HAWAII ISLAND: As far as the Hawaii County Council goes, District 1 is the Hamakua district, and that has not changed in the 2011 reapportionment. The boundaries go from the Lakeland area of Waimea all the way south across the Hamakua Coast, ending at the Wailuku River.

Its all country along this scenic Mamalahoa Highway… old sugar plantation towns now reinventing themselves through diversified agriculture and tourism. But problems like the need for good jobs and better infrastructure remain.

Nevertheless, there is one big change for voters this year… the long time councilman from Honokaa, Dominic Yagong, is giving up the seat. He has his sights on the mayor’s office.

That leaves the Hamakua district up for grabs. This video focuses on the five candidates, Chelsea Yagong, Valerie Poindexter, Jo Kim, Larry Gering, and Eric Paul D’Almeida.