Hawaii High Court blocks Waters from a third City Council term

The Hawaii Supreme Court, in a narrow 3-2 decision, upheld a Circuit Court ruling that Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters is ineligible to run for a third term after nearly eight years, ruling that the city charter’s term limit applies regardless of when his first term began. The ruling ends a chaotic legal fight that began when Waters’ candidacy was approved and placed on the ballot, with the court ordering a potential runoff between Ozawa and Gregory despite Waters’ disqualification. Waters has an appeal pending, but the election challenge ruling stands on the same facts.