Get to Know Zed Kaapana Aki
Some things Zed was born with: he is a Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian), with deep family roots in Kaʻū and South Kona reaching back to time immemorial. Other things took time, sacrifice, and perseverance to earn: a Juris Doctor (Doctor of Law) and decades of experience fighting in the public policy arena on behalf of Hawaiʻi’s people. Together, these are what Zed brings as he steps forward to serve Hawaiʻi County Council District 6. As a legally trained public policy professional with over two decades of experience, Zed brings the knowledge, leadership, and commitment needed to stand up for local families and strengthen our rural communities. Learn more about his background, values, and vision for our communities’ future.
Zed carries a name that reflects deep generational ties to this district—and a story that is unmistakably Hawaiʻi.
His middle name, Kaʻapana, is his mother’s family name — a name so important that his parents ensured it would always be part of who he is. The Kaʻapana and Aki families have roots in Kaʻū and South Kona that stretch back beyond recorded history, and Zed carries that connection not just with pride, but with a deep sense of kuleana.
Like many local families, Zed comes from a richly mixed background. His ancestry includes Japanese, Irish, Scottish, English, Welsh, German, Danish, Norwegian, and even Icelandic — a reminder of how Hawaiʻi has always been a place where many peoples’ stories became one. Zed is proud of every part of that lineage. But in Kaʻū and South Kona, he is especially proud of his identity as Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian), and of the cultural knowledge, responsibilities, and connection to ʻāina that come with it.
Zed is a lua practitioner and a mahiʻai, grounded in the values of mālama ʻāina and ʻike kūpuna — because for him, culture is something you live every day.
For Zed, Kaʻū and South Kona are not just places on a map. It is home. It is legacy. It is identity. It is the community of his heart, naʻau, and soul — and the community he is determined to protect and uplift for the next generation as his ancestors did before him.
Living in Ocean View has only deepened that commitment. Zed knows the realities of rural life because he lives them alongside his neighbors: the long drives, the high costs, the limited services, and the feeling of being underserved and overlooked. And he believes District 6 deserves representation that refuses to accept being treated as an afterthought — because our people are not an afterthought. We are the foundation of this island.
Qualified to Serve
You have to be an effective representative - not a self-proclaimed leader - of the people. You need the grace and humility to serve others; the intelligence and expertise to come up with great ideas; and the dedication and drive to see those ideas come to fruition. Because that's what people trust you to do.
Education
Juris Doctor (Doctor of Law) Degree (focus areas: Environmental, International Law)
Master’s Degree in Agricultural Science.
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Hawaiian Studies (focus areas: Mālama ʻĀina, Kūkulu Aupuni
Advocacy Experience
Juris Doctor (J.D., Doctor of Law) legally trained
20+ Years as a Professional Advocate
Countless testimony hours on thousands of measures
Zed is legally trained and has built his career on understanding how laws are written, how policies are shaped, and how government decisions impact everyday people.
With over 20 years of public policy advocacy experience, Zed has worked across federal, state, and county government arenas—engaging directly in the legislative process, testifying on thousands of bills, and pushing for policy solutions that protect Hawaiʻi’s people, ʻāina, and rural communities.
Throughout his career, Zed has not only advocated for change—he has led it. As a Public Policy Manager in both state government and the private sector, he has directed teams of professional advocates, coordinated high-level legislative strategies, and helped drive policy campaigns from the ground up through the final stages of decision-making.
His work has never been theoretical. It has been hands-on, relentless, and rooted in the belief that government must serve the public good.
Zed currently serves as the Executive Director of Lepo ʻUla, a start-up nonprofit organization committed to championing responsible rural development, workforce advancement, and community health. Through this work, he continues to focus on building long-term solutions that strengthen communities and create pathways for opportunity where it is needed most.
This depth of legal training, policy expertise, and leadership experience is exactly what District 6 needs to ensure our communities are not just heard—but finally prioritized.
Community Identity
Zed carries a name that reflects deep generational ties to this district—and a story that is unmistakably Hawaiʻi.
His middle name, Kaʻapana, comes from his mother’s side—a name so important that his parents ensured it would always be part of who he is. The Kaʻapana and Aki families have roots in Kaʻū and South Kona that stretch back beyond recorded history, and Zed carries that connection not just with pride, but with a deep sense of kuleana.
Like many local families, Zed comes from a richly mixed background. His ancestry includes Japanese, Irish, Scottish, English, Welsh, German, Danish, Norwegian, and even Icelandic—a reminder of how Hawaiʻi has always been a place where many peoples’ stories became one. Zed is proud of every part of that lineage. But in Kaʻū and South Kona, he is especially proud of his identity as Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian), and of the cultural knowledge, responsibilities, and connection to ʻāina that come with it.
Zed is a lua practitioner and a mahiʻai, grounded in the values of mālama ʻāina and ʻike kūpuna—because for him, culture is not something you talk about only during election season. It is something you live.
For Zed, Kaʻū and South Kona are not just places on a map. It is home. It is legacy. It is identity. It is the community of his heart and soul—and the community he is determined to protect and uplift for the next generation as his ancestors did before him.
Living in Ocean View has only deepened that commitment. Zed knows the realities of rural life because he lives them alongside his neighbors: the long drives, the high costs, the limited services, and the feeling of being underserved and overlooked. And he believes District 6 deserves leadership that refuses to accept being treated as an afterthought—because our people are not an afterthought. We are the foundation of this island.
