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City Council members are busy finalizing the budget this week. One of them has even bigger things on her mind: Tulsi Gabbard announced this week that she’s running for Congress.

Civil Beat is reporting from the inside.

Tulsi Gabbard’s Congressional Campaign Announcement

11:03 a.m.
Have you watched City Council member Tulsi Gabbard‘s announcement about her decision to run for Congress?

Gabbard sent out a follow-up to her initial announcement today, explaining why she’s already planning to leave the City Council just five months after taking office.

“I want you to know that I will continue working hard and serving you on the City Council, and if you choose to send me to Congress, I will continue serving you, just in a different capacity,” Gabbard wrote. “I feel I will be of even greater service to you in Congress, given my experience, especially with issues such as the environment, our economy, and the war.”

Neighborhood Board Election Results Are In

10:57 a.m.
Chances are, you didn’t vote in the Neighborhood Board election. Even though turnout more than doubled this year compared to 2009, only a small fraction of registered voters participated.

Some of the races had low turnout from voters as well as candidates: 213 people won their elections uncontested. All in all, 465 candidates ran for 439 Neighborhood Board seats.

Check out from the election to find out who’s representing your neighborhood.

Nene Birds Hatch in Denver

10:07 a.m.
Coloradans are catching a glimpse of Hawaii’s state bird. The that three nene birds hatched there this month.

Check out the zoo’s website for .

Under Lahaina Noon Sun, Mayor To Talk Electric Cars

9:45 a.m.
Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle is planning to meet with reporters tomorrow, to talk about city permits that will be available online for the installation of charging stations for electric cars.

Carlisle usually holds press conferences in his Honolulu Hale office, but this one will take place outside. From the mayor’s press release:

“The news conference will coincide with the ‘Lahaina Noon’ circular shadow phenomenon that occurs … at exactly 12:28 pm, when the sun is directly overhead.”

For a solar energy initiative, the location would be perfect. Either way, we like it.

Clues on Who’s Running? Turn to Twitter

7:44 a.m.

Columnist David Shapiro had an today about the dynamic between former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and his former Managing Director Kirk Caldwell (who served as acting mayor when Hannemann resigned to run for governor).

Both men have said they will consider running for office, but neither has publicly decided which one. Hannemann’s name has been floated as a candidate for U.S. Senate and U.S. House, while Caldwell is considering the U.S. House and Honolulu mayor’s office.

As Shapiro pointed out, political clues as to what might come next can be found on Twitter. Hannemann and Caldwell both work in the private sector now, but they tweet like they’re still in office.

Caldwell has repeatedly tweeted “reminders” about upcoming city furlough days, while Hannemann recently tweeted a reminder to Honolulu drivers about a planned road closure.

And as elected officials like Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa and Sen. Daniel Akaka yesterday issued statements about former Big Island mayor Steve Yamashiro‘s death, both Caldwell and Hannemann tweeted remembrances.

Caldwell and Hannemann “one of the smartest government officials I knew.”

Which other candidates and maybe-candidates are tweeting these days? On Twitter, you can follow:

• City Council member , who is running for U.S. House
• Congresswoman , who is running for U.S. Senate
• Former Sen.¹ , who told Civil Beat he’s considering a run for Congress
• Sen. , who told Civil Beat he’s considering a run for Congress
• Sen. , who told Civil Beat he’s considering a run for Congress
• City Council Chairman , who hasn’t ruled out the possibility of running for Congress (though he hasn’t tweeted since 2009)
• Lt. Gov. , who hasn’t commented on the possibility of a run for Congress

(Oh yeah, and you can , too!)

Tulsi Gabbard Running for Hirono’s Seat

City Council member Tulsi Gabbard is running as a Democrat for Mazie Hirono‘s congressional seat. Gabbard made the announcement on Wednesday.

