Hawaii candidate filing
VerifiedRead exact official contact textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
Phone: (808) 634-2960
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://derekkawakami.com/
CandidateDemocratic
Derek S.K. Kawakami
Candidate websites
Lieutenant Governor
2026 Hawaii Governor and Lieutenant Governor — General Election · November 3, 2026
Published evidence-backed profile
Official filing status and all displayed profile fields are shown with retained source evidence. Final ballot placement remains explicitly pending.
Last reviewed September 17, 2026Overview
- Current race
- 2026 Hawaii Governor and Lieutenant Governor — General Election on November 3, 2026
- Official candidacy
- Lieutenant Governor · Democratic · Candidate
VerifiedSource: Hawaii Office of Elections
VerifiedOfficial records: Hawaii Office of Elections
Policy statements from campaign-controlled sources are labeled candidate positions; they are not independently presented as proven outcomes.
View exact official filing textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
Hawaii Office of Elections — 2026 Candidate Report
Contest: Lieutenant Governor
Party: DEMOCRATIC
Ballot Name: KAWAKAMI, Derek S.K.
Legal Name: DEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI
Phone: (808) 634-2960
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://derekkawakami.com/
Filed: 2026-05-12
Status: In General
Official and campaign contacts
Only contact details published in official filing records, FEC filings, or a verified candidate-owned source with retained exact evidence appear here.
Publication here means only that the contact detail appeared in the cited filing. It is not an endorsement, and older filings may remain visible until an amended official record is captured.
Experience
Verified records and candidate-provided claims are labeled separately.
Derek Kawakami’s Story
Source-published biographyDerek Saburo Kawehi Kawakami was born in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, on August 19, 1977. The son of a schoolteacher and a JC Penney manager, Derek spent his early childhood exploring the outdoors with his two older brothers – developing a love for nature, the ocean, and the close-knit community that defines Hawaiʻi.
Read exact supporting textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
Derek Saburo Kawehi Kawakami was born in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, on August 19, 1977. The son of a schoolteacher and a JC Penney manager, Derek spent his early childhood exploring the outdoors with his two older brothers – developing a love for nature, the ocean, and the close-knit community that defines Hawaiʻi.
Derek Kawakami’s Story
Source-published biographyWhen he was five, his family moved to Mililani on O’ahu, where he attended Mililani Uka Elementary School and discovered his love for sports, especially baseball, soccer, and swimming. Not long after, his family returned home to Kauaʻi, where Derek grew up, made lifelong friendships, experienced Hurricane Iniki, and developed a deep connection to the island community.
Read exact supporting textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
When he was five, his family moved to Mililani on O’ahu, where he attended Mililani Uka Elementary School and discovered his love for sports, especially baseball, soccer, and swimming. Not long after, his family returned home to Kauaʻi, where Derek grew up, made lifelong friendships, experienced Hurricane Iniki, and developed a deep connection to the island community.
Derek Kawakami’s Story
Source-published biographyDerek graduated from Kauaʻi High School in 1995. Along the way he worked a variety of jobs, including delivering newspapers for The Garden Island, serving as an A+ student aide at Wilcox Elementary, and working for the Kauaʻi Water Department. Those early experiences helped shape his work ethic and appreciation for public service.
Read exact supporting textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
Derek graduated from Kauaʻi High School in 1995. Along the way he worked a variety of jobs, including delivering newspapers for The Garden Island, serving as an A+ student aide at Wilcox Elementary, and working for the Kauaʻi Water Department. Those early experiences helped shape his work ethic and appreciation for public service.
Derek Kawakami’s Story
Source-published biographyDerek was later elected to the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) Board and the Kauaʻi County Council, and he also served in the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives. He was elected Mayor of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau in 2018 to lead the islands he proudly calls home.
Read exact supporting textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
Derek was later elected to the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) Board and the Kauaʻi County Council, and he also served in the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives. He was elected Mayor of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau in 2018 to lead the islands he proudly calls home.
Derek Kawakami’s Story
Source-published biographyThrough two terms as Mayor of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau, Derek has focused on strengthening infrastructure and community. During his time in office, his administration worked to repair roads, build affordable housing, and foster stronger connections between government and the people it serves. He helped shift the tax burden away from local residents by increasing visitor contributions, ensuring that those who enjoy the island help to support it. He provided strong, comforting leadership through the Covid-19 pandemic. Derek highly prioritizes public safety and invested in modern training and equipment for frontline responders while elevating the vital role of emergency dispatchers.
Read exact supporting textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
Through two terms as Mayor of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau, Derek has focused on strengthening infrastructure and community. During his time in office, his administration worked to repair roads, build affordable housing, and foster stronger connections between government and the people it serves. He helped shift the tax burden away from local residents by increasing visitor contributions, ensuring that those who enjoy the island help to support it. He provided strong, comforting leadership through the Covid-19 pandemic. Derek highly prioritizes public safety and invested in modern training and equipment for frontline responders while elevating the vital role of emergency dispatchers.
