Small Business, Childcare And Safety: State House District 14 Candidate Q&As
The seat has three Democratic candidates on the primary ballot.
Incumbent representative for State House District 14, Elle Cochran, switched party affiliation in March and will now run in the Hawaiʻi elections as a Republican. She will not face an opponent in the Aug 8 primary race.
Three Democrats – Kanamu Balinbin, Ashley Olson and Sne Patel – will compete in the primary.
The winner will face Cochran and Green Party candidate Pa’ele Kiakona, who is also unopposed, in the general election.
The district includes Kahakuloa, Waiheʻe, parts of Waiehu and Māʻalaea, Olowalu, Lahaina, Lahainaluna, Kāʻanapali, Mahinahina Camp, Kahana and Honokahua.
The candidates were sent a survey by Civil Beat asking them to respond to questions about how they would help ensure the district was better prepared for extreme weather events and what ideas they have for diversifying the state’s tourism-heavy economy.
Their responses, if provided, are listed below in alphabetical order.
Go to Civil Beat’s 2026 Elections Guide for general information, and check out the other candidates on Civil Beatʻs 2026 Hawaiʻi Primary Ballot.
Kanamu Balinbin
Elle Cochran
