Mayor of Hawaii County

The mayor serves as the chief executive and administrative officer of the county, responsible for enforcing county ordinances, preparing the annual budget, and appointing department heads with the approval of the county council. The mayor also has veto power over council legislation, subject to a two-thirds override. The county operates under a mayor-council form of government, with the council serving as the legislative branch. The mayor oversees departments ranging from public works and police to parks and recreation, and plays a key role in land-use planning and disaster response, particularly given the island's active volcanoes and hurricane risk.

The position was established in 1968 when Hawaii County adopted its charter, replacing the previous board of supervisors system. The first mayor was Shunichi Kimura, who served from 1968 to 1974. Notable mayors include Harry Kim, who served two non-consecutive terms (2000–2008 and 2016–2020) and was widely recognized for his leadership during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. Other mayors include Bernard Akana, Lorraine Inouye, and Billy Kenoi, who served from 2008 to 2016. The current mayor is Kimo Alameda, who took office in 2024.

Mayoral elections are held on a nonpartisan basis, with a primary election in August and a general election in November. Candidates must be residents of Hawaii County and registered voters. The term is four years, and a person may serve no more than two consecutive terms. This limit was adopted by voter referendum in 1992. The mayor is elected at-large, meaning all county voters participate, regardless of district. The county's population is concentrated in Hilo and Kailua-Kona, but rural areas and small towns also play a significant role in election outcomes.

One lesser-known fact is that the mayor's office has a satellite office in Kailua-Kona, reflecting the island's dual-centered geography. The mayor also serves as the county's civil defense director, a role that gained prominence during the 2018 eruption and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Another obscure detail: the county charter was amended in 2000 to require the mayor to deliver an annual State of the County address. Additionally, the mayor appoints the county's managing director, who acts as a chief of staff. The position has been held by only a handful of individuals, and no mayor has ever been removed from office via recall.

Mayor-council government

A form of local government where the mayor is the executive and the council is the legislature.

County charter

A document that defines the structure and powers of a county government.

At-large election

An election in which all voters of a jurisdiction choose the officeholder, rather than by district.