VoteHawaiʻi

Neurodivergent-friendly voter information for Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 17

About House District 17 — Lāwaʻi to Kekaha & Niʻihau

House District 17 stretches across the west side of Kauaʻi — from Lāwaʻi and Kalāheo through the Hanapēpē and Port Allen corridor, west through ʻEleʻele and Waimea, all the way to Kekaha and the island's northwestern tip, and across the channel to the neighboring island of Niʻihau. The seat is held by incumbent Rep. Daynette (Dee) Morikawa, who has represented West Kauaʻi since 2009 and is seeking another term in 2026. She faces two challengers confirmed on the August primary ballot: Republican Misty Cluett (mistycluett.com) and Democrat Chad K. Schimmelfennig. Morikawa's tenure has been anchored in the House Finance and Agriculture committees, where she has worked to secure neighbor-island infrastructure appropriations and back agricultural land protection — longstanding priorities for a district where former plantation lands, diversified farming operations, and rural communities define the landscape. Key issues for the district include water rights and irrigation infrastructure serving remaining agricultural lands; support for small farms and diversified agriculture on former plantation acreage; workforce housing access for families in west-side communities; and the economic future of the Hanapēpē and Port Allen area.

Primary date: 2026-08-08

CLUETT, Misty

Party: Republican · Backing: Establishment

Platform: Republican challenger for Kauaʻi's House District 17 (Lāwaʻi to Kekaha & Niʻihau); campaign site is mistycluett.com.

  • Filed as a Republican candidate for STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 17 (West Kauaʻi — Lāwaʻi, Hanapēpē, Waimea, Kekaha, and Niʻihau) in 2026; campaign website is mistycluett.com.
  • Running against incumbent Democratic Rep. Daynette (Dee) Morikawa, who has represented the district since 2009.
  • Also filed alongside Democratic challenger Chad K. Schimmelfennig, making 2026 the first contested HD17 race in several cycles.
  • District 17 issues include water rights and irrigation infrastructure serving remaining agricultural lands, workforce housing access for west-side families, and support for small farms and diversified agriculture on former plantation acreage.
  • Voters should follow local candidate forums and Civil Beat Q&As for the candidate's specific positions and platform priorities before the August 8, 2026 primary.

Editorial summary: Misty Cluett is a Republican challenger in the HD17 race covering West Kauaʻi (Lāwaʻi to Kekaha & Niʻihau). Her campaign site at mistycluett.com is the primary source for her platform; voters should also attend KKCR election forums and monitor Civil Beat Q&As for detailed position statements before the August 8 primary.

Key issues: West Kauaʻi issues, Agricultural land & water rights, Rural infrastructure

Website: https://mistycluett.com

Profile last reviewed: 2026-06-03

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