Holmes lives in Kona and Washington

Answer: After serving 12 years on the City Council, Holmes worked as the energy and sustainability coordinator in former Mayor Jeremy Harris' administration.

When Mayor Mufi Hannemann's administration began, Holmes moved and retired to the Big Island, where he had lived prior to living on Oahu.

Since then he spends the summer months in Port Ludlow, Wash., and the winter months in Kona, because his wife, Carol, is "a local girl, and when the cold weather hits, she wants back in Hawaii," he said.

Holmes, 55, is involved in a number of community groups in Port Ludlow, a northwestern town of about 3,000 people.

Holmes is part of a homeowners association, which maintains the landscaping and beautification of the area. He said he also worked with a Seattle-based energy conservation group to put together a sustainability plan. He spends his days volunteering on the local trail maintenance crew.

Holmes was an environmental advocate and chaired the City Council's Public Works and Environment Committee. In 2002 he gained national recognition, winning the Rebuild America Energy Champion award from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Holmes could not run for re-election in 2002 because of term limits, but he said he does not miss politics.

"There are some things about politics that just aren't a whole lot of fun," said Holmes from his Washington state home. "I had some pretty powerful opponents. They just spent a lot of money and ran full-page attacks. It took away from the fun of the job."

The Iowa native said he will always consider Hawaii "a special place," but considers his time in public service over.