Saturday’s primary election culled a sizable number of political hopefuls, but it also set a streamlined stage for November’s general election with a mix of incumbents, newcomers and familiar faces seeking their return after an absence to offices they once occupied.

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Saturday’s primary election culled a sizable number of political hopefuls, but it also set a streamlined stage for November’s general election with a mix of incumbents, newcomers and familiar faces seeking their return after an absence to offices they once occupied.

Voter turnout in Hawaii County was low — despite most voters needing to go no further than their mailbox to cast a ballot. The turnout was 32.7%, or 44,027 of the island’s 134,573 registered voters, and all but 1,269 votes were by mail.

By comparison, voter turnout in the last presidential midterm primary election — during the novel coronavirus pandemic year of 2022 — was 53,369, or 41.1%, almost all by mail. In 2018, the last nonpandemic midterm primary, the turnout was 38.8% of all registered voters.

Hawaii County Council elections are nonpartisan. Incumbents who won their council seats outright on Saturday by getting at least 50% plus one vote include: Holeka Inaba, who was unopposed in his District 8 race; Heather Kimball, who ousted Ren Del Rosario and BJ Penn in District 1; Dennis Onishi, who defeated Kelton Chang in District 3; and James Hustace, who was unopposed in District 9.

One new face on the council will be Manu Powers. The Kona businesswoman topped challengers Edgar “Eddie O” Ombac, a radio personality, and Mark Henriques in District 7, where Rebecca Villegas served the maximum four consecutive terms.

There will be runoffs on Nov. 3 for two seats currently occupied by members who also served the maximum four terms: former Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara will face Lloyd Enriquez for the District 4 seat held by Ashley Kierkiewicz; and Shannon Matson, an aide to Kimball, will face Ikaika Rodenhurst, former county Public Works director, for the District 5 seat held by Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder.

Guy Enriques, a former councilman, will face Zed Kaapana Aki in the District 6 general election in an attempt to regain the Ka‘u seat he once occupied, as Michelle Galimba opted not to seek a third term in office.

While coming close to the 50%-plus-one mark in her primary race, District 2 Councilwoman Jenn Kagiwada is headed for a runoff election against Wendy Botelho, CEO of Hawaii Island YMCA, Kagiwada’s top challenger in a crowded race for that seat.

State Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, a Puna Democrat, outpaced Tanya Yamanaka Aynessazian in District 5 and will face Libertarian Fred Fogel in the general election.

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Big Island state Reps. Matthias Kusch in District 1, Kirstin Kahaloa in District 6, and Nicole Lowen in District 7, all Democrats, were unopposed in their House primaries and will serve another two-year term.

House members, all Dems, facing opposition in November include: Reps. Sue Keohokapu Lee Loy in District 2; Chris Todd in District 3; Greggor Ilagan in District 4; Jeanne Kapela in District 5 and David Tarnas in District 6.

Their opponents are: Jonathan Kennealy, District 2; Austin Martin, District 3; Zak Wittenhagen, District 4; Dalene McCormick, District 5; and Monique Perreira, District 8. All opponents are Republicans except Martin, who’s a Libertarian.

In the U.S. House District 1 race, incumbent Rep. Ed Case conquered a crowded Democratic primary, including a challenge by state Rep. Jarrett Keohokalole. He’ll face Adriel Lam, a Republican, Nathan Berning, a Nonpartisan, and Jordan Conley, a Green, come November.

In District 2, incumbent Rep. Jill Tokuda will face GOP state Rep. Brenton Awa and Nonpartisan Edward Codelia.

Gov. Josh Green, who downed three challengers in the primary, will face Republican Gary Cordery, who lapped Big Island businessman Ken Fujiyama in the primary, and Shawn Kaui Hill — better known as comedian Bu La‘ia — who beat three others in the Nonpartisan primary.

And regardless of what happens to Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, who faces criminal charges of bribery, conspiracy and falsifying campaign reports, there will be a new lieutenant governor in December. Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami blew away three opponents in the Democratic primary, including state Rep. Della Au Bellati — whose vote total Kawakami almost tripled.

Kawakami on Nov. 3 will face Republican Daniel Anthony and Nonpartisan Kilakila Kamau.

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Email John Burnett at [email protected].