New Honolulu Mayor Warns Road Ahead ‘Is Not Going To Be Easy’
Rick Blangiardi was sworn in Saturday as the chief executive officer of the City and County of Honolulu.
Keith Amemiya: Political Outsider Or Establishment Insider?
Despite deep political ties to numerous state and local officials, Keith Amemiya says he has the fresh perspective that Honolulu needs in the mayor’s office.
Rick Blangiardi: This Former TV Exec Wants To Be CEO Of Honolulu
Rick Blangiardi regularly used his platform on Hawaii News Now to criticize from the sidelines. Now he admits he doesn't have all the answers either.
Video Interviews
Kuʻu Kauanoe/Civil Beat/2020
VIDEO: The Job Interview — Honolulu Mayoral Candidate Keith Amemiya
In an hourlong conversation, the candidate fields questions from Civil Beat and Hawaii News Now on leadership, trust, tourism and the economy.
Kuʻu Kauanoe/Civil Beat/2020
VIDEO: The Job Interview — Honolulu Mayoral Candidate Rick Blangiardi
In an hourlong conversation, the candidate fields questions from Civil Beat and Hawaii News Now on leadership, homelessness, tourism and the economy.
VIDEOS: Civil Beat Interviews With Keith Amemiya And Rick Blangiardi
The Honolulu mayoral candidates participated in "Know Your Candidate" sessions with Civil Beat journalists.
Candidate Q&As
Marc Schechter / 2019
Candidate Q&A: Honolulu Mayor — Keith Amemiya
"COVID-19 is the crisis of today, but climate change is the crisis of our lifetime."
Candidate Q&A: Honolulu Mayor — Rick Blangiardi
"In many ways we have been wholesaling our home to masses of visitors."
Primary Candidates
Mayoral Candidates who have not returned a Candidate Q&A
Ongoing Coverage
VIDEOS: Civil Beat Interviews With Keith Amemiya And Rick Blangiardi
The Honolulu mayoral candidates participated in "Know Your Candidate" sessions with Civil Beat journalists.
Honolulu Mayor Candidates Say They’d Finish Rail As Planned But Not How They’d Pay For It
But the situation with the more than $9 billion project is so fluid right now that both Amemiya and Blangiardi struggle to say how they'll handle it.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020
Here’s How Honolulu’s Mayoral Candidates Differ — Or Not — On Police Reform
Both candidates are largely content with the department and the practices that are already in place. Neither would cut police funding.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020
Amemiya Maintains Fundraising Lead In Final Stretch Of Mayor’s Race
Candidates submitted their final campaign spending reports before residents start voting by mail throughout October. Two more reports are due before Nov. 3.
How Honolulu’s Mayoral Candidates Would Tackle The Pandemic
Blangiardi and Amemiya both would have done things different than the Caldwell administration but they differ most on the role of police.
Screenshot/2020
Hawaii Carpenters Super PAC Backs Blangiardi In TV Spot
The political action committee formerly known as PRP supported Caldwell in the 2012 mayoral race.
Screenshot/2020
In New TV Ad, Amemiya Compares Blangiardi To Trump
The candidate also embraces the Democratic Party of Hawaii and buys more airtime than his mayoral opponent.
Campaign Corner: Amemiya, Blangiardi Just More Of The Same
Their visions are echoes of each other and an echo of the Caldwell administration.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
Campaign Spending Commission Investigating Anti-Amemiya PAC
People who donated to the PAC are not among Hawaii's typical political contributors.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020
Honolulu Mayor: Blangiardi And Amemiya Advance To Runoff
The two former businessmen, both in their first foray into politics, are headed to the Nov. 3 general election
Hawaii News Now
Civil Beat/HNN Poll: Blangiardi Holds Double-Digit Lead In Honolulu Mayor’s Race
But Hanabusa and Amemiya are tied for second and will likely force a runoff in November.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020
Hanabusa, Esser Surge In Campaign Cash In Race For Mayor, Prosecutor
Keith Amemiya and Steve Alm have raised and spent the most overall but their challengers gained momentum in the month leading up to the primary.
Screenshot
Mayoral Candidate Aims To Break Through With TV Spot
Bud Stonebraker buys airtime along with "big five" Hannemann, Amemiya, Pine, Hanabusa and Blangiardi.
Screenshot/2020
New Rick Blangiardi TV Ads: ‘I’m Not A Politician’
The candidate for Honolulu mayor blames "career politicians" for the city’s problems.
Screenshot/2020
Denby Fawcett: MidWeek’s Troubling Pay-To-Play Journalism
Mayoral candidate Keith Amemiya's cover story this week looks like a news article but it's a paid advertisement.
Kuʻu Kauanoe/ Civil Beat/2020
How Kym Pine Is Using the ‘Power Of Incumbency’ In Mayor’s Race
The term-limited Honolulu councilwoman is making use of her city platform as she seeks higher office.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020
Honolulu’s Next Mayor Will Face Major Obstacles On Rail
Most of the top contenders say they would hit the brakes on the $9 billion project if financial hurdles can't be overcome.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019
Here’s How Honolulu’s Mayoral Candidates Want To Help The Economy
Mayoral candidates differ on taxes and growing the economy, but agree that tourism had grown too big before the COVID-19 crisis.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020
This New PAC Is Attacking Mayoral Candidate Keith Amemiya
The PAC has not reported where it's getting its money. The next state report isn't due until just before the primary.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
Amemiya, Alm Lead Campaign Money Races For Mayor, Prosecutor
Primary election voting by mail starts in just over a week.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020
How Rick Blangiardi Got Caught Up In A 1980s Bank Fraud Scheme
Thirty-five years ago, the federal government sued Rick Blangiardi for his participation in a loan scam. The mayoral candidate says he was duped by criminals.
Screenshot/2020
New TV Spots Promote Keith Amemiya’s Democratic Roots
The first-time candidate in the nonpartisan race for Honolulu mayor is also advertising heavily.
Screenshot/2020
Kym Pine Touts ‘Strong, Passionate’ Leadership In Political Ad
The candidate for mayor of Honolulu has just one TV commercial running but plans more.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019
Neal Milner: 4 Ways This Honolulu Mayor’s Race Is Like None Before It
The COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping both campaigning and what voters are looking for in a candidate.
Screenshot/2020
Why ‘Mayor Mufi’ Wants To Be Mayor Mufi Again
The former Honolulu executive is betting that voters will want a tested leader in these testy times.