Gov. Green, four mayors bring laughs to final day of Native Hawaiian Convention

News admin July 23, 2026 0 Comments

Gov. Green, four mayors bring laughs to final day of Native Hawaiian Convention

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Gov. Josh Green and the four county mayors closed out the Native Hawaiian Convention with a panel that drew standing ovations, applause, and laughs — leaning on self-deprecating humor and personal stories rather than policy.

Green moderated the session, which featured Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, and Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami.

Green and Blangiardi trade jabs

Green opened with a remark about the makeup of the panel.

“It is not lost on me on how much Hawaiians we have here in our mayors,” Green said. “No offense, Blangiardi and me … ‘cause he is whiter than I am.”

Green later added of Blangiardi, “And for a rich bastard to care about the poor so much, it has been incredible to see.”

Blangiardi fired back: “You got a good laugh out of that. I think it was at my expense. You don’t want me in a campaign year to start on you. I will turn this into the Josh Green roast in a nano second. You really want to go there with me. Do you really want to do that.”

Mayors open up on leadership, lessons learned and family

Alameda, who mentioned the loss of his wife two years ago and the challenges of raising children as a single parent, drew laughs describing life at home with seven kids.

“I get my seven kids. I get three of them activists, four of them semi-activists,” Alameda said. “I hear it all the time when I get home, ‘Dad, what do you think about that?’ Or ‘How come not this?’ So if you think I’m a conspiracy theorist, go talk to my kids.”

Bissen, who is running for re-election, spoke about the gap between public expectations and the reality of the job.

“People think you know everything about their projects. Like whatever they’re working on, they assume you know every part of it,” Bissen said.

He also acknowledged the difficulty of juggling his public and family life.

“I have a lot of arguments with my staff over where I’m supposed to be and where I would rather be. I actually want to be here, you guys,” Bissen said to audience laughter.

Kawakami, who is running for lieutenant governor, spoke about his approach to the role.

“I really felt I was able to rewrite some of the norms of being mayor,” Kawakami said. “I didn’t let the title become my identity. I still get out there at reggae concerts and I’m dancing in the crowd.”

Panel closes with a round of self-descriptions

Green asked each mayor how their staff would describe them in two or three words.

Bissen said, “What a guy.” He then countered, “They wouldn’t say that. I think they would say funny. I think they would say reliable and I think they would say integrity.”

Kawakami answered for himself: “Funny, grouchy, non-communicative.” He then added, “I’m not the best surfer, but I’m having the most fun and you know what? If a wave comes, I’m going to go.”

Alameda said: “Energetic, compassionate,” then added with a laugh, “I always get once in a while, podagee.”

Blangiardi kept it brief: “It’s more about what I hope they wouldn’t say. As example, ‘He’s an a**hole.’”