NAKAMURA, Nadine K.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 15

About House District 15 — Wailua to Hāʻena

House District 15 runs along Kauaʻi's east coast and north shore — from the Wailua River corridor through Kapaʻa town, north through the agricultural flatlands of Anahola and Kīlauea, along the Princeville and Hanalei coastline, and all the way to the road's end at Hāʻena. The seat is held by incumbent Rep. Nadine Nakamura, who is running for re-election in 2026 as the only candidate to file by the June deadline, making her effectively uncontested on the primary ballot. Nakamura, first elected in 2012, brings a planning and economic-development background from her tenure as Director of the Kauaʻi County Office of Economic Development and has focused her legislative work on workforce housing production, state-level permitting streamlining, and small-business support. With no primary competition this cycle, the district's policy conversation will continue through Nakamura's House committee assignments in Housing and Economic Development. Key pressures for the district include short-term rental regulation and its effect on long-term housing availability in north-shore communities; resilience investment following recurring flood damage along the coastal corridor; and stewardship of agricultural and conservation lands in the Hanalei watershed.

Primary date: 2026-08-08

Party: Democratic · Backing: Establishment

Platform: Incumbent State Representative for Kauaʻi's House District 15 (Wailua to Hāʻena); running for re-election.

Hawaiʻi State Representative for House District 15, covering Kauaʻi's east coast and north shore from Wailua through Kapaʻa, Anahola, Kīlauea, Hanalei, and Hāʻena; has served in the State House since 2013 and is seeking re-election in 2026.
Background in county planning and economic development — previously served as Director of the Kauaʻi County Office of Economic Development under Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and brings extensive land-use knowledge to the Legislature.
Member of the House Committee on Housing, the Committee on Economic Development & Tourism, and the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs; focuses on worker housing, small-business development, and streamlining permitting.
Supported Gov. Green's housing emergency proclamation framework and has consistently backed infill and affordable-housing production bills at the state level.
Unopposed in the 2026 primary as of the April 2026 filing deadline, running as the only candidate for District 15.

Editorial summary: Nadine Nakamura is the incumbent for Kauaʻi's House District 15 and one of the most experienced Kauaʻi-based legislators at the state level. Her planning and economic development background and House committee record, documented on the Hawaiʻi State Legislature member page and Ballotpedia profile, reflect a focus on workforce housing production, infill permitting reform, rural infrastructure, and small-business support.

Key issues: Workforce housing, Permitting reform, Economic development, Rural infrastructure, Small business

Website: https://nadinenakamura.com

Profile last reviewed: 2026-06-03