentially the City Council.
Former state Sen. Jill Tokuda filed federal election papers to seek Kahele’s seat and officially announced her candidacy today, instead of running for lieutenant governor, where she was among a crowded race with four other candidates but no front-runner.
Freshman state Rep. Patrick Pihana Branco (D, Kailua-Kaneohe) announced his candidacy for Kahele’s seat Thursday.
Branco is among several House members who are not seeking reelection this year and instead plan to either run for Congress, the state Senate or City Council.
Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters also has filed federal election papers for Kahele’s seat but has yet to announce whether he will run, which could result in a flurry of candidates seeking Waters’ seat representing East Honolulu to Waikiki.
