{"id":2561,"date":"2026-07-13T22:06:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T22:06:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2561"},"modified":"2026-07-13T22:06:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T22:06:06","slug":"spotlight-now-belatti-kawakami-talk-policy-in-lieutenant-governor-forum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2561","title":{"rendered":"Spotlight Now: Belatti, Kawakami talk policy in lieutenant governor forum"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<section>\n<p>HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) &#8211; On Tuesday, July 14, a special edition of Spotlight Now will feature a conversation with two candidates running to become Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s next lieutenant governor.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2560\">Lindsey Graham\u2019s sister will serve the remainder of his term, governor says<\/a><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s primary election is set for Aug. 8, 2026.<\/p>\n<h2>Della Au Belatti<\/h2>\n<p>A M\u0101noa 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 Hawai\u02bbi House of Representatives in 2006.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2558\">Police investigate fatal three-vehicle crash that killed 21-year-old woman on Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Derek Kawakami<\/h2>\n<p>Born in Hilo and raised on Kaua\u02bbi, 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 Kaua\u02bbi High School and Chaminade University, he served on the Kaua\u02bbi County Council and in the Hawai\u02bbi House of Representatives before being elected mayor of Kaua\u02bbi in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led one of the state\u2019s most restrictive public health responses, which he said helped keep Kaua\u02bbi\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>The following Tuesday, July 21, a third candidate, Honolulu attorney John Choi, will join Spotlight Now.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2556\">No tsunami threat to Hawaii after 6.7 earthquake southeast of Loyalty Islands<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Tuesday, July 14, a special edition of Spotlight Now will feature a conversation with two candidates running to become Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s next lieutenant governor: Della Au Belatti and Derek Kawakami.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2432,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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