Kenoi raises $144,000 in six months

By PETER SUR

Tribune-Herald staff writer

Mayor Billy Kenoi’s re-election war chest is flush with cash after fundraisers pulled in more than $140,000 during the last six months of 2011.

Kenoi says his election strategy is based on running a tight county ship and proving to voters that he’s worth four more years.

“Our focus is on running the County of Hawaii government, not the campaign,” he said. “Our focus is on continuing to work with the Legislature” to save the county’s $17 million portion of Hawaii’s Transient Accommodations Tax.

The latest reports filed with the state Campaign Spending Commission show that between July 1 and Dec. 31, the Friends of Billy Kenoi hauled in $144,218. The campaign also spent $48,602 during that time, mostly for fundraisers that were held in Honolulu and across the Big Island.

Heading into 2012, the campaign reported raising a grand total of $328,133 since the 2010 election year, with no debts and a $154,796 cash balance.

The amount raised by Hawaii County mayoral hopeful and County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong pales in comparison. Yagong announced his candidacy in mid-January, after the closing date for the newest spending report.

Yagong raised only $500 between July 1 and Dec. 31, leaving a campaign balance of $144. His $500 donation came from Peter Vana, the founder of Hilo-based Kavana Homes.

Yagong acknowledged that he hadn’t raised much money for a campaign and said he’d never be able to compete financially with the power of the incumbency. He’s relying on grass-roots support instead, he said.

“My campaign has never been about money,” Yagong said, noting that Kenoi “raised more in six months than I’ve raised in 12 years” as a councilman.

Yagong said his campaign won’t go for big fundraisers, but he hopes people will contribute.

“I don’t want to make this campaign about money,” Yagong said in mid-January, conceding the cash race to the incumbent. “I’m sure my opponent will have money falling from the sky.”

Another candidate for mayor, Ann Marsh, only recently announced her candidacy and did not file a report.

The Kenoi campaign windfall includes about $62,000 in donations from the Big Island, about $69,000 from Oahu, $9,000 from the mainland and $500 from Maui. An additional $4,080 came from small donations in amounts of $100 or less.

Of the Big Island tally, the majority of the money, about $36,000, came from Hilo and more than $13,000 came from Kailua-Kona supporters.

“We’re just very honored and appreciative with the support we received,” Kenoi said.

Much of the money raised on Oahu came from developers, banking, legal and real estate interests.

Tony Guerrero, executive vice president of Banc West Corp., contributed $1,000, as did Raymond Ono, vice chair of First Hawaiian Bank, and Michelle Ho, whose husband, Peter, is CEO of Bank of Hawaii.

Those contributing the maximum $4,000 included Honolulu developer Bert Kobayashi, Jeffrey Arce of the MacNaughton Group, and Patrick Kobayashi of the Kobayashi Group and Waimana Enterprises, the parent company of Sandwich Isles Communications.

Kenoi also received donations from renewable energy interests — BioEnergy Hawaii gave $2,000 and Big Island Carbon gave $500, as did Puna Geothermal Venture.

Most labor unions have not thrown their support behind either candidate. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union’s Local 142 kicked in $3,000, while the police officers’ union contributed $1,000.

Asked why he has so many contributions from Honolulu lawyers and developers, Kenoi said that he had support from his former law school classmates.

“Our support extends throughout all sectors of the community,” he said.

Campaign reports also show that the Friends of Billy Kenoi paid $15,988 in the summer to conduct a telephone poll and a “focus group project.” Kenoi said he will not be releasing those surveys.

“We did a baseline, and I know that surveys were done,” the mayor said. “It’s a campaign working document, and we’re very pleased with the result.”

Other recent expenses included $3,137 to former Hilo Councilman James Arakaki for a $1,000-$4,000 per plate fundraiser Aug. 29 at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Honolulu. Another $1,485 went for travel and lodging and other expenses for the fundraiser.

Kenoi also held a $1,000-per-ticket fundraiser Aug. 24 at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu, a $100-per-person fundraiser Sept. 20 at the Hilo Yacht Club and an unspecified December fundraiser at Hokulia.

Kenoi’s campaign manager Kimo Alameda said he was surprised by the level of support at his fundraisers — perhaps 1,200 people at Hilo’s Sangha Hall and 600 to 700 at an event in Kona.

“The mayor has a lot of support all over,” he said.

Email Peter Sur at psur@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

Nancy Cook Lauer contributed to this story.