General Election 2012.

By Wendy Osher

Hawaii’s Democratic and Republican leaders are hosting separate gatherings as the final results of today’s election are tallied.

US Senator Daniel Akaka, US Senator Daniel Inouye, Governor Neil Abercrombie, and Lt. Governor Brian Schatz, will join democratic candidates on the ballot at the Japanese Cultural Center in Honolulu, starting at 5 p.m.

Here on Maui, the Democratic Coordinated Campaign, hosts an election night potluck celebration at its headquarters located at 1942 Main Street in Wailuku. The event begins at 6 p.m. and runs until the final poll numbers are announced.

Meantime, Hawaii’s Republican Party hosts a gathering at 6 p.m. at US Senate candidate Linda Lingle’s Oahu headquarters on Dillingham. Candidate supporters and volunteers will gather to watch the election results live.

Here on Maui, Republican Party Chair Cindy Sue Clark said many from the Maui GOP will be working at the polling places and will be gathering at the Linda Lingle Maui Headquarters on Main Street in Wailuku. The gathering will include music under the stars, monitoring of election news, and visiting with other party members.

“May the best candidate who could bring us all together again as Americans, win,” said Clark in an interview this morning.

Polls across the state open at 7 a.m., and remain open until 6 p.m.  There are a total of 35 polling places in Maui County. Voters are reminded to bring their photo ID with them to their polling place. To find your polling place, visit the following LINK for the state Office of Elections Polling Place Locator.

Pacific Radio Group will be offering live results coverage again this year in coordination with the University of Hawaii Maui College. The broadcast will be carried LIVE on MC-TV Channel 55 and KNUI AM 900, from 5:30 p.m. until the final results for Maui are tallied.

The program is a unique collaboration between our broadcast professionals at Pacific Radio Group, and the bright young minds at UHMC, who together offer engaging dialogue, candidate conversations, and up-to-the-minute Maui results.

That’s tonight, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on MC-TV Channel 55, KNUI AM 900, and online at MauiNow.com.