Molokai Votes

Along with millions of voters across the U.S., Molokai residents participated in the Nov. 5 U.S. elections. Incumbent women came out strong in this year’s local elections. Here’s a breakdown of how Molokai voted for some of its most crucial representatives.

Voter turnout overall for Molokai was 56.6 percent, only slightly behind the state average of 60.5 percent, but ahead of the county average, which was 55 percent. Mana’e led the way for topside Molokai precincts with 60 percent of registered voters turning out. Kaunakakai was next with 57.2 percent participation, followed by Ho’olehua and then Maunaloa. Kalawao County had slightly higher participation rate with 18 of their 28 registered voters, or 64.2 percent, participating in the election.

President

Molokai went blue along with the rest of the state, with Kamala Harris garnering 57.7 percent of the vote. Molokai’s Harris margin was slightly smaller than the 60 percent margin of victory that she held statewide. While mail-in voting made up the vast majority of the total Molokai vote, Donald Trump led the in-person vote.

Maui County Council, Molokai Councilmember

Incumbent Keani Rawlins-Fernandez defeated John Pele, retaining her seat on the county council. Rawlins-Fernandez only won the Molokai electorate by one vote, helped by a strong performance in Mana’e. For the overall county election, the margin was much wider with Rawlins-Fernandez winning by over 6,000 votes. Rawlins-Fernandez will be going into her fourth term on the Maui County Council.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Incumbent Luana Alapa came away with the statewide election, prevailing over challenger Kunani Nihipali by over 50,000 votes. On Molokai, however, Nihipali outgained Alapa, 55.7 percent to 44.2 percent, winning every precinct on-island. The Molokai numbers, however, did not translate to the statewide election for him. Alapa will be going into her second term.

State Representative, Dist. 13

Molokai’s Mahina Poepoe successfully defended her position as state representative, defeating challenger Adam Scott by over 40 percent of the vote statewide. She will embark on her second term in the state house.

State Senator, Dist. 7

Molokai’s Lynn DeCoite likewise put up big numbers in her victory over challenger Gabby Macaraeg, securing 66.5 percent of the statewide vote. DeCoite has been in office since 2021, when she was appointed by the governor to fill a vacancy in the state senate.

U.S. Representative, Dist. II

Hawaii’s representative to the U.S. House of Representatives, Jill Tokuda, easily defeated rival Steve Bond, taking 61.4 percent of the total vote.

U.S. Senator
Incumbent Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono took 62.1 percent of the vote statewide in her defeat over Bob McDermott.

All results are according to the Hawaii Elections office, reported as of Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Visit elections.hawaii.gov for full results.