Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday, February 24, 2020

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REGISTER TO VOTE BY Thursday, July 9 for the Primary, Monday, Oct. 5 for the General Election. The Primary vote is Saturday, Aug. 8. The General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

     Elections for Mayor, County Council, countyProsecutor, east Kaʻū state Senate and both of Kaʻū's members in the state House of Representatives, and Hawaiʻi's Congressional Delegation, are coming up quickly. Here are the names of those who signed up to run by late February and would represent Kaʻū:

     Mayor of Hawaiʻi: Current County Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth, of Hilo; Bob Fitzgerald, of Kealakekua; Kelly Greenwell, of Kona; Grayden Haʻi-Kelly, of Kona; Wendell Kaʻehuʻaeʻa, of Hilo; Mike Ruggles, of Mountain View; Abolghassem Sadegh, of Hilo; Tante Urban, of Kona; and Jiro Yuda, of Hilo. Mayor Harry Kim had not responded as of deadline to whether or not he will run to keep his seat.

     County Council District 6: Incumbent Maile David of Capt. Cook, and Marie Burns, of Ocean View.

     Hawaiʻi CountyProsecuting Attorney: Jared Auna, of Hilo; Christopher Bridges, of Hilo; Stephen Fry, of Kona; and Kaden Waltjen, of Hilo.

     State Representative for east Kaʻū, District 3: Frederick Fogel, Democrat, of Volcano; and Incumbent Richard Onishi, Democrat, of Hilo.

     State Representative for west Kaʻū, District 5: Incumbent Richard Creagan, Democrat, of Nāʻālehu; and Michael Last, Libertarian, of Nāʻālehu.

     State Senator for east Kaʻū, District 2: Incumbent Russell Ruderman, Democrat, of Keaʻau.

     State Senator for west Kaʻū, District 3: Incumbent Dru Kanuha, Democrat, of Kona, continues; his seat is not up for election this year.

     U.S.House of Representatives, District 2, Incumbent Tulsi Gabbard is not running, as she is seeking the office of U.S. President. Running for her seat are: State Sen. Kai Kehele, Democrat, of Hilo; Bart Gottschalk, Republican, of Ocean View; Ran Meza, Democrat, of Kona; Robert Rousseau, Republican, of Kona; David Cornejo, Democrat, of rural Oʻahu; Brian Evans, Democrat, of rural Oʻahu; Raymond Quel, Republican, of rural Oʻahu; Taylor Smith, Republican, of rural Oʻahu; and Michelle Tippens, Libertarian, of rural Oʻahu.
       Both of Hawaiʻi's U.S. Senators are in the middle of their terms and will not need to run this year.

KAʻŪ HIGH SENIORS CAN APPLY FOR ONE OF THREE $1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS through Keaukaha General Store in partnership with Hawaiʻi Rise Foundation.

     The first scholarship created by Keaukaha General Store is the "Holomua Scholarship," which encourages students to holomua – improve – progress and move forward. This will be the fifth year Keaukaha General Store offers the Holomua Scholarship to high school seniors.
     The Gangwes family will sponsor, for the third year in a row, the second scholarship offered this year, "in memory of their beloved daughter and sister, Rachel." Rachel was born with Trisomy 18 syndrome (Edwards syndrome), a disorder of human chromosomes which occurs in approximately 1 in 7,000 live born infants. Despite having a life expectancy of 1 year of age, Rachel thrived and lived until she was 19 years old. The "Rachel Leilani Gangwes Scholarship" honors Rachel, her life, and her heart. Preference for this scholarship winner will be given to students who attended Kaʻū High School and/or Nāʻālehu Elementary, and/or to those who plan to pursue a career in special education.
     Offered for the first time this year is the "Hoʻopuakea Scholarship" created by Kealani and Napua Canda. "Hoʻopuakea" means "full of light, to shine," and this scholarship hopes to encourage students to discover what makes them shine and how they can use the light that is inside of them to help others and make a positive change in the world.
     Students will be asked to answer essay questions as part of their application process. "As graduating high school seniors, it is important for them to look at issues in their communities and consider ways of helping to one day give back and improve where they come from."
     Requirements to apply for the scholarships are: be a resident of Hawaiʻi Island and a high school senior, and be enrolled in an undergraduate program or be enrolling for the upcoming fall semester. No minimum GPA is required. Applications can be picked up at Keaukaha General Store, online at hawaiirisefoundation.com or keaukahageneralstore.com, or be requested by emailing contact@hawaiiriseclasses.com.

     Applications must be turned in no later than June 1; late applications will not be accepted. Applications will be read and rated on a scale of 1 to 5, judged on style, structure, and content. Three winners will be announced and the scholarships will be disbursed to the enrolled university.

     For more information, call Breeani Sumera-Lee at 808 969 1169 ext. 3 or email to contact@hawaiiriseclasses.com.