Spotlight Now wants your questions for Hawaii’s lieutenant governor candidates

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – On Tuesday, July 14, a special edition of Spotlight Now will feature a conversation with two candidates running to become Hawaiʻi’s next lieutenant governor.

Read more Billy V Live: Jelynn Malone talks about her lead role in “Nurse the Dead”

This is not a traditional debate. Instead, the forum is structured as a discussion about the issues facing the state and why each candidate says they are the right person for the job.

Hawaiʻi’s primary election is set for Aug. 8, 2026.

Della Au Belatti

A Mānoa Valley native, wife and mother of two, Della Au Belatti has spent nearly two decades at the State Capitol. A graduate of Princeton University and the William S. Richardson School of Law, she was first elected to the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives in 2006.

She later served as House majority leader, helping guide the Legislature through the COVID-19 pandemic. As chair of the House Health Committee, she focused on issues including reproductive rights, mental health care, and medical aid in dying. Most recently, she chaired the House Public Safety Committee, overseeing issues including emergency preparedness, military affairs, and immigration policy.

Derek Kawakami

Born in Hilo and raised on Kauaʻi, Derek Kawakami is a husband, father of two, and third-generation island resident who moved from a family business background into public service. A graduate of Kauaʻi High School and Chaminade University, he served on the Kauaʻi County Council and in the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives before being elected mayor of Kauaʻi in 2018.

Read more Officials advise no swimming at Hanalei Bay due to heavy runoff, brown water

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led one of the state’s most restrictive public health responses, which he said helped keep Kauaʻi’s infection rate among the lowest in the country. He also became known for using social media to connect with residents. Now completing his second term as mayor, Kawakami points to a record focused on affordable housing, infrastructure, and local government.

The following Tuesday, July 21, a third candidate, Honolulu attorney John Choi, will join Spotlight Now.

Viewers can send questions for the candidates to [email protected], and some may be asked during the show.

Read more Beloved Kamaaina Kids aide celebrated by families she’s helped for generations