The Ballot Brief
Hawaii County, Hawaii

Hawaii House District 5

See where Kapela and McCormick stand on housing and roads. Names follow official Hawaii County election filings.

About this race

Jeanne Kapela (Democratic), Dalene McCormick (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Hawaii House District 5; Jeanne Kapela is the sitting member, per the Legislature's official members directory (capitol.hawaii.gov). Every candidate ran in the August 8 primary; the top finisher of each party advanced, per the Office of Elections' final primary results.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Jeanne Kapela, is on the ballot.

This list comes from official election records but may be incomplete. It can miss, for example, late or petition candidates and some city, school and district races. Your official sample ballot is the final word.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Hawaii › Hawaii County › Hawaii House District 5

Jeanne Kapela

Jeanne Kapela

DemocraticIncumbent

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Calls water and basic infrastructure foundational, saying housing, healthcare and education cannot be solved without it.
  • Opposes shipping monopolies and wants stronger food security and a more diversified economy.
  • As co-convener of the Working Families Caucus, supports paid family leave, universal childcare and eliminating the excise tax on groceries.
Biography

Jeanné Kapela is the State Representative for Hawaii House District 5, first elected in 2020 as the first woman, first Native Hawaiian, and first person born and raised in the district to hold the seat, per her campaign site. She chairs the House Committee on Culture and Arts and founded the Hawaiʻi Working Families Caucus, per her campaign site. Before her legislative career she led an organization supporting survivors of sex trafficking and trained as a dancer with the Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and San Francisco Ballet, per her campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Dalene McCormick

Republican

Top priorities

From other published sources

  • Wants to prioritize asking constituents about their concerns and to bring more transparency to the state Capitol, per a Honolulu Civil Beat candidate Q&A
  • Points to agriculture, road conditions, volcano activity and earthquake preparedness as key infrastructure needs in the district, per a Honolulu Civil Beat candidate Q&A
  • Seeks tax relief for residents and wants to examine the effectiveness of government spending on affordability programs, per a Honolulu Civil Beat candidate Q&A
Biography

McCormick has held leadership and management positions with mainland companies, including as a Deputy Director overseeing several hundred employees, and since moving to Hawaii Island in 2016 has worked in retail management with two local retailers, per the campaign site. The site says McCormick serves as a disaster services volunteer with the American Red Cross, was deployed to Lahaina during the Maui wildfire response, and served as West Hawaii Republican Party county chair before returning to precinct chair in 2025, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
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Questions about this race

Who is running for Hawaii House District 5 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Hawaii House District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jeanne Kapela and Dalene McCormick. Candidate information follows official Hawaii County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on housing and roads.

When is the Hawaii House District 5 election in Hawaii?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Hawaii are on the Hawaii election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Hawaii County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Hawaii County and state election office filings, last verified October 15, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Hawaii election office, or see the full Hawaii County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Hawaii County ballot

12 tracked races in Hawaii County, Hawaii. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Hawaii House District 7Hawaii House District 8Hawaii County Council District 4See all 12 Hawaii County races
Candidate profiles
Jeanne Kapela, full profileDalene McCormick, full profileOfficial Hawaii election office