Former Maui Mayor Apana withdraws from House race
Advertiser Staff
Former Maui County Mayor James "Kimo" Apana has withdrawn his candidacy for a state House seat from Maui.
Apana had filed to run as a Democrat for the 9th District seat (Kahului, Pa'ia) held by Democrat Bob Nakasone.
The Maui News reported that Apana announced he has withdrawn to support Nakasone, whom he called a "respected friend, confidant, trusted colleague and fellow Democrat."
Nakasone, who has been battling lung cancer, waited until last week to decide he was well enough to run, the Maui News said.
Republican Henry Kahula Jr. is challenging Nakasone for the 9th District seat.
Apana is one of four candidates to withdraw since Tuesday's candidate filing deadline. Others who have withdrawn are Jim Brewer (Honolulu mayoral race), George Waialeale (Honolulu City Council 5th District seat) and Jared Dubois (Maui Council West Maui seat).
In all, 278 people are running in Hawai'i elections this year, a sharp decline from recent years. In 2006, 324 candidates ran in Hawai'i; in 2002, 410 people ran for office here.
Thirty-one of this year's 112 races have just one candidate.
