Polls are open until 6 p.m. Look  to find your polling place.ÌýCivil Beat’s unofficial Primary Election Ballot includes links to candidate Q&As. Find other useful information in our Hawaii Elections Guide.Ìý

We’re expecting the first of a few waves of results around 7 p.m. and the final results closer to midnight. Follow us at civilbeat.org, and .

From The Tweets

9:39 p.m.

A few voters took to Twitter Saturday night to offer commentary on how the race unfolded.

Others weighed in on the close race between incumbent Rep. Isaac Choy and challenger Dale Kobayashi. The first slew of election results put Kobayashi ahead by six votes, though Choy reclaimed a narrow lead in the next result announcements.

One voter expressed concern over the proportion of males up for the Kauai County Council.

And Civil Beat’s Anita Hofschneider shared the tale of her run-in with an upset Djou campaign supporter, referencing a poll that showed Djou several percentages ahead.

– Courtney Teague

Eat Some Food Already

6:52 p.m.

It’s a slow night at Colleen Hanabusa’s campaign party headquarters in Kakaako. There are only about 30 people here so far.

What’s most surprising is that the tables are mostly empty of food. But it’s not for lack of grinds.

Hanabusa’s people have three food trucks set up outside to serve chicken katsu, beef sliders and New-Orleans-style jambalaya.

The atmosphere is calm. Most people expect Hanabusa to take tonight’s primary and cruise through the general election in November.

No sightings of Hanabusa yet. She’s expected to show up sometime after 7 p.m., most likely after early election results are posted.

The loneliest food trucks in Kakaako.
The loneliest food trucks in Kakaako. Nick Grube/Civil Beat

—Nick Grube

Relaxed Atmosphere At Djou’s Party

6:40 p.m.

The Palaka Ohana band entertains Djou supporters at Pearl Country Club. Ronen Zilberman/Civil Beat

A band is playing Hawaiian music at mayoral candidate Charles Djou’s election night party at the Pearl Country Club.

People are still trickling into the large room filled with long tables with white tablecloths dotted with Welch’s fruit snacks.

Djou isn’t expected to arrive until 8:30pm or 9 p.m.ÌýLooks like the party is heating up though; two people just carried in a huge roasted pig:

Attendees of Djou’s primary election party get to enjoy this roasted pig. Anita Hofschneider/Civil Beat

—Anita Hofschneider

Caldwell Resting Before Results

6:20 p.m.

The giant tent on top of the Nimitz Center is gradually filling with Kirk Caldwell supporters. A member of the band playing tunes from Dennis Kamakahi and Gabby Pahinui says the mayor is chilling somewhere quiet after spending several hours on a trolley tour around town earlier Saturday.

Uncle Lon’s homecooked food is being consumed by all (except me, because I am media), with live entertainment by Kristian Lei, the Honolulu Broadway Babies and Kua Aina.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell signs 530pm at 1130 Nimitz, Nimitz Center. 13 aug 2016
Mayor Kirk Caldwell signs decorate his Nimitz HQ. Cory Lum/Civil Beat

—Chad Blair

Wally Lau’s Cash Advantage

4:43 p.m.

that Mayor Billy Kenoi’s former managing director, Wally Lau, received a “last-minute cash infusion from two labor unions” to put him over the $200,000 mark while his two closest rivals “have reported about a tenth of that.”

Hawaii Island Mayor forum Wally Lau speak. 14 july 2016
Harry Kim and Wally Lau in Hilo. Cory Lum/Civil Beat

That would be former mayor Harry Kim and former County Council member Pete Hoffman. The race is to succeed Kenoi.

Kim collected only $13,570, “including a $8,602 a loan from himself. He reported 100 percent of the contributions coming from those giving $100 or less.”

The newspaper added, “In fact, Kim said, he limited campaign contributions to $10 per donor.”

— Chad Blair

Defending Territory

3:31Ìý±è.³¾.

Democratic incumbents Rep. Isaac Choy and Sen Brian Taniguchi wave at approaching cars in Manoa with just hours left to vote on Primary Election Day.

Choy is fighting to keep his seat from challenger Dale Kobayashi, the son of City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi.

Taniguchi doesn’t have a primary election opponent, but will be facing Republican Kaui Jochanan Amsterdam and Libertarian Joe Kent in November.

Across the street, a supporter of mayoral candidate Charles Djou waved at cars in front of a huge sign for incumbent Kirk Caldwell.

