East Oʻahu’s state House race has turned into a referendum on political longevity, coastal stewardship and campaign money, with beach-cleanup organizer Kahi Pacarro challenging 16-year incumbent Mark Hashem. The two Democrats face off in the Aug. 8 primary, and the winner is effectively guaranteed the seat.
Pacarro is a first-time candidate running in District 19, which includes Waiʻalae-Kāhala, ʻĀina Haina, Niu Valley and Kuliʻouʻou, according to Honolulu Civil Beat. The race pits an environmental nonprofit veteran against a longtime lawmaker who has built a low-profile career in the state Legislature.
A Challenger With An Environmental Brand
Pacarro co-founded Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi in 2011 and now works for Parley for the Oceans while chairing the city’s Clean Water and Natural Lands Commission, according to his campaign biography. His campaign website opens with the slogan “This candidate is not for sale,” making political independence a central part of his pitch.
That message is backed by a sharp contrast in campaign finances. Civil Beat reported that Pacarro had raised $26,029 and accepted no corporate or PAC donations, while Hashem had raised $33,275 and received contributions from industry groups, lobbyists and a medical-service PAC. Pacarro has also said he returned money from luxury developers.
Hashem’s Record Becomes The Target
Hashem is not running without a record: the Hawaiʻi House Democrats roster lists him as chair of the House Water and Land Committee. He was also recently honored with the National Children’s Alliance’s 2026 Champion for Children State Advocacy Award for work tied to expanding Oʻahu’s Children’s Justice Center, as Hoodline previously reported.
Pacarro’s sharpest attacks, however, focus on coastal policy and what he views as a lack of environmental urgency at the Capitol. He has criticized House Bill 1823, whose final text creates exemptions from some special management area permit requirements for certain infrastructure and improvement projects; the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi has argued that the measure weakens coastal protections, while the state’s official bill text frames it as a way to streamline public projects.
No November Safety Net In District 19
Pacarro’s platform also highlights street safety, unsheltered residents, emergency response coordination and Hawaiʻi Electric reliability, according to his answers in a Civil Beat candidate questionnaire. The state Campaign Spending Commission’s final candidate list shows only Hashem and Pacarro in the District 19 House race.
That means there is no November safety net for the incumbent or the challenger: the Democratic primary winner is positioned to hold the seat. Pacarro has said he would likely try again in two years if he comes up short this time.
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