A razor-thin, historic win is shaping up in West Maui, where a Green Party candidate appears to have beaten his Democratic rival by just over 100 votes.

• Laa Kukona leads Democrat Nate Patel by 107 votes in the race for Maui's District 14 seat, which covers Lahaina, Kaanapali, and nearby areas.
• A political analyst notes this would make him the fifth Green Party candidate ever elected to a U.S. state legislature.
• Kukona is a well-known organizer with Lahaina Strong, a group formed to help the community recover from the 2023 wildfires, and he says he plans to push for better public access to water and more sustainability.
• He also had backing from the state's five largest unions and previously served on the Board of Water Supply.
• Hundreds of ballots across Maui still have issues voters need to fix by next Tuesday, so the final count isn't locked in yet.

Outlook: The race remains open until outstanding ballots are resolved, but Kukona's lead gives him the edge heading into the final tally.