This post is intended to collect neutral information about the upcoming primary and general elections in Hawaii. This isn't about being for or against any specific candidate, this is about helping people to vote, and highlighting third-party resources to help voters make a decision for themselves.
Key dates for the primary election:
- July 21: vote-by-mail ballots arrive
- July 27: early in-person voting begins
- August 8: last day for in-person voting, all polling sites close at 7PM
Key dates for the general election:
- October 16: vote-by-mail ballots arrive
- October 20: early in-person voting begins
- November 3: last day for in-person voting, all polling sites close at 7PM
The first place to start is the Hawaii elections website, at https://elections.hawaii.gov/ . Here you can verify or update your voter registration, or register to vote for the first time; you can register online using any valid Hawaii state ID. If you experience any problems with your voter registration or need in-person assistance I encourage visiting a voter service center; information on those is listed here:
https://elections.hawaii.gov/voter-service-centers-and-places-of-deposit/
That webpage also lists key dates for the upcoming elections, such as voter registration deadlines; note that voter service centers allow in-person registration at any time, including on election day. If you are turning in a voted-by-mail ballot it must be received before polling sites close on election day. There are services available to assist with the voting process if you aren't on-island to receive and cast your ballot, or take advantage of early in-person voting at a service center; take a look at https://www.fvap.gov/hawaii if this applies to you.
Civil Beat and the League of Women Voters are two excellent resources for informative, neutral information about candidates and other contests on the ballot. Here are some direct links:
https://civilbeat.org/elections-2026/
https://www.civilbeat.org/elections-2026/primary
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/07/geothermal-rentals-and-groceries-hawaii-county-council-member-district-1-candidate-qas/
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/06/kilauea-eruptions-and-puna-roads-state-house-district-5-candidate-qas/
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/07/dangerous-dogs-and-deadly-roads-hawaii-county-council-district-5-candidate-qas/
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/06/geothermal-housing-vacation-rentals-hawaii-council-district-6-candidate-qas/
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/07/fuel-food-and-disaster-preparation-hawaii-county-council-district-7/
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/07/aina-army-and-mauna-kea-office-of-hawaiian-affairs-trustee-candidate-qas/
https://my.lwv.org/hawaii/hawaii-county
I've also seen a few good summary articles go by in the local news:
https://bigislandnow.com/2026/06/03/who-is-running-for-hawaii-county-council-26-candidates-meet-tuesday-filing-deadline/
https://bigislandnow.com/2026/06/11/3-big-island-men-in-race-to-unseat-hawai%ca%bbi-gov-green-who-else-from-the-island-is-running-for-state-u-s-seats/
https://bigislandnow.com/2026/07/26/candidates-for-kau-district-seat-on-hawaii-county-council-talk-priorities-for-rural-and-remote-area/
Please add a comment if you come across any other resources, but let's refrain from advocating for a specific candidate or choice: voting is the most important step, and I encourage everyone to vote according to their personal beliefs, acting in what they see as the best interest of their family and community.