ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com BY NANCY COOK LAUER | WEST HAWAII TODAY ADVERTISING HILO — Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi packed his re-election war chest with almost three times the money raised by Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle — most of it coming from
BY NANCY COOK LAUER | WEST HAWAII TODAY
HILO — Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi packed his re-election war chest with almost three times the money raised by Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle — most of it coming from donors in Carlisle’s own city.
Kenoi raised $144,218 the last six months of 2011 and $287,569 for the current election cycle, according to campaign reports filed by the midnight Tuesday deadline. Carlisle, on the other hand, raised just $53,222 during the same six months and $339,100 for the election period.
Kenoi said raising money isn’t a focus of his campaign, but he appreciates the help.
“We’re just appreciative and humbled by the support,” Kenoi said.
The amount raised by Hawaii County mayoral hopeful and County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong pales in comparison. Yagong announced his candidacy in mid-January, after the closing date for the newest report.
Yagong raised only $500 between July 1 and Dec. 31, bringing his cash on hand to $2,057. His $500 donation came from Peter Vana, the founder of Hilo-based Kavana Homes.
Yagong acknowledged that he hadn’t raised much money for a campaign and said he’d never be able to compete financially with the power of the incumbency. He’s relying on grass-roots support instead, he said.
“My campaign has never been about money,” Yagong said, noting that Kenoi “raised more in six months than I’ve raised in 12 years.”
Yagong said his campaign won’t go for big fundraisers, but he hopes people will contribute.
“We’re going to win this election one vote at a time,” he said.
Added to $40,563 left over from the last election, Kenoi’s total receipts topped $287,569. But $173,337 in expenditures brought his ending cash on hand to $154,796.
Only $4,081 of Kenoi’s $144,218 in contributions were from people giving $100 or less. Only 95 of the 159 individuals and companies giving more than $100 were from the Big Island.
Still, Kenoi said, “We have more donors on-island than off-island. We have a lot of support. People give what they can, whether in dollars or by helping on the campaign.”
“I don’t think money dictates the success of a campaign,” Kenoi added.
Kenoi’s recent expenses included $3,137 to James Arakaki for a $1,000-$4,000 per plate fundraiser Aug. 29 at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Honolulu. Another $1,485 went for travel and lodging and other expenses for the fundraiser.
Kenoi also held a $1,000-per-ticket fundraiser Aug. 24 at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu, a $100-per-person fundraiser Sept. 20 at the Hilo Yacht Club and an unspecified December fundraiser at Hokulia.
Major cash contributors included $4,000 from Jeffrey Arce, of the Honolulu real estate company MacNaughton Group; $4,0000 from Karl Heyer IV, of the Honolulu real estate firm Heyer Group; $4,000 from Patrick Kobayashi of Honolulu real estate firm Kobayashi Group; $4,000 from Honolulu developer Bert Kobayashi, $4,000 from Honolulu-based Waimana Enterprises, parent company of Sandwich Isles Communications; $4,000 from Las Vegas-based real estate investment company EWM Investments and $3,000 from International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142 of Hilo.
Ten other donors gave $2,000 and one gave $2,500.
ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com
