With the current Ka\u02bb\u016b District council member Michelle Galimba not seeking re-election on the nine-member Hawai\u02bbi County Council, her seat is up for grabs. Five candidates have entered the race, all eager to take on the challenges.<\/p>\n Zed Ka\u2018apana Aki, Guy Enriques, Kyle Kepano Jones and Jason Masters all have deep roots or were born and raised in the Ka\u2018\u016b District. Justin Robert Canelas has lived in the area for only six years but has established himself and his family in the community as stewards and owners of the Manadina Farm.<\/p>\n Each candidate was asked about their priorities for the district and about how they would address the critical issues that have faced the rural area. <\/p>\n Zed Ka\u2018apana Aki<\/p>\n Aki<\/a>, 44, is a native Hawaiian cultural practitioner with deep roots in Ka\u2018\u016b, where his Hawaiian ancestors have lived for generations. He is a business consultant with a background as a public policy advocate for more than two decades and a part-time farmer of a growing ulu (breadfruit) orchard of 100 plants in Ocean View.<\/p>\n Aki is passionate about the Ocean View community, saying residents are frustrated.<\/p>\n \u201cMore often than not, when we\u2019re calling the county for help and assistance, we are always told that we are not the priority,\u201d Aki said.<\/p>\n Aki recognizes that South Kona and Ka\u2018\u016b are rural and remote, adding that it\u2019s important to keep the \u201ccountry character\u201d to preserve the economic engine around the district that includes tourist attractions Green Sands Beach, Punalu\u2018u and one of only two official national parks in Hawai\u02bbi<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are crucial economic infrastructure, but nobody sees us that way,\u201d Aki said. <\/p>\n He says keeping the district\u2019s country character is critical, and that development would undermine the integrity of the natural beauty of the parks and beaches.<\/p>\n Aki also is determined to close the gaps in some of these underserved areas. If elected, he plans to pursue ways to secure funding through federal, state and county dollars to create a medical training hub to bring more health care workers to the area where the closest hospital, Kona Community, now is 45 minutes away in South Kona.<\/p>\n Aki wants to pursue a police substation for Ocean View. He would also like to see better funding for programs like Neighborhood Watch.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can start recruiting out of our own community, hiring police officers out of our own community, giving us economic opportunities while also making our communities safer,\u201d Aki said. \u201cIt\u2019s taking our greatest weaknesses and turning them into strengths.\u201d <\/p>\n Aki is in favor of low-impact development that doesn\u2019t expand urban sprawl, saying: \u201cWe\u2019re not looking to establish gigantic resorts on our pristine shores.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked about the controversy over the proposed Punalu\u2018u development, Aki said he was hesitant to be 100% supportive of the park entering into the county\u2019s Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation program. <\/p>\n Lands secured through these programs are preserved and stewarded by nonprofits. In Ka\u2018\u016b, several parcels of land are in this program. What Aki has found is that sometimes there is a lack of access provided by the stewards to these lands for Native Hawaiians.<\/p>\n \u201cI hesitate to support that (program) when I have no idea what organizations and who the people are behind these organizations are gonna be,\u201d Aki said. \u201cIt kind of boggles my mind that the county has not exercised eminent domain in the past to acquire Punalu\u2019u.\u201d<\/p>\n Aki supports farming initiatives that help the smaller independent farmers. He would like to find ways to subsidize farmers to get them water when its less prevalent.<\/p>\n Aki said he knows a lot of farmers who don\u2019t have access to direct markets to sell their goods. He would like to create an organized structure that promotes wholesale markets for them.<\/p>\n Justin Robert Canelas<\/p>\n Canelas<\/a>, 39, grew up in a small rural town in upstate New York called Chatham. He and his wife have visited Hawai\u2018i Island for years during work trips and felt connected with the land and its people. In 2018, they decided to buy the Manadina Farm in N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu.<\/p>\n He also is the Operations Director for Recycle Hawai\u02bbi and is currently serving as the Environmental Management Commissioner for County Council District 6. Canelas said several community leaders and k\u016bpuna he\u2019s worked with throughout the years encouraged him to run.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was their belief in me that led me to throw my hat in the race,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd at the time (November of 2025), no one else had committed to running.\u201d<\/p>\n Canelas values sustainability and resiliency, as well as connecting with Hawaiian culture as he admires the partnership between \u2018\u0101ina and human beings. Those values have translated into priorities for his first run for council.<\/p>\n Canelas started a farm-to-table restaurant using food grown on the farm as well as from other surrounding farmers as a revenue generator for the community and to help the local farmers.<\/p>\n A couple of months after starting the restaurant, Canelas joined Recycle Hawai\u2018i<\/a>, where he helped draft an EPA grant application, in partnership with Ka\u2018\u016b High School, for $1.5 million to run a zero-waste program.