If I counted correctly, there are 15 candidates whose names will be on the ballot for the office of Honolulu Mayor in the upcoming primary election. Of the 15, there are five who I consider in the top tier based on their visibility and name recognition, prior experience, campaign organization, and access to enough campaign funding to run a competitive race.
Keith Amemiya, attorney and former appointed school board member.
Rick Blangiardi, former general manager at Hawaii News Now.
Colleen Hanabusa, former legislative, State Senate president and Member of Congress
Mufi Hannemann, former mayor and council member.
Kym Pine, Honolulu City Council member.
All have been running campaign ads, but I thought it would be worth walking through available information that might contribute to a better understanding each of the candidates.
Over the next few days, I’ll look at the following information on each of the candidates–the candidate’s required financial disclosure, campaign officers, top contributors (if available).
I’ll just proceed alphabetically, and will get to the rest of the field of candidates if I have time.
Keith Amemiya.
Spouse: Bonny T. Amemiya
Income
(Keith):
Island Holdings, Inc (Senior vp)
$200,000-$299,000(Bonnie)
aio, LLC (Chief Financial Officer)
$100,000 to $149,000(joint)
Rental unit at 801 South Street
$10,000 to $24,999Creditors
Three joint loans from First Hawaiian Bank are reported.
Current balances $100,000-$149,000; $200,000-$299,000; and $400,000-$499,000Amemiya reports having no ownership or interests valued at $5,000 or more, or equal to a 10% interest in businesses incorporated, regulated, or licensed to carry on business in Hawaii.
Real Property Owned.
Personal residence, owned jointly.
Valued $700,000-$799,000.
Acquired in 2013.Rental Unit, owned jointly.
801 South Street
Value $500,000-$599,000
Acquired 2016.
[Real estate records show Amemiya bought unit 4511 when the workforce housing project first opened in July 2015 for $375,300.]Fiduciary positions
Keith:
Board Chair, Atlas Insurance Agency, 2013-2019.
Compensation: $10,000-$24,999Board member, Aloha Stadium Authority
2015-2022President, Downtown Athletic Club
2012-presentBoard member, Jump Start Breakfast Advisory Board
2019-presentBoard member, Shane Victorino Voundation (Las Vegas)
2010-presentBonny:
Board member, Hawaiian Host, Inc.
2017-presentBoard member, Hoike Networks, Inc.
2017-presentBoard member, Hawaii Tokai International College
2016-presentBoard member, aio Foundation, 2020-present
Campaign Organization
Campaign Chair: Adam Wong
Campaign Treasur: Nathan Okubo
Deputy Treasurer 1: Bonny Amemiya
Deputy Treasurer 2: Traci Watanabe LiAdam Wong is managing partner of ACW Ventures, an investment and real estate firm. The telephone number for Wong in Amemiya’s campaign organizational report is the office number for WCIT Architecture, where he was long listed as a company principal.
ACW Ventures was touted as one of the local companies supporting the NextEra takeover of Hawaiian Electric, and was listed as an officer of a firm providing consulting services to NextEra.
Nathan Okubo is an attorney with the firm of Cades Schutte. He has been the registered treasurer of several political campaigns in the past.
See:
Keith Amemiya’s candidate financial disclosure
Amemiya for Mayor campaign committee organizational report
Still to come: Campaign contributions and more
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If the voters want change, they will have to understand they have to think and vote for those who do not depend on rote institutions and their presidents and CEOs for support. Favors for favors is what’s wrong with our current system of governing.
This is great info. Mahalo!!!
Is Amemiya Caldwell’s anointed successor? That’s what it looks like. If so, it suggests he would just be another weak puppet of the same elite special interests and rickety machine.
None of the mentioned candidates are appealing.
The 801 South Street purchase (ostensibly for his son) deserves more attention.
Full rundown on Amemiya 801 South St purchase
http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/ID/25720/Amemiya-Joins-Pack-of-Insiders-Grabbing-Affordable-Housing-Units-for-Themselves.aspx
Error
1 Archer Lane is 801 S King St
Amemiyas own unit at 801 South St
Financial reporting for this quarter is on July 9; until then there will be nothing about Blangiardi, Hannemann or Hanabusa because they did not file before the last reporting period. However, along with Amemiya, they have all the union endorsements. We know nothing about them but that all of them are being supported by unions.
The July 9 report will include disclosure by mayoral candidates for the Jan 1-June 30, 2020 period, according to the Campaign Spending Commission.
From the Commission website:
1B PRELIMINARY PRIMARY REPORT DUE JULY 9, 2020 FOR CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THE 2020 ELECTION AND ON THE PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT
The next report due for Candidates Running in the 2020 Election and on the Primary Election Ballot is the 1B Preliminary Primary Report covering the period January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020 for candidates that were not required to file the 1st Preliminary Primary Report or April 26, 2020 through June 30, 2020 for candidates that were required to file the 1st Preliminary Primary Report.
Amemiya, Hanabusa, and Hanneman are all machine candidates. Develop, develop, develop is always the mantra underneath.
Hawaii needs Aloha Aina! We cant keep overdeveloping for political insiders. Building over ag and conservation lands and more towers for foreigners on a small island is insanity.
I agree with Glenn. You just have to look at all the developers, lawyers for developers, architects that work for developers, and construction companies who have contributed almost all of their campaign chest. Who is the candidate that has small donations from everyday people? Who is the candidate that hasn’t taken PAC or union money? That is the candidate I want for Mayor because I’m tired of the pay to play at City Hall.