Many Waimanalo and Enchanted Lake voters said they would prefer incumbent Pohai Ryan over her Democratic opponent Laura Thielen to represent their district in the state Senate.

It’s been one of the hotter legislative races this season, pitting Ryan against Thielen, who served in Republican Gov. Linda Lingle’s cabinet. Her Democratic candidacy was highly controversial and challenged by the party.

One Waimanalo resident said he voted for Ryan because he likes her track record.

“I think she’s done a good job and brought something new to the table,” said Bryan Costa, 29. 

In Enchanted Lake, Christa Conry, 24, said she voted for Ryan because she’s Native Hawaiian.

“Even though I think Thielen did a lot of good work in the DLNR, it’s nice to have a Hawaiian representative…I just align more with Pohai Ryan,” Conry said.

Another Enchanted Lake voter, 44-year-old Shannon Kaopua, had personal reasons for choosing the incumbent Senator: his daughter and Ryan were best friends in high school.

“We hang out at neighborhood board meetings,” he laughed. 

—Alia Wong