All Primary Election Candidates for Hawai’i County Mayor, State House Dist. 8, Council Dist. 1 and Dist. 9 Invited to WCA ‘Speed Dating’ Candidate Forum 5-8PM, Thurs., July 11, 2024

Continuing a 30+-year tradition, Waimea Community Association will again host a pre-Primary Election Candidate Forum from 5-8 p.m., Thurs., July 11, 2024, at Kahilu Town Hall across from Kahilu Theatre.  The forum will continue the association’s popular “speed dating” format which provides candidates and voters a close-up encounter to get to know each other better and ask questions.   

“In-person speed dating was suspended during the pandemic when the association pivoted to a safe all-virtual format, but because it is such a popular way for individual candidates and community members to interact, we’re re-instating it,” said WCA President Nancy Carr Smith. 

Due to the format, the meeting will be in-person only.  As always, the entire community is welcome. 

All candidates for Hawai’i County Mayor, State House District 8, and County Council Districts 1 and 9 are invited, which means there will be as many as15 candidates making the rounds to meet face-to-face with voters, said Carr Smith.  This includes:

·       7 Hawai’i County Mayoral candidates – Dr. Kimo Alameda, Daniel Cunningham, Kavin Kahikina, Yumi Kawano, Breeani Kobayashi, Mitchell Roth and Seaula Tupai, Jr.  

·       2 candidates for State House of Representatives Dist. 8 (North/South Kohala) – Monique CobbAdams Perreira and David Tarnas

·       3 County Council Dist. 1 candidates (Hamakua/Waimea) – Brittany Anderson, Heather Kimball and BJ Penn

·       3 County Council Dist. 9 candidates (North/South Kohala) – Cindy Evans, James Hustace, Michael Konowicz.

Attendees will be grouped at tables spaced around Kahilu Town Hall and a community facilitator will host each table to keep things moving.  Candidates will move from table to table for a carefully timed opportunity to ask and answer questions with each group of voters.

Candidates have been asked to provide brief bios to share with all attendees and also may place campaign literature on each table, but no signs nor banners will be permitted in the room.   

 The League of Women Voters will have an informational table to assist with VOTE BY MAIL questions and help individuals register to vote or update their registration online.  They also will share info on the league’s popular, non-partisan VOTE411 website which provides a free opportunity for all candidates to share their information, credentials and platform. 

 WCA will provide hot coffee, cold beverages and light finger-food snacks for attendees. 

 For more info about the meeting or community association, email WCA President Carr Smith at WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com.