Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters is barred from running again, a loss for him and a win for his challengers and for voters who wanted the ballot settled.

• The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court upheld a lower court, ruling a third term would break the city charter's two-term limit.
• Waters argued his first term was short because he won a 2019 special election, but the court said what counts is the term itself, not time served.
• The decision was close, splitting the justices 3-2.
• Trevor Ozawa and Gregory now move on to the general election in November, ending months of legal fighting and confusion for voters.
• Waters says he will serve out the final four months of his term.

Outlook: The District IV race is now set for November, with Waters off the ballot for good.