On Aug. 10, Hawaii’s primary election for the 25th State House District, covering Ala Moana, Kaka’ako, Downtown Honolulu, and McKinley High School, resulted in a historic upset.
Kim Coco Iwamoto unseated incumbent House Speaker Scott Saiki, who has been serving in the state legislature for three decades. According to an analysis by Our Hawai’i, this marks the first time a house speaker has been defeated in a Democratic primary in U.S. history.
“[Scott Saiki] was endorsed by the governor, the lieutenant governor, our U.S. senator, our mayor, and the Honolulu prosecutor,” Iwamoto said. “I thank my campaign volunteers and small-dollar donors that made this win possible.”
Iwamoto, who previously ran in 2020 and 2022 but lost by a margin of 160 votes, or two percent each time, secured a decisive victory this year with a five percent lead, translating to about 250 votes. With no remaining competitors in the general election, Iwamoto is set to become the first transgender woman elected to Hawaii’s legislature.
In response to her victory, on Aug. 29, The Pinion hosted a town hall with Iwamoto, led by Dominic Niyo at W123. The event was attended by Pinion journalists and Kyle Gaynor’s Participation in Democracy class, where she discussed her campaign initiatives.
“[The interview] was a valuable experience for my students to engage directly with a [politician] and see their policy discussions in real time,” Gaynor said. “It took some time for them to understand the significance, but it later became an important teaching tool for grasping the broader context of democracy and civic engagement.”
Challenging the Establishment
Iwamoto, who ran as a progressive populist with a campaign fund only a quarter of her opponent Saiki’s, aims to challenge the Democratic establishment. One of her primary legislative goals is to restore representational democracy, ensuring that her constituents feel truly represented by their elected officials. She claims that out of all the 51 representatives elected in the state legislature, only committee chairs and the speaker wield significant influence.
“My goal is to distribute power more equitably among all representatives so that no single chair can unilaterally kill a bill,” Iwamoto said. “I want every representative to be able to exercise their position’s authority for their people.”
In her campaign, Iwamoto emphasized the need for a more balanced power structure within the House. She said her initial decision to run against Saiki in 2020, during the pandemic, was a response to his failure to address minimum wage increases. She claims the speaker prioritized meetings with lobbyists from the Chamber of Commerce, who advocated for the interests of large corporations.
“They opposed the increase,” Iwamoto said. “He did not meet with struggling families trying to pay rent or put food on the table—those actually facing the hardships of earning a minimum wage that’s effectively a poverty wage. He listened to the employers protecting their own profit margins.”
Addressing Hawaii’s Housing Shortage
A central focus of Iwamoto’s campaign is addressing Hawaii’s housing shortage. She argues that the disproportionate ownership of private property by out-of-state investors is contributing to the high number of vacant homes and escalating rents, creating a shortage of housing, particularly in the McKinley High School district, where many residents live in condos.
Iwamoto has criticized what she describes as a regressive tax system, where lower-income households pay a larger percentage of their income in state and local taxes compared to wealthier households.
“When the rich aren’t paying their fair share of taxes, it’s not like the cost and expense goes away,” Iwamoto said.
To address this imbalance, she advocates for reforms to create a more equitable tax system. This includes implementing a surcharge on empty homes to ensure out-of-state property owners contribute fairly. She argues that these investors often pay lower property taxes in Hawaii compared to their home states, exacerbating the housing crisis.
“If they choose to leave homes empty, they’re denying us the economic opportunity to collect tax revenue that would have been generated if a local family were living there,” Iwamoto said. “We need to make sure that they’re paying their fair share.”
Yuuka Yamagishi (c/o 2025) a resident of Ala Moana and a student from the Participation in Democracy class who attended the town hall with Iwamoto, has experienced firsthand the fluctuations in condo rental prices. Yamagishi says Iwamoto’s appeal for change deeply resonated with her concerns about out-of-state investors leaving properties empty, which leads to significant local revenue loss.
“My family has been living in the same unit for two years, and in that time, our rent has increased by $500,” Yamagishi said. “She is someone who can help us.”
Road Safety Initiatives
The death of student Sara Yara in a hit-and-run accident on Kapiʻolani Boulevard in Feb. 2023 has brought critical attention to pedestrian safety around the McKinley High School community.
Chevylyn Saniatan, Yara’s mother, endorsed Iwamoto’s campaign, emphasizing the importance of genuine leadership.
“How can we vote for [Saiki] who says he’s for the community… when he only shows up when there are cameras around?” Saniatan said in an advertisement produced by Iwamoto’s campaign. “Kim Coco, she doesn’t have to text me and see how I’m doing, but she does.”
The Pinion surveyed more than 200 students and faculty, revealing that over 90 percent strongly supported increased pedestrian safety measures. Iwamoto has advocated for installing blinking lights to enhance pedestrian visibility and has urged the school community to unite in pressuring the legislature for action.
“When we give these huge tax cuts to the wealthy and turn around and say we have no more money for better crosswalks, it makes me angry,” Iwamoto said. “Students are being subjected to walking on dangerous streets. There should be more road safety investments.”
Principal Ron Okamura, who publicly supported Saiki’s reelection campaign, expressed hope that Iwamoto’s proposed addition of blinking lights will enhance both driver and pedestrian safety.
“I hope she continues Representative Saiki’s road safety initiatives, such as the speed bumps he raised around the school,” Okamura said. “Anything helps, but we also need to address other issues, such as [inadequate] street lighting and overgrown trees.”
Serving the Community
Iwamoto, a licensed therapeutic foster parent, has opened her home to many children, including LGBTQ+ teenagers facing legal and social challenges. Inspired by their experiences, she ran for the Hawaii Board of Education in 2006, where she was victorious and became the highest-ranking openly transgender official in the nation at that time.
“We won that election decisively,” Iwamoto said. “I then focused on advocating for students to be free from bullying and harassment.”
After serving two terms on the board, Iwamoto was appointed by former Governor Neil Abercrombie to the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. In this role, she played a pivotal role in enacting same-sex marriage in the state, earning recognition as a Champion of Change by former President Barack Obama in 2013.
“I continued to fight for the rights of marginalized communities, ensuring that our laws protect everyone equally,” Iwamoto said. “His acknowledgment was an honor.”
Her influence extends beyond her legislative goals, making a significant impact on local classrooms through her support. Social Studies teacher Dwayne Sakaguchi, who received funding for essential school supplies through a DonorsChoose project, highlighted the transformative effect of her contribution.
“Iwamoto’s support in policy reform and education is shaping our future society,” Sakaguchi said. “She is an inspiration to the future leaders of Hawaii by providing the resources they need for a successful and fulfilled life post-high school.”
Iwamoto states that her victory over the speaker reflects a change desired by the community and underscores her commitment to addressing systemic issues. She emphasizes her determination to advocate for legislative reform, aiming for representation that aligns with the needs and voices of the people.
“I think this is why this win is so important in sending a message to this power structure and all 51 representatives that the current state of the legislature is no longer acceptable,” Iwamoto said. “Now is the time for change.”
