Kaua‘i County Council Chair Mel Rapozo was out ahead in the race for mayor against his council colleagues, Sunday morning’s election results show.

He had 40.6% of the vote, leading council members Bernard Carvalho Jr., who had 30.6%, and Felicia Cowden, who was a distant third with 17%. Rapozo will face Carvalho in the November general election, and the top 14 candidates for the seven-member County Council will also advance. 

Three lesser-known candidates for mayor were all in the single digits, including Catholic Charities Kaua‘i Community Director Laura Lindsey, businessman Megeso-William Denis and Michaela Widener, who works at the Beach House in Po‘ipū.

On Saturday night, Rapozo told Civil Beat that he was happy and relieved by the early results.

“It was just what I call the belly-to-belly campaign, getting in front of as many people as we could,” he said. “I did over 30 meet-and-greets throughout this island, connected with over 1,000 voters, and we were just consistent with that.”

This election is a chance to see major changes in how the county of roughly 73,000 residents is governed and how it will solve its most pressing challenges around affordable housing, solid waste, infrastructure and invasive species. Term-limited Mayor Derek Kawakami is running for lieutenant governor, and the council is expected to see at least four new faces, leaving room for a shift in the council’s majority. 

It’s been a tight race between council members Rapozo and Carvalho, who are friends and have similar stances on Kaua‘i’s main issues. Both support expanding waste diversion programs and working with community partners to build more workforce housing. They also agree that while tourism is an important economic driver, it needs to be better managed. 

Born and raised on Kaua‘i, the two also share extensive experience working in county government. A veteran of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard, Rapozo was an officer with the Kaua‘i Police Department for 13 years and has served on the council on and off for 18 years. Carvalho was Kaua‘i’s longest-serving mayor from 2008 to 2018 and spent decades working in various county departments. He’s served on the council since 2020. 

“This has been the hardest campaign run yet,” Rapozo said. “I can’t thank the volunteers and team enough. Mahalo to the campaign team, my family and especially my wife.”

As council chair, Rapozo, who has also worked as a private investigator, has often been seen grilling county officials and, at times, expressing his discontent with the council not being briefed sooner or his concerns about a project’s status. Carvalho, a former professional football player, is often known for his jovial personality and has a gentler questioning approach.   

Both sought higher office in prior years. This is Rapozo’s third time running for mayor, and Carvalho ran for lieutenant governor in 2018. 

On Saturday night, Carvalho said he’s been proud of his campaign because it’s been a chance to connect with friends, family, supporters and community members overall, many of whom support him because of his collaborative leadership style.

“I know we get one solid base,” he said. “We have a good understanding of what we got do to better serve our island.”

Cowden said in a text that her eight years serving as a Kaua‘i council member has been a privilege.

“I am humbled and honored by the love and respect that has been shown to me around all of Kaua‘i throughout this mayor’s race,” she said, adding “May Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau’s future be abundantly blessed.”

This election, Rapozo raised 25% more campaign funds than Carvalho, according to their latest finance reports. Both are backed by labor unions, major landowners, developers and tourism officials, but Rapozo has prided himself in running a grassroots campaign focused on small-dollar donations. Roughly 17% of his contributions came from donations under $100, compared to 5% of Carvalho’s.   

Outside money also played a role in the mayoral race with political action committees and super PACs spending roughly $138,191 on Carvalho and $120,929 on Rapozo.

Kaua‘i County Council Results 

The top seven vote-getters in the council race were incumbents Arryl Kaneshiro (8,214 votes) and Fern Anuenue Holland (8,193 votes), Todd Ozaki (8,027 votes), Michelle Kaleiohi Correa (7,434 votes), incumbent Addison Bulosan (6,301 votes), Taylor Shigemoto (5,284 votes) and Paul Noboru Applegate (5,279 votes).

The next seven were former council member Billy DeCosta (5,073 votes), Dane Smith (4,761 votes), Mike Coots (4,110 votes), Umi Martin (3,990 votes), Cheree Rapozo (3,447 votes), Keola Kaiminaauao (2,872 votes) and John “Scooby” Mattos (2,394 votes).

Ozaki and Correa, both county employees and first-time candidates, were pleasantly surprised with the results.

“I felt really good going in, but until you see it, you never know. I’m just proud of our team,” Ozaki said on Saturday night, adding that he especially credits his wife for managing his campaign and supporting his family.

Correa told Civil Beat Saturday night that it means a lot to her to represent the Westside, where she’s lived for 34 years and has raised her children, and also represent women.

“I love the spirit of West Kauaʻi and if I can be so fortunate to represent them and the rest of Kaua‘i but especially for the Westside, that really means a lot to me,” she said.

The council hasn’t had a member from West Kaua‘i for several years, and women have never filled more than two council seats at a time.

“It’s still hard to break through but I think our world is different and they see the value of women, and I’m happy to represent part of that if I can continue and make it through,” she said.

In all, 26 candidates ran for council this year. The top 14 move on to the general.

Voters determine who makes up the Kaua‘i County Council every two years. Kaua‘i is the only county to elect council members at-large rather than by districts, and the top seven finishers in the general election win the seats.

In addition to Rapozo, Carvalho and Cowden running for mayor, Council Vice Chair KipuKai Kuali‘i is not seeking re-election due to term limits. That sets the council up for a dramatic shift in its makeup with a majority of new members.

The council sets policy, dictates property tax rates, enacts zoning changes and approves an annual county budget of nearly $500 million.

So far, the race has brought in $158,108, with Ozaki raising the most at roughly $45,130.

PACs and super PACs spent $49,294 on Ozaki. Smith received the second-highest amount at $48,701, followed by Kaneshiro’s $10,973.

Seth Womble contributed to this report.