<\/p>\n After getting word that the nonprofit and high school was awarded the grant, Canelas closed down the restaurant a year later to focus on the grant-run program full-time, which is where he remains today.<\/p>\n Agriculture policy is also a big part of Canelas\u2019 platform. He said with farmers from South Kona to P\u0101hala growing everything from coffee to cacao, \u201cI think investing in agricultural processing is the lifeblood of our district\u201d and it would help to make the area self-sufficient.<\/p>\n Canelas has talked to State. Rep. Jeann\u00e9 Kapela about a processing facility complex in Ka\u2018\u016b that would give local farmers a way to process more of their crops through commercial dehydrators, canning or juicing, giving prospective buyers shelf stability and value to those products.<\/p>\n While working at the New York State Assembly for public affairs and community development, Canelas said he did a lot of work in the South Bronx, trying to fight gentrification and advocating for infrastructure money for the local community.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was to help improve their lives rather than just trying to divert that money to big developers for them to get their luxury condos built,\u201d he said, adding he sees similarities with that work and the Punalu\u2018u debate.<\/p>\n A few years ago, when the project was initially proposed by the developer at the Hawai\u2018i County Windward Planning Commission, Canelas said people were for and against it, while now there seems to be just overwhelming opposition.<\/p>\n At this point, Canelas said he doesn\u2019t see the project going anywhere, and he supports the people\u2019s voice: \u201cThere is a group of Kanaka Maoli and local residents that would lay themselves down in front of the bulldozers and prevent it from happening.\u201d<\/p>\n Canelas also said he is committed to finding ways to help kids stay on a productive path by developing after-school programs. He also wants to look into identifying partnerships with nonprofits to create programs that provide health care for k\u016bpuna.<\/p>\n Guy Enriques<\/p>\n Enriques<\/a>, 71, was born and raised in Punalu\u2018u. He was a volleyball coach at Kamehameha Schools Kea\u2018au Campus and a volunteer coach at Ka\u2018\u016b High School. He\u2019s also a commercial fisherman, and his family runs a lei stand about a quarter mile from Punalu\u2018u Beach Park. <\/p>\n He has been outspoken against the proposed redevelopment by Black Sand Beach LLC, and has led several sign wavings in opposition at the park.<\/p>\n Enriques did file a lawsuit in May against the development company after they served him a notice to vacate his lei stand that has been operating in the same location since 1974. While the leaseholder of the land is Black Sand Beach LLC, Enriques argued in court documents that the high water mark, which is the boundary between private and public land, has moved, arguing his business is now on state land.<\/p>\n He was unable to comment on the matter as the issue is pending litigation.<\/p>\n In 2024, when the Black Sand Beach LLC, owned and managed, Eva Liu, went to the Hawai\u2018i County Windward Planning Commission seeking a Special Area Management permit<\/a>, Enriques said the Ka\u2018\u016b residents traveled to Hilo to testify against the project.<\/p>\n Since then, \u201cthere was no leadership to follow up on something which the people of Ka\u2019u really, really came out and said no to,\u201d Enriques said.<\/p>\n Although he did add that Galimba put out a survey looking for feedback on the project, which produced the same results.<\/p>\n Enriques said he would like to see the county purchase the black sand beach land. He said the county already \u201cshould have been focused on this place because it\u2019s the most accessible to development and it has the zoning.\u201d<\/p>\n While he is passionate about protecting Punalu\u2018u Beach Park and keeping it open to the community, Enriques said he was spurred into running for office again because of the success he had during the one term he served in 2008.<\/p>\n \u201cI was able to build that Ka\u2018\u016b High School gym and shelter,\u201d Enriques said. \u201cI was able to secure the budget to drill the potable well, as well as build the reservoir that went with it. And that was like a million-dollar budget.\u201d<\/p>\n Enriques wants to serve again and has a three-step platform: create a project list that comes directly from the people; connect departments with people who have experience and influence to get the projects done; and post the projects online to create public accountability.<\/p>\n \u201cMy goal is to produce, like I did before, real and visible results,\u201d Enriques said.<\/p>\n In talking about Ocean View, Enriques said his big goal for the community was to bring a full-service police station, noting that \u201c87% of our calls come from Ocean View, yet our police station is in N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu.\u201d<\/p>\n N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu is located 20 minutes south of Ocean View, and by the time an officer responds to these calls, there is nobody there to deal with, Enriques said.<\/p>\n He said he would work on putting an animal shelter in the community, which has been plagued with abandoned animals and dangerous dogs.<\/p>\n He wants to relocate a water spigot in Ho\u2018okena that is currently situated on a dangerous curve. Calling it a \u201cbig issue,\u201d Enriques said he\u2019s already identified a one-acre parcel, about a quarter mile toward Ho\u2018okena School, where it can be relocated.