Maui County Mayor Candidate Protests Hyundai Kona

A candidate for Mayor of Maui is protesting automobile maker Hyundai for adding a Kona model, but nothing along the same lines to represent the Valley Isle.

Hector Villanueva ~ who looks just like his distant cousin, actor Herve Villechaize, who played the character Tattoo on the television series "Fantasy Island" in the late 1970s and early 1980s ~ says as mayor he will push for a Maui-specific model of Hyundai.

"I call on the current mayor to initiate a quarantine on all Hyundai Konas, until our island can have an equivalent," Villanueva said. "It's only fair."

When asked how such a "quarantine" would work, Villanueva said he has no details yet, but that the mayor should be able to figure it out, because he already has a lot of experience implementing quarantines.

The candidate supports the next vehicle from the South Korean automaker be the Hyundai Hana.

"But I'm open to suggestions," he said, "At least Hana makes it so that both make and model start with 'H,' which is pretty cool."

Villanueva said he is not against having an island-wide vote on what to name the new Maui-focused Hyundai model.

A spokesman for Hyundai declined comment, saying the company does not get involved with local political campaigns. Plus, the company has no idea what Villanueva is talking about, said the spokesman, Mike Jacob.

Candidate Villanueva was undeterred, saying you can't have a Kona model without also having models from the other Hawaiian islands, arguing Maui should be next in line because it's closest to the Big Island where Kona is located. "They can easily just work east-to-west until the 8 major islands are represented. Then they can start on all those other Hawaiian islands that no one knows about, that go way out there to like mid-way between here and Japan."

He noted that the Hyundai Kona model is sold in Portugal as the Hyundai Kauai. "See!" Villanueva yelled, eyes wide open. "They're already sneaking in other islands in little places on the other side of the world. Why Kauai only in Portugal? Does Oahu get the Hyundai Waikiki next, and so on? It's just time for a Hyundai Maui-something."

Villanueva's campaign kickoff in October, at the airport, started with him pointing up toward the sky and exclaiming, "It's all about da plane! Da plane!" ~ a take on the late actor's famous line that opened "Fantasy Island" episodes.

Villanueva, 50, cited boosting tourism during the pandemic recovery as a vital issue in the campaign. He staged his campaign announcement at the airport to emphasize the need for more tourist dollars to jolt the sluggish economy.

Maui County Primary Election Day is Aug. 13; while the General Election is Nov. 8.

So far, current Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino has announced his intention to seek re-election. Former judge Richard Bissen has announced his intention to run also. Candidates have until March 1 to officially file to run.