Meet A Bunch Of Candidates Next Week At Civil Beat Pop-Ups On Oahu And Big Island
Join us in Waianae, Hilo and Kapolei.
The Aug. 10 primary is just a month away but there’s still plenty of time to come and hear candidates in the hottest races talk give their views on the issues you’re interested in.
We have a busy lineup next week, with Civil Beat journalists hosting interviews with candidates for the Legislature, the Honolulu City Council and the Hawaii County Council.
We’ll field questions from the audience too so come prepared with those. The discussion should last about an hour with time for casual mingling afterwards. Light pupus and beverages will be served.
And no campaigning, please. These are envisioned as a time for civil discussion and to really learn something about these people who are asking for your vote.
Check out the Candidate Q&As we’ve published that have been submitted by many of the office seekers in our searchable Candidate Q&As section. You can also find the surveys on our 2024 Primary Ballot by going to the race you’re interested in and licking on the links.
Here’s what we’ve got going:
On Monday, reporter Blaze Lovell will be leading a discussion of candidates in the House District 45 race that covers Waianae, Makaha and Makua. This is the seat being vacated by Rep. Cedric Gates who is hoping to move up to the Senate.
All four Democratic candidates and both Republicans who are running in their party’s primary have confirmed they will be there. That ensures a lively discussion and an opportunity to compare Democrats and Republicans and where they come down on the issues.
The four Ds are Cross Makani Crabbe, Desire DeSoto, Ranson Soares and and Philip Ganaban. The two Rs are Tiana Wilbur and Chris Muraoka.
The election pop-up (an offshoot of our popular pop-up newsroom events) is set for 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Waianae High School.
On Tuesday, politics editor Chad Blair and reporter Kevin Dayton will host two different pop-ups. The first is a chance to hear the candidates for Hawaii County Council District 2. That goes from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Hilo High School.
Incumbent Jennifer Kagiwada and challengers Blaine Bautista and Grace Manipol have confirmed. Another challenger, Gary Napoleon Jr., hadn’t gotten back to us by Saturday.
Tuesday evening, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Chad and Kevin will lead a discussion with two women competing in the Senate District 1 Democratic primary. Incumbent Lorraine Inouye is hoping to fend off Laura Acasio, who had held the District 1 seat in 2021 and 2022. But redistricting changed the boundaries in the Hilo area in 2022, eliminating a seat, and Acasio lost to Inouye, who had held the other Senate seat for many years.
That gathering is also at Hilo High School.
On Wednesday, reporter Ben Angarone will talk with candidates for the Honolulu City Council running in the Kailua area, which is District 3. The discussion will be from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Kailua High School library.
Incumbent Esther Kiaaina is hoping to hold off challenges by David Kauahikaua and Kelsey Kananelua. All three have confirmed their attendance. Another challenger, Christopher Curren, hasn’t responded to our invitation.
Click this link for a more detailed schedule.