“While we may not always agree on every issue, I want to assure you that I will always respectfully listen to your concerns, and always keep an open mind,” Gabbard said in a video statement on the site. “I have a sincere desire to be of service to all the people of Hawaiʼi, and I’m confident that I will serve you well. I have the experience, the energy, and the determination to fight for you, our beautiful Hawaiʼi, and our great country.”

Gabbard, 30, represents Honolulu’s District 6, which includes Makiki, downtown, Kalihi, Punchbowl, Nuuanu, Alewa Heights, Papakolea and Liliha. She was elected last year and will not have to give up her seat to run. Although her position on the City Council is nonpartisan, Gabbard previously served as a Democratic state representative (at 21, she was the youngest female state representative in U.S. history when elected).

Now a captain in the Hawaii Army National Guard, Gabbard left her position at the Legislature to deploy to Iraq in 2004. She also completed a tour of Kuwait.

Gabbard is the first candidate to announce a run for Hirono’s seat. Hirono announced last week that she will run for U.S. Senate when Sen. Daniel Akaka retires in 2012. Read more about the political free-for-all Hirono sparked.

Read Civil Beat’s April interview with Gabbard about her financial disclosures, and the struggle to earn the public’s trust (at the time, she still used her married name, which she hadn’t yet dropped after getting divorced).

Read Previous Editions of Inside Honolulu

May 25, 2011: Pack a lunch, sew a lei; City Council one step from passing historic homes bill; Fire spokesman weighs in on 911 call.

May 24, 2011: 911 operator calls man ‘F——g Idiot;’ Controversial Laie development gets hearing.

May 23, 2011: City Council advances fireworks bill; Kirk Caldwell organizes corn chowder party via Twitter; PVT landfill to turn trash into energy.

May 19, 2011: Sen. Daniel Akaka reiterates feds’ support for rail; Council member Tulsi Gabbard wants to send a message to President Barack Obama.

May 18, 2011: Still no report from City Council’s rail fact-finding trip; Doug Chin points to charter question to explain administration’s HART position.

May 17, 2011: City Council reinstates roads funds; Union talks “ongoing;” Council advances property-tax hike.

May 16, 2011: Did police chief’s son get preferential treatment? Honolulu Zoo rhino dies; Police officers to walk for slain colleagues.

May 13, 2011: California judge assigned to rail case; City winds down busy week on furlough day.

May 12, 2011: City Council member Romy Cachola learns new slang; Brookings Institute lauds Honolulu mass transit; Long-awaited rail lawsuit filed in federal court; City Council members vet new rail financial plan.

May 11, 2011: Council advances rail bond bill; City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia waiting for word on ethics investigation; Council advances fireworks storage bill; Council scraps scrap-yard subsidy, kind of; Rail lawsuit to be filed soon.

May 10, 2011 Council member Tom Berg wants to move Honolulu Zoo into Diamond Head crater; Council to consider banning some cell phone use for pedestrians.

May 9, 2011: After heavy rains, Waimanalo Gulch gets extension; What happens in Copenhagen, stays in Copenhagen?; Feds monitoring city’s use of housing money.

May 6, 2011: Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle says Koolau Loa plan keeps “country country,” too; City Council’s Tulsi Gabbard gets promoted.

May 5, 2011: Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle heads to sunny East Lansing, Mich.; Emergency Management Deputy Peter Hirai clears up rumor about Waikiki sirens; Double the turnout so far in Neighborhood Board elections.

May 4, 2011: City Council advances HART budgets, measure to float rail bonds; Romy Cachola irked that no Filipinos appointed to HART; Mayor would likely support end to recycling subsidy.

May 3, 2011: Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle signed into law new North Shore plan; City Planning and Permitting Director David Tanoue questions move to turn shipping containers into homes; Environmental group raises concerns about trees along rail route.

May 2, 2011: City Council member Stanley Chang takes on managing director; Ann Kobayashi defends yelling at testifier; Romy Cachola calls testifier “stupid;” Tom Berg proposes horse racetrack for Kapiolani Park; Bill to eliminate scrap yard subsidy advances; Council member miffed that rail leaders skipped special council meeting.