Honolulu City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Esther Kiaʻāina
Councilmember, District III; Council Floor LeaderHonolulu City Council
Esther Kiaʻāina (Councilmember, District III) is not on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot and will stay on the Honolulu City Council after the election.
Former Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas at the U.S. Department of the Interior and former First Deputy at Hawaiʻi's Department of Land and Natural Resources; represents Windward Oʻahu.
Where Esther Kiaʻāina stands: positions on the record
Empty homes tax3 sourced positions
Said she had not decided how she would have voted on Bill 46, the empty homes tax, if it had been scheduled again.
“But no, I have not made a final determination on what the vote would have been.”
Own statementHonolulu Civil Beat · Aug 3, 2026
Voted yes (aye with reservations) on advancing Bill 46 (2024), on real property taxation, at second reading (passed 6-3, Oct. 2024).
Council voteHonolulu City Council · Oct 9, 2024
Voted yes on postponing Bill 46 (2024) to a date to be determined (passed 7-2, Dec. 2024).
Council voteHonolulu City Council · Dec 11, 2024
Sewer rates1 sourced position
Voted no on Bill 60 (2024), the sewer rate increase plan (passed 5-4, June 2025).
Council voteHonolulu City Council · Jun 4, 2025
Skyline rail1 sourced position
Voted yes (aye with reservations) on Bill 60 (2025), letting HART plan possible rail extensions beyond the current segment (passed 8-1, Feb. 2026).
Council voteHonolulu City Council · Feb 18, 2026
Office of Economic Revitalization1 sourced position
Voted yes to override the mayor's line-item vetoes of the 2027 budget, keeping the Council's cuts to the Office of Economic Revitalization (passed 6-2, July 2026).
Council voteHonolulu City Council · Jul 8, 2026
City budget1 sourced position
Voted yes on Bill 22 (2026), the executive operating budget for fiscal year 2027 (passed 6-3, June 2026).
Council voteHonolulu City Council · Jun 3, 2026
Bus fares1 sourced position
Voted yes on Bill 54 (2025), the transit fare increase (passed 6-3, Jan. 2026).
Council voteHonolulu City Council · Jan 28, 2026
What Esther Kiaʻāina said vs. how Esther Kiaʻāina voted
Empty homes tax
In their words
Said she had not decided how she would have voted on Bill 46, the empty homes tax, if it had been scheduled again.
Aug 3, 2026 ·Honolulu Civil Beat · Aug 3, 2026
On the record
Voted yes (aye with reservations) on advancing Bill 46 (2024), on real property taxation, at second reading (passed 6-3, Oct. 2024).
Oct 9, 2024 ·Honolulu City Council · Oct 9, 2024
Voted yes on postponing Bill 46 (2024) to a date to be determined (passed 7-2, Dec. 2024).
Dec 11, 2024 ·Honolulu City Council · Dec 11, 2024
On the ballot this time
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