Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Monday, November 4, 2024 80° Today's Paper


Election

Michael S. Kagami

Full Name: Michael S. Kagami

Name on Ballot: Michael S. Kagami

Age: 57

Office: Prosecuting Attorney, Hawaii County

Email Address: kagami4prosecutor@gmail.com

Current Job: Deputy attorney general

Place of birth: Honolulu

Campaign website: mikekagami.weebly.com

Job history past 10 years:

Deputy attorney general, October 2013 to present

Deputy prosecuting attorney, Hawaii County, January 2004 to September 2013

Ever run for public office? If so, when? Outcome? No

Other civic experience or community service?

Court Annexed Arbitration Program

Hilo Self Help

Courts in the Community Program

Anything else you’d like voters to know about you?

I love being a criminal prosecutor and I highly value what the prosecutor’s office stands for and the difficult work that it does. Holding law violators accountable to those they victimize and our community in general has been my life’s work.

What makes you qualified to be prosecutor?

I have 22 years of criminal prosecution experience. I’m a deputy attorney general and I prosecute criminal cases statewide. My jury trial experience includes cases for murder, negligent homicide, domestic violence, assault, property crimes, and child sexual assault. I’ve supervised deputies in the felony trial and violent crime units.

What are your top five priorities for the prosecutor’s office?

1) Ensure that attorneys and support staff are properly trained

2) Ensure that office procedures are effective and efficient

3) Ensure that community programs continue to support our mandate

4) Ensure optimal relationship with law enforcement agencies

5) Ensure optimal relationship with the Courts

What is your one big idea?

That the prosecutor’s office look within to ensure that we have the best personnel, procedures, and relationships to successfully prosecute cases. Before we look elsewhere for improvement, we must first look within.

Why are you running for prosecutor?

Violent crime and crime in general continue to be a constant in the lives of Hawaii island’s citizens. Hawaii island needs a prosecuting attorney who is a seasoned criminal prosecutor that has worked in the trenches of criminal prosecution and who has a history of developing others into effective criminal prosecutors.

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