Esther Kia‘aina, vice chair of the Honolulu City Council, is facing three challengers in her 2024 reelection bid to continue to represent Windward Oahu. Since 2021, Kia‘aina has represented Council District 3, which includes Ahuimanu, Heeia, Haiku, Kaneohe, Maunawili, Kailua, Olomana, Enchanted Lake and Waimanalo. Her contenders in the Aug.
10 primary are business owner Christopher J. Curren; music producer and musician David N. Kauahikaua; and two-time Olympian and retired U.
S. Navy Reserve officer Kelsey Nakanelua. To retain her seat, which comes with an annual salary of $113,304, Kia‘aina so far has raised 40 times the amount of the next-closest fundraising candidate.
Much like other parts of Oahu, those who seek to occupy the Council District 3 post will contend with a roughly 110,000-resident district that suffers from crime, homelessness, development issues including so-called monster homes, the impacts of climate change and a lack of affordable housing options. David N. Kauahikaua Kauahikaua, 68, of Kailua, said he was inspired to run for a Council seat “because I know our community can be better.
” “I believe that the government has stopped listening to the people that it represents,” he said. “I want to reconnect the government and the people that it serves. I will put my community first.
” To do this, Kauahikaua said his campaign seeks to improve parks and park facilities, fix roads, prevent sewage spills and pollution from entering the ocean, boost .