Paleka leads Edwards Hunt in early returns

Daniel Paleka was leading Tiffany Edwards Hunt in the Hawaii County Council District 5 race following early returns Tuesday evening.

After the first printout, Paleka had 1,191 votes, or 56 percent. Edwards Hunt had 920 votes, or 43.6 percent.

The printout included all absentee and some mail ballots.

Paleka, a Hawaiian Acres resident and former corrections officer, said he was feeling good about the early results but wasn’t ready to declare victory.

“I’m pretty confident, but I hold my reservations,” he said via telephone from an election night party.

The crowd was loud and joyful in the background, indicating his supporters thought he had the victory secured.

Edwards Hunt, who also resides in Hawaiian Acres and operates the Big Island Chronicle, said it remained too early to talk about defeat.

“I’m waiting until we get some precincts in before I start feeling like I should be hopeless,” she said.

Edwards Hunt added, “I’m just hopeful the voters have shown up today. I’m used to being the underdog. It’s all good.”

The winner of the Puna mauka seat replaces County Council member Zendo Kern who chose not to seek re-election.

If the results held through the rest of the night, Paleka said he was ready to help Puna residents, including those impacted by the June 27 lava flow.

“We’re going to keep all options on the table,” he said regarding access to affected areas, “and we’re going to push for whatever we can get for Puna.”

The lava flow has cut a path through the district, where it continues to threaten homes mauka and makai of Pahoa Village Road, which separates District 5 from District 4.

District 5 represents Kurtistown, Orchidland, Hawaiian Acres, Mountain View, parts of Keaau, Fern Acres, Eden Roc, Fern Forest, Pahoa mauka and Kalapana.

Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.