Leader of Our Community
Source-published biographyDerek S. K. Kawakami was re-elected on November 8, 2022, and was inaugurated to serve his second 4-year term as Mayor of Kauaʻi on December 1, 2022. As he expressed on election eve: “On behalf of my wife Monica, and our children Christopher and Hailee, I am so humbled and grateful to have the privilege to serve another four years as our islands’ mayor. Our administration represents change and growth, and we are going to continue to push past our comfort zones and get creative to address our island’s complex issues. We look forward to working with our incoming County Council to build affordable housing for our local residents, improve aging infrastructure, build and maintain our parks, and prioritize public safety.” – Derek Kawakami
Read exact supporting textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
Derek S. K. Kawakami was re-elected on November 8, 2022, and was inaugurated to serve his second 4-year term as Mayor of Kauaʻi on December 1, 2022. As he expressed on election eve: “On behalf of my wife Monica, and our children Christopher and Hailee, I am so humbled and grateful to have the privilege to serve another four years as our islands’ mayor. Our administration represents change and growth, and we are going to continue to push past our comfort zones and get creative to address our island’s complex issues. We look forward to working with our incoming County Council to build affordable housing for our local residents, improve aging infrastructure, build and maintain our parks, and prioritize public safety.” – Derek Kawakami
Positions and priorities
A position shows what the candidate said—not FactVote's endorsement.
Each summary is supported by the candidate's own words from a campaign source, direct candidate response, or official primary record retained with the profile.
Candidate statement
Candidate positionThe mission of the Office of the Mayor is to carry out the vision for Kaua'i by directing the management of all executive departments, offices and agencies. The Office of the Mayor also serves as a liaison between the County Council and administration and facilitates the County's State and Federal legislative agendas. We support all boards and commissions, respond to citizen concerns, and coordinate internal communications among departments and external communications with the general public and partnering government agencies. In addition, the Office of the Mayor manages the county's capital improvement program.
Read exact supporting textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
The mission of the Office of the Mayor is to carry out the vision for Kaua'i by directing the management of all executive departments, offices and agencies. The Office of the Mayor also serves as a liaison between the County Council and administration and facilitates the County's State and Federal legislative agendas. We support all boards and commissions, respond to citizen concerns, and coordinate internal communications among departments and external communications with the general public and partnering government agencies. In addition, the Office of the Mayor manages the county's capital improvement program.
Board of Water Supply Meetings to continue as scheduled
Candidate positionLĪHUʻE – The next regular Board of Water Supply meeting will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in the Department of Water Administration Building, 2nd Floor Board Room, located at 4398 Pua Loke Street, Līhuʻe.
Read exact supporting textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
LĪHUʻE – The next regular Board of Water Supply meeting will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in the Department of Water Administration Building, 2nd Floor Board Room, located at 4398 Pua Loke Street, Līhuʻe.
Make Hawaiʻi More Affordable
Candidate positionPrioritizes reducing the cost of living for working families across Hawaiʻi.
Read exact supporting textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
Make Hawaiʻi More Affordable
Expand Affordable Housing
Candidate positionSupports expanding the supply of affordable housing across the islands.
Read exact supporting textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
Expand Affordable Housing
Address Homelessness
Candidate positionPrioritizes coordinated state and local action to reduce homelessness.
Read exact supporting textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
Address Homelessness
Support Working Families and Economic Opportunity
Candidate positionPrioritizes stronger economic opportunity and support for working families so more residents can afford to remain in Hawaiʻi.
Read exact supporting textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
Support Working Families and Economic Opportunity
Strengthen Disaster Preparedness and Resilience
Candidate positionSupports stronger disaster preparedness, wildfire protection, and climate-resilience planning across Hawaiʻi.
Read exact supporting textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
Strengthen Disaster Preparedness and Resilience
Public record
Executive public-record methodology
Executive public-record methodology
An executive record will attach only from official orders, directives, vetoes, signed actions, legal filings, or direct official statements that explicitly attribute the action to this person. Agency outcomes and events during an administration are not inferred as personal actions.
Campaign finance
Official filings may be amended after publication.
Current campaign-finance summary unavailable
The official Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission system is linked. No amount attaches until one exact candidate or committee identity, compatible office and cycle, report period, and amendment state are captured. Missing values are not zero.
Research boundary
Claims that did not clear the publication standard remain visibly excluded.
Member-level public record
Not publishedReason: NO_STABLE_ELIGIBLE_PUBLIC_RECORD_IDENTITY_ATTACHED
Names and candidate-stated prior service alone never attach another person's records. This is an evidence limitation, not a finding of no public service.
Sources
Every profile claim points back to retained source evidence.
- Election record
2026 Hawaii candidate record — Derek S.K. Kawakami
Hawaii Office of Elections
Open Hawaii Office of Elections - Candidate-owned primary source
Derek S.K. Kawakami — candidate-owned primary source 1
Derek S.K. Kawakami campaign
Open Derek S.K. Kawakami campaign - Candidate-owned primary source
Derek S.K. Kawakami — candidate-owned primary source 2
Derek S.K. Kawakami campaign
Open Derek S.K. Kawakami campaign - Government-published candidate statement
Derek S.K. Kawakami — official Hawaii office primary source 3
Derek S.K. Kawakami official public office
Open Derek S.K. Kawakami official public office - GOVERNMENT_CAMPAIGN_FINANCE_SEARCH
Derek S.K. Kawakami — Hawaii campaign-finance disclosure system
Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission
Open Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission - Candidate-provided
Derek S.K. Kawakami campaign source 4
Derek S.K. Kawakami campaign
Open Derek S.K. Kawakami campaign - Candidate-owned primary source
Derek S.K. Kawakami — Lieutenant Governor
Derek S.K. Kawakami campaign
Open Derek S.K. Kawakami campaign