Invasive Species, Sustainability And Planning: Maui County Council – Kahului District Candidate Q&As
Three candidates are running in the primary for the council seat covering Mauiʻs largest commercial center.
Maui County Council member Kauanoe Batangan is running again for the district seat he was appointed to in October 2025 following the death of Tasha Kama, who had served since 2018.
Batangan has two nonpartisan challengers in the Aug. 8 primary election, Jason Ababan and Carol Lee Kamekona. The two candidates who win the highest number of votes will be on the ballot for the November general election.
Civil Beat sent the candidates a series of questions about priorities for the office, including how they would support efforts to eradicate invasive species, improve the pipeline of affordable housing and support food sustainability.
Their answers are linked below and the survey responses from candidates can be compared all in one spot on Civil Beat’s 2026 Hawaiʻi Primary Ballot.
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.
