Democratic Party of Hawai`i Selects Three Names to Send to Governor Josh Green, M.D. for Senate District 18 Vacancy
News Release from Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, July 9, 2026
The members of the Oʻahu County Committee’s Senate District 18 selection body – comprised of the party’s district council officers who reside in Senate District 18 – have selected three names to send to Governor Green for his consideration to fill the vacancy created by the recent retirement of Senator Michelle Kidani:
● Sechyi Laiu - Sechyi Laiu is a senior Hawaiʻi civil service administrator with over fifteen years of experience in commercial, family, immigration, and legislative law. Prior to becoming the litigation coordinator for the Hawai Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Sechyi worked as a staff attorney for the Honolulu City Council on transportation, public safety, legal affairs, and salary compensation matters. Much of this involved finding creative solutions to difficult problems, within the constraints of fiscal limits and political feasibility. Sechyi also worked for the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service consular officer, with postings in Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, and Shenyang. Sechyi was born and raised on Oahu, and presently lives in Waipahu with his wife, two kids, and too many cats.
● Beth K. Fukumoto - Beth Fukumoto is a political columnist, longtime Mililani resident and former state representative who joined the Democratic Party in 2017 and completed her term as a Democratic legislator, serving as Vice Chair of the House committees on Tourism and on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts. She later served as Director of Coordinated Campaigns and Interim Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi and has a record of delivering investments for Central Oʻahu.
● Danielle M. Bass - Danielle Bass is a fourth-generation, lifelong Mililani resident, lifelong Democrat, military spouse, and public servant with more than 20 years of experience serving Central Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi. She has built her career delivering results for the communities of Mililani, Waipiʻo Gentry, and Waikele, from serving as a Legislative and Committee Manager in the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives, advancing statewide sustainability and resilience initiatives and policies as the State of Hawaiʻi's Sustainability Coordinator, to chairing the Mililani-Waipiʻo-Melemanu Neighborhood Board, and supporting emergency management and disaster response efforts.
Candidates’ headshots may be found here
The names of these three individuals have been formally transmitted to Governor Josh Green, M.D..
The Governor will now select one of these individuals to serve as the next Senator for Senate District 18.
“First, I want to thank Senator Michelle Kidani for her many years of dedicated service to the people of Senate District 18. I also want to express my gratitude to Oʻahu County Chair Lynn Robinson Onderko and the Senate District 18 selection body for their thoughtful work throughout this process. Mahalo as well to each of the candidates who stepped forward to serve their community. Their willingness to answer the call to public service is something we should all appreciate. We are excited to forward these three outstanding nominees to Governor Green. Each has demonstrated a strong commitment to the Senate District 18 community, and I am confident they would serve the district with integrity and dedication.”
“We are grateful to every candidate who stepped forward to participate in this grassroots process,” said Lynn Robinson Onderko, Oʻahu County Chair. “Their willingness to serve speaks to the strength of our Democratic Party and the deep commitment so many people have to Senate District 18. Each of the three nominees has demonstrated a genuine dedication to their community, and I am confident they would serve the district with integrity, compassion, and a strong sense of public service. I look forward to seeing the continued leadership they will bring to the people of Senate District 18.”
The meeting, which was conducted via Zoom Webinar and open to the public, took place on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 6 pm.
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Democratic Party has 3 qualified candidates for the Senate District 18 Seat
News Release from Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, July 8, 2026
The Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi has 3 qualified candidates to fill the vacant Senate District 18 seat, held by Senator Michelle Kidani, whose retirement went into effect on June 30, 2026. The Senate District 18 seat represents Mililani Town, Waipio Gentry, Crestview, Waikele, a portion of Waipahu, Village Park and Royal Kunia.
Pursuant to the DPH Constitution, Article VIII, Section 10, and DPH Bylaws Article IX, Section 4 & 5, and Democratic Party of Hawaiʻiʻs Procedures for Filing Legislative Mid-Term Vacancies, the following candidates have submitted applications and met the requirements to be considered for inclusion on the final list of three names to be transmitted to the Governor: Here are the candidates:
● Sechyi Laiu - Sechyi Laiu is a senior Hawaiʻi civil service administrator with over fifteen years of experience in commercial, family, immigration, and legislative law. Prior to becoming the litigation coordinator for the Hawai Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Sechyi worked as a staff attorney for the Honolulu City Council on transportation, public safety, legal affairs, and salary compensation matters. Much of this involved finding creative solutions to difficult problems, within the constraints of fiscal limits and political feasibility. Sechyi also worked for the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service consular officer, with postings in Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, and Shenyang. Sechyi was born and raised on Oahu, and presently lives in Waipahu with his wife, two kids, and too many cats.