<\/p>\n In looking at South Kona, Enriques would also like to put in an outdoor play court similar to ones at the Billy Kenoi District Park, and parks in Pana\u2018ewa and Waimea. <\/p>\n \u201cTheir facilities are just packed every day, seven days a week with activities,\u201d he said. \u201cKona needs one. And we already have a place picked up down by McDonald\u2019s in Kealakekua.<\/p>\n Enriques is also committed to helping residents in P\u0101hala and N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu who are being forced to get off their cesspools as part of the state\u2019s requirement, in an effort to help the environment. He is determined to look for federal funds to alleviate the costs.<\/p>\n Some other smaller issues he would take on are replacing lights at P\u0101hala and N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu County Parks.<\/p>\n \u201cMy goodness, they\u2019ve been off for I don\u2019t know how long,\u201d Enriques said. \u201cI (also) want to get the SRO, which is a security or school resource officer at Ka\u2018\u016b High School.\u201d<\/p>\n Kyle Kepano Jones<\/p>\n Jones<\/a> is a lifelong resident of Hawai\u2018i Island and is running again for council after falling short in 2024. At 31, he is the youngest candidate in the race for District 6.<\/p>\n A graduate from the University of Hawai\u2018i at Hilo, Jones received a political science degree. While still in school, he did a six-month-long internship with U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in Washington, D.C. He worked as a legislative assistant doing budget analysis.<\/p>\n In South Kona, Jones has been working odd jobs, including substitute teaching for public schools in Kealakekua.<\/p>\n Jones said a priority is getting more funding for county roads that are falling apart, and need to be fixed for public safety.<\/p>\n \u201cI kind of view myself as what I call a pothole politician,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s my focus, basic municipal improvements as much as possible here.\u201d<\/p>\n The road to Hawai\u2018i\u2019s last fishing village, Miloli\u2018i, has a lot of potholes that need to be fixed. And Jones said there is a government road in South Kona from Manini Beah to Pu\u2018uhonua o H\u014dnaunau that has had fatalities that he\u2019d like to address.<\/p>\n Jones also wants to address the homeowner insurance crisis. Currently, homeowners who live in lava zones one and two can\u2019t get affordable insurance, and some can\u2019t get any insurance.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a small state insurance program called HPIA (Hawai\u02bbi Property Insurance Association<\/a>), but it\u2019s really expensive,\u201d Jones said, adding it only covers $450,000 worth of value and there\u2019s no guarantee that a homeowner can obtain a policy.<\/p>\n Jones said one solution to this issue it to build two more fire stations, to try to coax the insurance companies to return to the area.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re too far away from one, and the insurance companies got a little spooked,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n When asked about Punalu\u2018u, he said it\u2019s clear no one wants the development and thinks maybe there should be a deal made with the county to expand the current park. Jones also thinks the old resort buildings that are falling apart and covered in graffiti need to fixed or torn down.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to see some native plant restoration in the area and make the make the whole area a little nicer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Jones does have some big picture ideas for the entire island that include creating a Hawai\u2018i Tourism Trust, which is a sovereign wealth fund that invests a portion of tourism-related revenue into the trust and gives out dividends to every man, woman and child in the county \u2013 based on some qualifications.<\/p>\n Jones also would like to see geothermal more aggressively developed to help reduce power bills and utilize environmentally friendly power generation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re sitting on what is essentially a gift from heaven in terms of the amount of energy we could be utilizing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Jason Masters <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Hawaii-County-District-Map-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Hawai\u02bbi County District Map<\/p>\n![\"Zed](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/District-6-candidates-1-854x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>Zed Ka\u2018apana Aki sign-waving for District 6 Hawai\u2018i County Council race primary election in July 2026. (Photo courtesy: Zed Ka\u2018apana Aki)<\/p>\n![\"Justin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/District-6-candidates-3-1024x1020.jpg\")
<\/a>Justin Canelas and daughter. (Photo courtesy: Justin Canelas)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/guy-enriques.jpeg\")
<\/a>Guy Enriques, District 6 Hawai\u2018i County Council candidate<\/p>\n![\"Kyle](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Kyle-Kepano-Jones-1-1024x815.jpg\")
<\/a>Kyle Kepano Jones, District 6 Hawai\u2018i County Council candidate<\/p>\n
![\"Jason](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/District-6-candidates-2-1024x709.jpg\")
<\/a>Jason Masters volunteering at the N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu Resilience Hub for Vibrant Hawai\u2018i\u2019s Kaukau for Keiki. (Photo courtesy: Jason Masters)<\/p>\n