Billy Kenoi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Billy Kenoi
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| 11th Mayor of Hawaii County | |
| In office December 1, 2008 – December 5, 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Harry Kim |
| Succeeded by | Harry Kim |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Kenoi
November 9, 1968 Kalapana, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Died | January 26, 2021 (aged 52) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Takako Culhane |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Massachusetts (B.A.) University of Hawaii (J.D.) |
William P. Kenoi (born November 9, 1968 – died January 26, 2021) was an American politician. He served as the Mayor of Hawaii County from 2008 to 2016. Before becoming mayor, Kenoi worked in government roles. He was an assistant for lawmakers and a lawyer. He also helped former Mayor Harry Kim.
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Billy Kenoi's Early Life and School
Billy Kenoi was born in Kalapana, Hawaii. This is a small town on the Big Island. He went to Waiakea High School. After high school, he studied at Hawaii Community College. He also attended the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
In 1990, Kenoi moved to the mainland. He transferred to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He graduated from there in 1993. He was part of a program called the National Student Exchange. He even became the president of this program.
In 1992, Kenoi had an internship. He worked for Senator Daniel Inouye. An intern helps out in an office. During this time, Kenoi went to a big political meeting. It was called the 1992 Democratic National Convention. This meeting was held in New York City.
Billy Kenoi's Career Path
After college, Kenoi started his career in government. He worked as an assistant for a state lawmaker in 1993. Later, he worked for state senators. He helped them with their work in the government.
Kenoi then went to law school. He studied at the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He finished law school in 1996. After passing his law exam, he worked for a judge. He also worked as a public defender. A public defender is a lawyer who helps people who cannot afford one.
In 2001, Kenoi became an assistant to Mayor Harry Kim. He worked on important issues. These included helping people without homes. He also worked on housing problems.
Serving as Mayor of Hawaii County (2008–2016)
Billy Kenoi decided to run for mayor in 2008. He wanted to lead Hawaii County. He won the election on November 4, 2008. He became one of the youngest mayors in the Big Island's history. He was only 39 years old.
Kenoi was re-elected as mayor in 2012. He won by a small number of votes. People often praised him for bringing people together. He worked hard to meet the needs of all communities. This included people in rural areas. He spent a lot of time in Hilo, Hawaii.
In 2016, there was a situation about how he used a county card. A jury later found him not responsible for any wrongdoing. He later said he was sorry for the situation.
Kenoi served two terms as mayor. He could not run again because of term limits. He left office in December 2016.
Later Life and Passing
In 2018, Billy Kenoi shared some personal news. He had been diagnosed with a serious illness. It was a type of blood cancer called myelofibrosis. He found out about it in 2015.
His health became more challenging in 2017. He had treatments like a bone marrow transplant. This involved strong medicine and a long recovery. He felt better for a while after returning home. But in 2018, he felt very tired again. His cancer had become more aggressive.
Billy Kenoi passed away on January 26, 2021. He was 52 years old.
Images for kids
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Billy Kenoi in 2011.
