Darius Kila Bounces Back from the Pandemic with Ambitious Run for Hawaii State Legislature
Darius Kila returned to his home state from Oregon when COVID-19 took hold in 2020, and quickly started working with his family’s business on Oahu.
But after working as a legislative aid for Stacelynn Eli, Kila turned his life in a new direction, launching his own campaign for the District 44 seat in the Hawaii legislature. Kila won the Democratic Party nomination for the seat in August with 75.9 percent of the district votes, and looks forward to a strong performance the general election on Nov. 8, 2022.
Kila’s involvement in politics began in high school when he served as class president at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School. As a student at SOU, he began working on the area counsel for Greensprings student housing complex before becoming a Raider Ambassador. From there, he served as a Financial Aid Communications Coordinator, and eventually a full-time Resident Assistant.
In 2016, Kila accepted a role on the search committee that eventually brought former SOU president Linda Schott to campus.
“When I was asked to sit on the committee to hire our next University President, I could not help but feel good,” Kila said. “I and the ASSOU President (Daryl Maplethorpe) at the time were the two students selected. In comparison to our ASSOU President, my only roles were as an RA and Raider Ambassador, but I was told that I was nominated by several folks across campus in large part because of my advocacy for students.”
Kila believes that his visibility in the search helped support students’ needs at SOU.
“I was not ashamed to be a loud advocate for students to have a seat at the table, as I always reminded folks that this university is nothing without students,” Kila said. “So looking back on the experience, I truly was blessed to have been a part of it. I also worked closely with Dr. Schott during her tenure to help navigate the issues of our university and worked to make admin much more accessible.”
When asked about the role age plays in politics, Kila responded that it can be an advantage, especially when speaking about relevant issues. On the other hand, some politicians are ignorant of the problems that young Hawaiians face, and some even want to exclude young people from political spaces entirely. Kila aims to bridge the gap between older and younger generations and inspire citizens to work together to support all Hawaii families, regardless of their age. If elected, Kila will become the second youngest person in the entire Hawaii legislature, next to Representative Jackson Sayama.
Above all, Kila ran for office because he wants to be an advocate and create tangible change for his home, people, and family. District 44, located on the Leeward side of Oahu, faces a housing crisis and an ever-rising cost of living that threatens to displace residents who have lived there for generations. If successful in the election on Nov. 8, Kila hopes to create infrastructure improvements that will lead to expanded job opportunities, more housing, and an improved quality of life for his district.
“No matter the outcome, I feel absolutely blessed to have embarked on this journey,” Kila said.. “This campaign started in March 2022, and here we are!”
Story by Ripley Pierotti and Kelli Albert, Community Managers for the Communication, Media & Cinema Program at Southern Oregon University.
