Billy Kenoi

William P. Kenoi (November 9, 1968 – January 26, 2021) was an American politician who served as Mayor of Hawaii County from 2008 to 2016. Before being elected mayor, Kenoi served as a legislative aide in the State House and State Senate, a law clerk, a deputy public defender, and an Executive Assistant to then-mayor Harry Kim.

Early life and education Kenoi was born in Kalapana, and attended Waiakea High School. Kenoi attended both Hawaiʻi Community College and University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, but then transferred to University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1990, and graduated in 1993. Kenoi had transferred through the National Student Exchange program, and later became the NSE's president in his first year there.

Mayor of Hawaii County (2008–2016) Kenoi ran for mayor in 2008. Though Lorraine Inouye initially led in the opinion polls, Kenoi advanced to the general election against Angel Pilago. On November 4, 2008, Kenoi defeated Pilago by a margin of 55.6%–40.9%. At 39, Kenoi became one of the youngest mayors in Big Island history.

Kenoi was re-elected mayor on November 6, 2012, narrowly defeating former mayor Harry Kim, 49.8%–47.6% – a margin of 1,438 votes. Kenoi received praise for his efforts to unite the population of the county during his term as mayor. He spent much time in Hilo and worked to meet the needs of the county's rural community. He afterwards apologised for the scandal.

Illness and death Kenoi revealed in March 2018 that he was diagnosed with myelofibrosis, a bone marrow blood cancer, in 2015 while serving his second term as mayor. The cancer began to accelerate in March 2017 and the former mayor underwent blood transfusions. Later that year, he underwent a bone marrow transplant in California, which involved chemotherapy and months of rehabilitation. He returned home in October 2017 and began feeling better until March 2018, when he reported feeling lethargic. After flying back to California, he was told his cancer had become more aggressive and that he would have only a month to live without aggressive chemotherapy.

Kenoi died on January 26, 2021, at the age of 52.