Kawananakoa prepares for congressional race
Former Republican state Rep. Quentin Kawananakoa is expected to launch his campaign for the 2nd Congressional District seat Sunday at a rally in Kailua.
Kawananakoa, 44, plans to open his campaign headquarters at 171-D Hamakua Drive in Kailua at 1 p.m. Republican state Sen. Bob Hogue has also announced for the seat to be vacated by U.S. Rep. Ed Case, who is running against Sen. Daniel Akaka.
Kawananakoa ran for the 1st Congressional District in 1998 but withdrew during the primary campaign, saying he was undergoing treatment for hypertension and its related conditions including heart palpitations, high blood pressure and severe headaches.
The Federal Elections Commission reports that Kawananakoa has already raised $53,105 for this new campaign.
In the 1998 campaign, Kawananakoa raised more than $228,000, but after withdrawing, Kawananakoa said he would return the unspent donations.
Since the 1998 campaign, Kawananakoa, a direct descendent of Hawaiian Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, who served in Congress for 10 terms, has kept a relatively low profile.
He was named a member of the state Hawaiian Homes Commission for a term that expires this year.
Kawananakoa was last in the news in 2002 when fire crews rescued him from a steep ridge above Hauula following a paragliding mishap.
At the time, Kawananakoa said he avoided falling over a 300- to 400-foot cliff after rolling, sliding and tumbling down a steep incline that he was forced to land on.
In 1989, Kawananakoa pleaded guilty to third-degree possession of cocaine and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service. He served in the state House from 1994 to 1998.