— Anita Hofschneider

A Vote To Stay The Course

1:10 p.m.

Phil Wee, a graphic designer, said he filled out his ballot with enthusiasm at his polling place at the Hawaii Center for the Deaf and Blind, just south of Waikiki. He was most engaged by the Honolulu mayor’s race and the debate over the city’s over-budget rail project.

He said he was struck by the fact that the three major candidates in the mayor’s race agreed the rail should be extended, as originally planned, to the Ala Moana Center.

“They all agreed on rail, yet they tried to distance themselves from each other on how to get it done,” he said.

He’s concerned about the exploding price tag, which could go as high as $10 billion, according to the Federal Transit Administration.

“It blows my mind  that you can buy something and not know how much it costs,” Wee said. “That’s the funny thing about public funds — it’s not your personal money. It’s an abstract thing.”

Despite the fact that rail costs have shot up under the tenure of Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Wee cast his vote for the incumbent. He figured that the mayor should be given a chance to finish the rail project, reasoning that no one would like to take on a job that’s halfway done.

— John Hill

A voter gets assistance with an electronic machine at a quiet Central Middle School polling place early Saturday afternoon. Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Smooth, Slow Start To Voting

12:34 p.m.

Our media partner  on how there have been no real problems reported with voting Saturday morning. So far, anyway.

There appears to have been a malfunctioning paper scanner at Maunawili Elementary School, but a troubleshooter was called on site “and addressed the problem.”

At Hahaione Elementary, compared with other election years, staff are few in number. Officials are welcoming volunteers to help get them through the day.

— Chad Blair

Taking On The Incumbents

12:07 p.m.

While the re-election rate of members of the Hawaii Legislature is very high, every election usually sees a newcomer or two upsetting the status quo. One serious contender this year is Dale Kobayashi, son of Honolulu City Council member Ann Kobayashi.

a Dale Kobayashi supporter in Manoa, Aug. 13, 2016

Dale Kobayashi is running against state Rep. Isaac Choy, a fellow Democrat who has represented District 23 (Manoa, University, Punahou, Moiliili) since 2008.

Pictured is a Kobayashi supporter at the corner of University Avenue and Metcalf Street.

Read Courtney Teague’s profile of the race, Manoa Legislator Says He’s Being ‘Carpet-Bombed’ By Challenger.

— Chad Blair

Enthusiasm In Hawaii Kai

10:45 a.m.

A steady stream of voters moved through key polling places in Hawaii Kai mid Saturday morning, driving past sign wavers for GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, Honolulu mayoral candidate Charles Djou and state Senate candidate Stanley Chang to get there.

Stanley Chang supporter David Emerson, sign waving on Hawaii Kai Drive. Todd Simmons

Chang’s race may be engaging voters there as much as any of the higher profile races up the ticket: He is running against fellow Democrats Michael Bennett and Richard Kim for the right to face off against incumbent Sam Slom, the only Republican in the state Senate.

Slom, 74, has faced health challenges over the past 12 months, including coronary bypass surgery earlier this year, but is running for another term in the seat he has held since 1996.

Chang ran a highly visible campaign for Congress in 2014 in Hawaii Kai before losing the Democratic primary to the late Mark Takai. Campaign volunteer David Emerson sign waved for Chang on Hawaii Kai drive Saturday morning, just up the rise from Kamiloiki Elementary as hordes of families drove to the school for Saturday football and soccer practices.

“We feel pretty good about our numbers,” said Emerson. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm out here.”

— Todd Simmons

Getting Out The Vote

9:30 a.m.

Worried about news reports of low voter turnout, the campaign of Charles Djou is encouraging supporters to “email, text, or call your family and friends and make sure they vote.”

Team Djou says it thinks it can score an “historic upset” and end the race for Honolulu mayor Saturday rather than have it linger for three more months.

The campaign of Mayor Kirk Caldwell, meantime, is sending out a thank you “for all those honk-o-meter reports with the honks getting more frequent, longer and louder, and just plain shouting Kirk is our man!”

Team Caldwell was scheduled to launch a trolley tour at 9 a.m. from campaign headquarters at the Nimitz Center. Chinatown, Ala Moana Beach Park, Waialae Avenue and East Honolulu are on the itinerary before heading back to HQ by midafternoon.

— Chad Blair

A couple votes in one booth at Kawananakoa Middle School on Saturday morning as a long day of primary balloting gets underway. Cory Lum/Civil Beat

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