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Some say parties influence
nonpartisan Maui race

Primary Election 2000

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By Gary Kubota
Star-Bulletin

WAILUKU -- Maui County voters will be casting nonpartisan ballots in selecting their nine County Council members, under a Charter amendment approved by voters in the last election.

The two with the highest number of votes in the primary advance to the general election.

But some observers say that while party affiliation has been removed from the ballot, political groups continue to influence the choice of Council candidates and are looking toward the Maui mayoral race in 2002.

A fight for the Kahului Council seat is becoming more than a race between incumbent Michael Davis and challenger Alan Arakawa.

Arakawa, 48, served two terms in the Kahului seat before running unsuccessfully for mayor against James "Kimo" Apana in 1998. Arakawa said to eliminate his candidacy for mayor two years from now, Apana supporters are helping Davis in his campaign.

"Kimo's trying to rally the old boy network to eliminate his perceived opposition," Arakawa said. "They're making an all-out attempt this race to knock us out so they won't have to worry in the next race."

Arakawa, a businessman, has criticized Davis and Apana for supporting increases in park facility user fees.

Davis, 56, vice chairman of the Council Parks Committee, said the Council raised fees to help pay debts incurred by the Republican administration in office before Apana. He said the county has since reduced and restructured fees to the point that its municipal golf course is breaking even.

"People are coming to me because I'm doing a good job for them," Davis said.

Also running for the Kahului seat is Thomas S. Sipiora, 70, who wants to see more services for the elderly and youth.

Arakawa said Apana supporters are also helping Michael Victorino in his bid against incumbent Councilman Dain Kane, who is also interested in running for mayor.

Victorino, 48, who stepped down from the state Board of Education earlier this year to run against Kane for the Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu seat, said he has people from various parties supporting him.

"I welcome anybody," he said. "I need all the help I can get."

Kane, the Council's vice chairman and chairman of the Committee of the Whole, disagreed with Apana's position to buy one parcel at Palauea Beach for a public park. Kane wanted the county to buy three parcels.

Eventually, the administration agreed to obtain two parcels. But the conflict has helped to drive a wedge between Apana and Kane.

County Managing Director Grant Chun said Apana isn't telling his supporters to back certain candidates running for the council.

"If supporters decide to support candidates, it's their right to do so," Chun said. "He's confident he and this administration can work with the council, however it is comprised."

Winston D. Tyau, a freelance photographer, is also running against Victorino and Kane.