WAIKIKI, Hawaii (KHON2) — The arguably most important election of 2024 has come to a close as the Honolulu Zoo has appointed a new mayor.
Get Hawaii’s latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the City and County of Honolulu announced that Makamae, a native Hawaiian short-eared owl, was voted Mayor of the Honolulu Zoo.
Maui surfer recovering after shark attack, thanks ‘hero’ for watching over him
Makamae’s journey began on the Garden Isle, when he was discovered with a “blind right eye and was deemed unsuitable for release back to the wild.”
The Kauai Humane Society found him in a neighborhood and helped him find a new home at the Honolulu Zoo in July 2016.
Makamae went up against Jaws, a Galapagos tortoise, in a virtual election held over the weekend.
Jaws is a long-time resident of Honolulu Zoo, traveling to the islands in 1929 as part of the Charles Townsend expedition.
Hawaii residents cast their votes through Facebook and Instagram in the form of likes and hearts. According to officials, Makamae defeated Jaws in a landslide.
I want to congratulate Makamae on his recent win, HOOO I know will do a bang-up job as Honolulu Zoo Mayor. What a well-executed campaign from both candidates who ran on conservation platforms including education, food sustainability programs, and trying to protect our planet from climate change. We stand ready to assist Mayor Makamae in any way we can to push these climate action and adaptation efforts forward!
Rick Blangiardi, Honolulu Mayor
Makamae’s first order of business: name Jaws as Honolulu Zoo’s Director of Habitat Protection and Chief Conservation Officer.
Find more Hawaii, Oahu, Maui and Kauai news here
Jaws will also lead a subcommittee as Czar of Birthday Shellebrations for zoo animals.
Makamae will serve his mayoral term in his brand-new enclosure, which opened in September.