● Beth K. Fukumoto - Beth Fukumoto is a political columnist, longtime Mililani resident and former state representative who joined the Democratic Party in 2017 and completed her term as a Democratic legislator, serving as Vice Chair of the House committees on Tourism and on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts. She later served as Director of Coordinated Campaigns and Interim Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi and has a record of delivering investments for Central Oʻahu.
● Danielle M. Bass - Danielle Bass is a fourth-generation, lifelong Mililani resident, lifelong Democrat, military spouse, and public servant with more than 20 years of experience serving Central Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi. She has built her career delivering results for the communities of Mililani, Waipiʻo Gentry, and Waikele, from serving as a Legislative and Committee Manager in the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives, advancing statewide sustainability and resilience initiatives and policies as the State of Hawaiʻi's Sustainability Coordinator, to chairing the Mililani-Waipiʻo-Melemanu Neighborhood Board, and supporting emergency management and disaster response efforts.
Candidates’ headshots may be found here
At a meeting to be held on Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 6 pm (via Zoom), the Selection Body, comprised of the district council officers who reside in Senate District 18, will vote to advance three names to be sent to the Governor. Selection Body members will be permitted to vote for up to three different candidates.
Lynn Robinson-Onderko, Oʻahu County Committee Chair, adds “I'm grateful to all the candidates for stepping up to be a part of this grassroots effort to ensure Senate District 18 continues to have strong, effective leadership. The Selection Body is well prepared to ensure that this process is fair and transparent.”
Participation and discussion in the Zoom meeting will be limited to the eligible officers, candidates, and the DPH and O’ahu County support teams. To foster openness and transparency, the meeting will be streamed live on the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi’s Zoom Webinar link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1_vE6YY_QHy77MSqjrN9BA#/registration
Once voting is complete, a public announcement will be made including the three names that will be transmitted first to the State Party Chair, and then to the Governor to make an appointment from the list.
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THE OʻAHU COUNTY DEMOCRATS REQUESTS EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR VACANT SENATE DISTRICT 18 SEAT
News Release from Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, June 27, 2026
The Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi will be accepting expressions of interest from qualified candidates for the newly vacant Hawaiʻi Senate District 18 seat. Democratic Party members interested in becoming a candidate for potential appointment by Governor Green to the Hawaiʻi State Senate, District 18, representing Mililani Town, Waipio Gentry, Crestview, Waikele, a portion of Waipahu, Village Park and Royal Kunia should apply in time for receipt at Party offices by 11:59 pm July 7, 2026.
The announcement of Senator Michelle Kidaniʻs retirement came on June 20th, 2026, to be effective June 30, 2026. We thank Senator Kidani for her distinguished service in the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in Senate District 18. Pursuant to the DPH Constitution, Article VIII, Section 10, and DPH Bylaws Article IX, Section 4 & 5, and Democratic Party of Hawaiʻiʻs Procedures for Filing Legislative Mid-Term Vacancies, it is the Partyʻs obligation to submit a list of three candidates to Governor Green in a timely manner to allow him to choose a short-term replacement to fill the remainder of the term and continue in the good service of Senator Kidani. Any member of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi who has been enrolled for at least six months, is in good standing, and lives in Senate District 18 at the time of the appointment may apply.
Applicants must fill out a “Statement of Candidacy Form”, which is available at https://forms.gle/qScYeBBaQPTrEpLm8 or may be requested by email at vacancy@hawaiidemocrats.org. Only applicants may submit their own candidacy form; no one may submit a nomination on behalf of another. Applications must be submitted electronically via Google Forms or via email at vacancy@hawaiidemocrats.org.
All applications will be date-and time-stamped upon receipt, and a confirmation will be sent to the applicant. The selection body will verify that all applicants meet the requirements for residency and “good standing”, and will prepare an official list of nominees to be considered.
The selection body is composed of the district and precinct officers residing within Senate District 18, who will meet on Thursday, July 9 (6 pm) via Zoom. The selection body will allow each candidate to speak for up to three minutes, and each member of the selection body will be entitled to cast votes for up to three separate candidates.
The final three names as identified by the selection body will then be transmitted to the State Party Chair, who will transmit the names to the Governor, who has until August 29, 2026, to make an appointment.