Ozawa vs. Gregory: East Honolulu Council Race Heats Up Before Election Day

Nov 02, 2026

Two former allies are now rivals in the race for East Honolulu's city council seat, with the vote just days away.

  • Trevor Ozawa and Esther Kia'āina Gregory, once on the same side in a legal fight to keep Tommy Waters on the ballot, are now facing off against each other for the seat.
  • Gregory had to argue her own case before the state Supreme Court just to qualify for the general election, and says the experience made her more confident and ready for the job.
  • Ozawa, a lawyer who already served one term on the council, is campaigning on fixing parks and facilities, speeding up permits, and improving the Skyline rail project.
  • Gregory, a business owner, is focused on taxes, public safety, homelessness, and government accountability, pointing to a recent $13.7 million audit and concerns about election integrity.
  • With four days left before the election, voter turnout statewide is under a third of registered voters, with Honolulu trailing Hawaii and Big Island counties.

Outlook: The race will be decided Tuesday, with mail ballots due by 7 p.m. and in-person voters needing to be in line by then as well.

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