Active registered lobbyists with the state or county ethics board or commission shall not make, or promise to make at a later time, any contributions or expenditures to or on behalf of an elected official, candidate, or candidate committee during any regular session or special session of the legislature, including any extension of any regular session or special session and any legislative recess days, holidays, and weekends, and for five calendar days before and after a session.

The 2026 regular session and five calendar day period before and after session runs from January 16, 2026 through May 13, 2026. (see, HRS §11-365)

Derek Kawakamai’s Story

Derek Saburo Kawehi Kawakami was born in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, on August 19, 1977. The son of a schoolteacher and a JC Penney manager, Derek spent his early childhood exploring the outdoors with his two older brothers – developing a love for nature, the ocean, and the close-knit community that defines Hawaiʻi.

When he was five, his family moved to Mililani on O’ahu, where he attended Mililani Uka Elementary School and discovered his love for sports, especially baseball, soccer, and swimming. Not long after, his family returned home to Kauaʻi, where Derek grew up, made lifelong friendships, experienced Hurricane Iniki, and developed a deep connection to the island community.

Derek graduated from Kauaʻi High School in 1995. Along the way he worked a variety of jobs, including delivering newspapers for The Garden Island, serving as an A+ student aide at Wilcox Elementary, and working for the Kauaʻi Water Department. Those early experiences helped shape his work ethic and appreciation for public service.

After attending the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and later graduating from Chaminade University, Derek’s path into public service began in 2004 when helping with the late U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye’s campaign on Kauaʻi. That experience sparked a passion for serving his community.

Derek was later elected to the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) Board and the Kauaʻi County Council, and he also served in the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives. He was elected Mayor of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau in 2018 to lead the islands he proudly calls home.

Through two terms as Mayor of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau, Derek has focused on strengthening infrastructure and community. During his time in office, his administration worked to repair roads, build affordable housing, and foster stronger connections between government and the people it serves. He helped shift the tax burden away from local residents by increasing visitor contributions, ensuring that those who enjoy the island help to support it. He provided strong, comforting leadership through the Covid-19 pandemic. Derek highly prioritizes public safety and invested in modern training and equipment for frontline responders while elevating the vital role of emergency dispatchers.

Above all, his leadership was guided by a simple goal—to create a culture where people feel valued, connected, and like they truly belong.Derek and his wife, Monica, have two children, Christopher and Hailee, and share their home with their beloved English Springer Spaniel, Persephone. Guided by the values his mother taught him—gratitude, humility, forgiveness, and helping others—Derek continues to serve with a simple goal of bringing people together and making Hawaiʻi an even better place.