Ex-city prosecutor Former city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro has announced his bid for Honolulu mayor in 2002, touting his integrity and public safety background.
joins race for
Honolulu mayor
Keith Kaneshiro will focus
his platform on public safetyBy Gordon Y.K. Pang
gpang@starbulletin.comThe announcement yesterday means there will be at least four battle-tested candidates vying for the job of Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, who has said he will resign in July to run for governor.
Kaneshiro said that while he made his decision before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the impact of the attacks highlights the need for someone with his strengths.
"My whole public service career has been devoted toward public safety," Kaneshiro said during a news conference yesterday while accompanied by about 30 supporters. "I think what we're now seeing ... is, the perception of public safety is having a direct impact on our economy."
Kaneshiro, 52, was Honolulu's elected prosecuting attorney from 1988 to 1996. He then was Gov. Ben Cayetano's public safety director from 1997 to 1998.
Since then he has run KMK Associates, a private investigation, security and consulting firm. Kaneshiro is also still a practicing attorney. Earlier this year, he represented Jonn Serikawa, who testified in City Councilman Andy Mirikitani's kickback trial.
Kaneshiro's announcement came on the heels of media reports last week that Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono was abandoning plans to run for governor and would be turning her attention to the mayor's race.
Kaneshiro said he met with Hirono two weeks ago but that he promised her he would not reveal what was discussed.
Hirono, reached yesterday afternoon, continued to ward off questions about her political plans on the basis that her energies are focused on helping revive the state economy.
Former City Council Chairman Mufi Hannemann and Councilman Duke Bainum both said Kaneshiro's announcement will have little impact on their campaigns.
"The voters are going to benefit from having another choice," Hannemann said.
Bainum said, "The only thing that's changed my campaign is, there is now one more person in the race."
Hannemann said his expertise in economic development and his relationship with members in the Bush administration will help his campaign. Bainum is touting his economic diversification, environmental and transportation plans.
Former Mayor Frank Fasi said he welcomes Kaneshiro's entry.
"The more candidates, the better for me," he said.
Dan Boylan, a University of Hawaii-West Oahu political science professor, said he is uncertain how Kaneshiro's public-safety emphasis will play with voters.
"He was a prosecutor, and prosecutors tend to be one-dimensional," Boylan said. "He'll be up against some people who know city issues, in all likelihood better than he does."
Donald Clegg, a political pollster helping Bainum, said his numbers show Kaneshiro running "well behind Duke and Mufi" but ahead of Fasi.
Clegg and Boylan said they believe Kaneshiro's entry may dilute Hannemann's base of support.