Richard Bissen and Mel Rapozo Win Hawaii Mayoral Races
Incumbent Richard Bissen won reelection as Maui mayor, while Mel Rapozo defeated Bernard Carvalho to become the mayor of Kauai.
Incumbent Mayor Richard Bissen won reelection as the mayor of Maui, defeating County Councilmember Yuki Lei Sugimura. According to the second general election printout, Bissen secured 23,109 votes (53.8%) against Sugimura's 18,779 votes (43.7%). The race served as a measure of voter sentiment regarding housing shortages, water infrastructure, and recovery from the August 2023 West Maui wildfires. Bissen maintained his lead despite nearly $2 million in spending from a carpenters union-backed superPAC supporting Sugimura.
In Kauai, County Council Chair Mel Rapozo was elected mayor, defeating former Mayor Bernard Carvalho. Rapozo received 10,859 votes (56.2%) to Carvalho's 7,325 votes (37.9%). Rapozo, a former member of the Hawaii National Guard and Kauai Police Department, will succeed Mayor Derek Kawakami, who is transitioning to the role of lieutenant governor. Rapozo's campaign focused on workforce housing and local decision-making, though he canceled formal rallies in the final weeks to prioritize recovery from recent storms and fires.
Simultaneously, the Maui County Council shifted toward a progressive majority. Progressive candidates Shane Sinenci, Tamara Paltin, Kelly Takaya King, and Bobby Pahia all held leads in their respective races. Other candidates including Marvin Moniz and Nohe U‘u-Hodgins also secured leads, while Keani Rawlins-Fernandez and Gabe Johnson ran uncontested.
