Geothermal, Rentals, Groceries: Hawaiʻi County Council District 1 Candidate Q&As

Incumbent faces two opponents in the primary election for Big Island council seat.

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Incumbent faces two opponents in the primary election for Big Island council seat.

Three nonpartisan candidates are running in the Aug. 8 primary for the Hawaiʻi County Council seat for District 1 currently held by Heather Kimball. Her two challengers are BJ Penn and Ren Del Rosario.

The district includes North Hilo, Hāmākua, and part of Waimea.

All three candidates were sent a survey from Civil Beat asking them to outline their views on a variety of issues including the growth in transient vacation rentals, their priorities for infrastructure and how they would improve disaster preparedness.

Their responses, if supplied, are linked here in alphabetical order under their official ballot name, which you can also compare all in one spot on Civil Beat’s 2026 Hawaiʻi Primary Ballot.

Heather Kimball

BJ Penn

Ren Del Rosario

2026 Elections Guide
Hawaiʻi’s 2026 elections are right around the corner and Civil Beat’s elections guide is here to help with essential information, candidate positions, news stories and more.
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