Kahele replacement nominees chosen

Hawaii County Democrats have selected three nominees to succeed the late Gil Kahele in his state Senate seat.

The senator’s son, Kai Kahele, former Lyman Museum executive director Dolly Strazar and county Office of Housing and Development division chief Kaloa Robinson were chosen via precinct balloting Saturday during an open process conducted at Keaukaha Elementary School.

Their names will be submitted to Gov. David Ige, who will have 60 days to appoint one of the three nominees. That person will serve out the remainder of Kahele’s term, which ends this year.

In a twist from the usual appointment procedure, Ige also has requested an in-person interview with each of the candidates before the final choice is made.

Kahele represented Senate District 1 (Hilo).

Six candidates applied for the appointed position. A seventh, state Rep. Richard Onishi, was determined ineligible after some of the signatures collected for his application papers were found to not be registered Democrats.

“I would say 80 percent of people who call themselves Democrats aren’t actually registered with the party,” Hawaii County chairman Phil Barnes, who vetted the signatures against the party database, said Saturday. “You have to join.”

Saturday’s balloting procedure began shortly after 10:15 a.m., with each candidate presenting a three-minute introductory speech. Margarita “Dayday” Hopkins, Donald Ikeda and Shannon Matson also were in the running for a nomination.

Candidates then were interviewed by members of District 1’s nine precincts in what event manager Micah Alameda likened to speed dating: each person had 10 minutes to be interviewed by each precinct. Hopkins and Kai Kahele are precinct officers and did not participate as questioners.

The full procedure was open to the public and attracted about 40 people in the morning. By the time runoff voting began two hours later, the crowd had dwindled to less than 25, with one child and one small dog also in attendance.

Alameda announced Kahele as the first nominee to a round of cheers and applause. The second round of voting ended in a tie between Robinson and Strazar, with Strazar winning the re-vote. Robinson was then voted in as the third nominee.

“It was thorough,” he said after voting concluded. “A thorough, comprehensive process.” Robinson worked with former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka in Washington, D.C., and said he was encouraged to see people engaged enough in the political process to come out on a Saturday.

Both Strazar and Kahele said they’d enjoyed the interview portion.

“It was actually fun; there’s no better way to find out the concerns of the people,” Kahele said. “It’s a great process. It’s a democratic one.”

Gil Kahele was appointed to his Senate position in 2011 via the same procedure. He was the third nominee selected that day.

“It’s huge shoes to be filled,” Alameda told the candidates. “This is a historic moment.”

Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune -herald.com.