In the wake of Hurricane Lowell’s devastating impact across the Garden Isle, the race to become Kauaʻi’s next mayor has taken on renewed urgency.

Today’s special edition of Spotlight Now features a live candidate forum with the two contenders vying to lead Kauaʻi County: County Council Chair Mel Rapozo and former Mayor Bernard Carvalho.

Hosts Ryan Kalei Tsuji and Yunji de Nies sit down with both candidates to discuss storm recovery and grid reliability, soaring housing costs, traffic solutions, and the future of the island. Following the conversation, HNN Political Analyst Dr. Collin Moore joins the studio to break down the key takeaways and where the race stands heading into the general election.