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Elections Simplified

KAWAKAMI, Derek S.K.

DEMOCRATIC · HI · Mayor of Kauai

Official website

Derek S.K. Kawakami is a Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii. His campaign site presents him as running for Lieutenant Governor and says he was re-elected on November 8, 2022 and inaugurated for a second four-year term as Mayor of Kauai on December 1, 2022. His campaign biography says he previously served on the Kauai County Council and in the Hawaii House of Representatives.

Track record

Government Efficiency

· 1 record

  • As Kauai mayor, Kawakami's first-term digital-government record included implementing free public Wi-Fi at community centers and on Kauai buses, an appointment queuing system at the DMV, DMV kiosks at Safeway/Foodland/Ishihara Market locations, and Microsoft Teams and Office 365 upgrades for county operations.

    March 1, 2022For

    Source: derekkawakami.com · researched July 6, 2026

Public Safety and Crime Control

· 2 records

  • During the July 2024 Hanapepe-Kaumakani wildfire response, Kawakami said the fire spread quickly and officials warned residents through sirens, door-to-door alerts, calls, and texts while crews used helicopters, heavy machinery, and ground operations; the fire was fully contained that evening.

    July 16, 2024For

    Source: theguardian.com · researched July 6, 2026

  • During the early COVID-19 response, Mayor Kawakami announced a mandatory nightly curfew for Kauai, asked recreational visitors not to travel to the island, and said the curfew was intended to protect limited emergency and medical resources, reduce spread through distancing, and allow essential services to continue.

    March 20, 2020For

    Source: theguardian.com · researched July 6, 2026

Public Infrastructure

· 1 record

  • As Kauai mayor, Kawakami's first-term housing record included adding 326 affordable units across Lima Ola, Waimea Huakai, Koa'e Makana, Pua Loke, and Ke Alaula on Pua Loke; investing in infrastructure to double capacity at the KEO homeless shelter; acquiring property in Kilauea for workforce housing; creating the Affordable Additional Rental Unit Program; purchasing 400 acres between Waimea and Kekaha; distributing nearly $16 million in COVID-19 emergency rent and utility assistance; and completing Phase I infrastructure work for the Lima Ola affordable housing subdivision.

    March 1, 2022For

    Source: derekkawakami.com · researched July 6, 2026

General

· 1 record

  • Kawakami's campaign endorsement page listed support from labor, education, real-estate, tourism, law-enforcement, and public-worker organizations, including the Hawaii State Teachers Association, State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters, ILWU Local 142, Teamsters Local 996, and United Public Workers AFSCME Local 646.

    June 22, 2026

    Source: derekkawakami.com · researched July 6, 2026

Elections

Profile last researched July 6, 2026.