WAILUKU » The residency of a Maui County Council candidate has been questioned by some Lanai residents, leading to an investigation of whether he is eligible to run for office.

Several Lanai residents have signed letters asking whether candidate Sol Kaho'ohalahala is a resident of Lanai and if his primary win for the Lanai seat on the Maui County Council should be nullified.

Maui County Clerk Roy Hiraga on Monday said he has referred some legal questions in the letters to the county Corporation Counsel's Office. “;This thing is not a simple issue,”; Hiraga said.

Some residents have alleged that Kaho'ohalahala's legal residence on Fraser Avenue is the home of his father.

Reynold M. Gima, a Lanai resident, has charged that former state representative Kaho'ohalahala has lived in Lahaina for the past 10 years.

“;Sol is not a resident of Lanai,”; Gima said in a Sept. 29 letter.

“;He has not lived nor worked here for at least six years and has not demonstrated that he has expenses commonly associated with those of residents.”;

Attorney Lance Collins, representing Kaho'ohalahala, said Kaho'ohalahala does not dispute that he resided on Maui when he was director of the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission.

But Collins said there was no question that Kaho'ohalahala is a resident of Lanai.

“;Essentially, what's occurring is a challenge to the election result,”; Collins said.

Collins described the letters as unsubstantiated rumors. Collins said the residency of Kaho'ohalahala has been supported by his brother Gaylien, who has filed an affidavit.

Collins said Kaho'ohalahala has maintained his residency continuously on Lanai since he first registered to vote in 1969.