KONA, Hawaii: There are two candidates running for the Hawaii County Council district 8 seat.

Long time legislative assistant Karen Eoff is a 32 year resident of Kona and is currently the Legislative Assistant to Councilman K. Angel Pilago. She’s facing a 20 year resident of Kona, boat captain and war veteran Charles Guccione.

District 8 encompasses North Kona, and includes Honokohau, Kealakehe, and the airport. It goes north to Puuanahulu and even includes part of the Waikoloa beach resort. It does not include Waikoloa Village, which falls under the new district 9.

During a recent political forum at Kealakehe, both candidates weighed-in on issues of island wide interest, like trash.

They also answered questions on issues of a more Kona-specific interest, like the beachfront parcels at O’oma… acreage that is often under the threat of development, currently eyed by the county for acquisition as public open space.

Guccione says he will bring common sense to the Hawaii County Council, while Eoff touted her work on behalf of Kona’s treasured Kohanaiki shoreline.