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Hawaii Supreme Court Bars Tommy Waters From Third Term

9/1/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters ineligible for a third term.
The 3-2 decision held Waters exceeded the two-consecutive-term limit.
The court placed former councilmember Trevor Ozawa and Tara Malia Gregory on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Waters received 8,654 votes (28.2%) in the Aug. 8 primary.
Acting Chief Justice Sabrina McKenna dissented, saying the ruling erodes representative democracy.

History

Historical Context

New York City adopted two-consecutive-term limits for the mayor and council in a 1993 referendum championed by cosmetics heir Ronald Lauder, who funded the campaign with $4 million. After a 2008 council vote extended limits to three terms, voters reinstated the two-term rule in 2010. Hawaii’s 2024 Supreme Court decision on Council Chair Tommy Waters draws on that New York precedent.

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Story summary

Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters ineligible for a third term.
The 3-2 decision held Waters exceeded the two-consecutive-term limit.
The court placed former councilmember Trevor Ozawa and Tara Malia Gregory on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Waters received 8,654 votes (28.2%) in the Aug. 8 primary.
Acting Chief Justice Sabrina McKenna dissented, saying the ruling erodes representative democracy.

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