HILO — Kai Kahele is the state’s newest senator, but he’s proving to be one of its most adept fundraisers.
Campaign finance records show the District 1 Democrat, appointed by Gov. David Ige in February following the death of his father, the late Sen. Gil Kahele, raised $109,362.76 for his campaign during the first half of 2016.
That’s more than any other senator on the ballot raised from Jan. 1 to June 30 and nearly eight times the amount his two Democratic challengers raised combined.
It also surpasses the $79,755.27 his father collected for his 2014 campaign.
Kahele, a pilot for Hawaiian Airlines and Hawaii Air National Guard who is running to complete the rest of his father’s term, started receiving donations in March. He has held four fundraisers split between Hilo and Honolulu.
Kahele said he is “humbled” by the financial support and credited his fundraising success to his teacher — Gil Kahele.
“My dad was a master campaigner, a seasoned campaigner,” he said. “I was fortunate to be able to spend time with him the last few years. I learned a lot from him.”
Kahele, 42, is running against Hawaii County Councilman Dennis Onishi and Kaloa Robinson, a county housing specialist, in the Aug. 13 primary.
As of June 30, Onishi, who entered the race on the last day of filing June 7 and said he is using the state’s partial public funding program, raised $5,676.64. The public funding program will allow him to receive matching dollars up to $5,270.
He acknowledged his disadvantage during an interview with the Tribune-Herald.
“I think it will come down to maybe money,” he said of the race.
Robinson raised $8,380 during the same time period.
Of Kahele’s donations, $13,725, or 12.5 percent, came in contributions of $100 or less.
The 201 donations above that amount averaged $452. About 54 percent of those were from Hilo donors.
Kahele has racked up endorsements from labor and environmental groups, according to his website.
“I will say I don’t owe anything to anybody,” he said, when asked if the donations will affect his positions. “I am my own man. I may agree with you sometimes, I may disagree with you sometimes.
“My decision always will be what I believe is in the best interest of the people of Hawaii and my constituents in Hilo.”
Onishi received $275 in donations under $100. He received two donations above $100 — $500 from Monsanto and $4,000 from Russell Kuwaye, owner of Puna Rock Company — from Jan. 1 to June 30. Onishi loaned his campaign $901.16 during that time period.
Robinson received $480 in donations under $100. His 11 donations above that amount averaged $718. More than half of those came from relatives.
