Follow the money.

That old adage for investigative journalism is still the best advice in Hawaiʻi politics and elections, especially when it comes to special interest groups that funnel their money through political action committees. This year’s primary is no exception.

More than two dozen PACs and super PACs (independent expenditure committees that are prohibited from coordinating with candidates) spent nearly $11 million on 137 candidates since the 2026 election cycle began nearly two years ago.

Most of the time, the money paid off. The vast majority of candidates who received money from PACs and super PACs won their primary races or will move on to the general election.

A Civil Beat review of last week’s primary results and campaign finance reports through July 24 shows that 73% of candidates who received financial support from PACs and super PACs either won their seat outright or defeated an opponent and will move on to the Nov. 3 general election.

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We’ve written a lot in recent months about Pacific Resource Partnership — the consortium of the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters and the 250 contractors who hire its members — and its super PAC, For A Better Tomorrow, which has become far and away the biggest spender in Hawaiʻi politics.

For A Better Tomorrow accounted for $5.2 million — nearly half — of the total spent by noncandidate committees so far this election cycle. The super PAC put its money toward broadcast and internet advertising, social media campaigns, direct mailers and other campaign necessities to help at least 24 candidates.

So how did it do?

Eighteen of the carpenters’ candidates either won their seat in the primary or are moving on to the general election. Not surprisingly, the carpenters’ big play — more than $2 million on Derek Kawakami’s run for lieutenant governor —paid off. Something would have to go terribly wrong for him to lose in November.

Only six PRP candidates lost, including Honolulu City Council chair Tommy Waters who was disqualified just days before the Aug. 8 primary. The carpenters had backed two legislative candidates that failed to advance as well as two Big Island County Council candidates and one running for the Maui County Council.

Records show that the Operating Engineers PAC did even better. Every one of the 29 candidates that got support from its PAC won or will move on to the general. The Operating Engineers still have $10 million in the PAC’s bank account to spend in this election.

Other big PAC players can certainly call their investments a success, too.

The ILWU Hawaii Political Action Committee supported the most candidates who either won their primary race or will be moving on to the general – a total of 73 successful candidates.

The Hawaii REALTORS Political Action Committee followed close behind with 70 candidates who either won or will go on to the general.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars went to candidates who, on the surface at least, look like they hardly needed the help. Nearly a third of candidates who got PAC or super PAC support were unopposed in the primary and many had no general election opponent either. They included people like Senate President Ron Kouchi, who had a very safe Kauaʻi seat.

Those unopposed candidates raked in more than $642,000 of the nearly $11 million spent so far in the election cycle.

We wanted to see whether big money made a difference in who came out on top in this year’s primary races, so we came up with a graphic that matches candidates to their generous benefactors. Check it out to see who is supporting your elected officials:

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported contributions by the Operating Engineers PAC to Della Belatti and Jarrett Keohokalole.