Former council member challenges chair in East Honolulu rematch

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Former Honolulu City Council member and attorney Trevor Ozawa announced Tuesday he’s running to reclaim the District 4 East Honolulu council seat.

Read more Spotlight Now: What to expect with hurricane season underway

His campaign sets up a rematch against current council chair Tommy Waters.

Ozawa and Waters, both Kamehameha Schools graduates, have faced off before in a series of close races.

Ozawa beat Waters in 2014 by 41 votes, then won again in 2018 by 22 votes. But the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court later invalidated those results, triggering a special election “do-over” that Waters won in 2019.

Now, Ozawa says he’s ready for another run, arguing his campaign is focused on “making government work for local families again” and bringing “urgency” and “common sense” back to the district.

He also questions City Council raises and whether Waters should seek a third term.

Waters says he welcomes the challenge. “I welcome him to the race. It’s going to be a spirited race,” Waters said. “I just hope that we can keep it clean… and just run a fair, clean race.”

The race also comes as questions have surfaced about the letter that led to the city clerk clearing Waters to run again.

Read more First Alert Forecast: Heavy rain possible for parts of the state today, drier windier conditions due on Wednesday

HNN has learned the objection that prompted the clerk’s determination came from Chris Butt, a longtime Waters supporter and past campaign donor.

“It sounds unbelievable, but, you know, I guess I would say, it kind of makes you question what the intent is, whether it was to really educate people, whether it was to help people, whether it was to trick people, I’m not sure,” said Ozawa.

Waters said Butt wrote the letter himself after Waters explained the process and said he did not engineer it.

“I pointed out what that process was and Chris took that and did the letter himself, so we got a determination and it feels good,” said Waters.

“I’m pretty confident based on my reading of the law that I’m eligible to run for another term,” he added. Waters says his priorities include lowering sewer fees, finding a new landfill, easing traffic, and continuing to walk the district.

Read more Woman arrested in connection to fatal Wahiawa stabbing; second suspect wanted

The primary election is Sat. Aug. 8.