Maui Election

For the first time in history, Hawaii Republican voters will be voting for their choice of Republican Presidential nominees in today’s GOP Hawaii caucus. Voting runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at locations across the state. There are seven voting locations on Maui, one on Lanai and one on Molokai.

Democrats throughout Hawaii caucused last night to conduct party elections and select delegates to state and national conventions. Maui Now visited the precinct meeting in Wailuku.

The convention will feature guest speakers for each of the presidential candidates. Also scheduled to speak are State House Representative George Fontaine; Maui TEA Party Chair Bill Doyle; and others…

Rep. Mazie Hirono will be on Maui for the latest edition of her congressional coffee talks. The Maui visit includes a stop at the Kihei Charter School located at the Lipoa Center in South Maui. The talk starts at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21.

Two Maui residents filed papers recently becoming the first official candidates from the Valley Isle for the upcoming 2012 Election. The candidate filing deadline is 4:30 p.m. on June 5, 2012.

Among those pulling papers were incumbent council members Mike Victorino of Wailuku, Bob Carrol of East Maui, and Don Couch of South Maui. Others pulling papers included Joe Blackburn for the council’s Wailuku residency seat, Alan Fukuyama for the Kahului seat, and Antonio Gimbernat for the US Senate.

Several bills introduced by Maui lawmakers will be heard in respective House committees today including items relating to red light cameras, vehicle boot legislation, gaming on Hawaiian Home lands, and the House version of what has become known as the “Move Over” bill.

As the 2012 Hawaii State Legislature opens for business, now is a good time to take a look at George Fontaine.

Hawaii Tourism officials have estimated that Hawaii could potentially see 6,000 new jobs created in the state as a result of the reforms in the Visit USA Act. She also voted against blocking the Obama Administration’s request to increase the US debt limit.

Congressional candidate Mufi Hannemann earned an endorsement yesterday from the 15,000 member Hawaii Construction Alliance. Hannemann is seeking the seat being vacated by US Rep. Mazie Hirono, who is running for US Sen. Daniel Akaka’s seat in 2012.

Last week the Kihei Republican briefed members of the Valley Isle Sunset Rotary Club on issues of interest to Maui voters.

Representative Joe Souki from Wailuku discusses current and future politics for Hawaii, including our dire financial situation, legalized gambling and liberalized marijuana laws.

Fukuyama ran for the West Maui Council seat in 2008 and 2010. He made the move from Lahaina to Kahului earlier this year to care for his 90-year-old mother, who required full-time assistance.

Case is hosting the new sessions as part of his new 2012 campaign for US Senate. The sessions on November 5 in Lahaina, Kahului and Kihei, include meet-and-greet and question and answer opportunities.

Rep. Hirono then travels to the Valley Isle for two gatherings on Saturday, October 22. The first stop will be at the Alii Kula Lavender Farm for a 2 p.m. Lavender Tea Time event; followed by 4:30 p.m. Coffee Talk at Da Kitchen Cafe in Kahului.

Former governor Linda Lingle said she wants to become America’s point person for tourism, if elected to the US Senate in 2012–that’s one of the issues that surfaced during her speaking engagement on Monday (October 17) with the Maui Chamber of Commerce.

During this morning’s talk story session, Lingle discussed frauds and scams that target the elderly. Lingle also vowed not to change Social Security for those that currently receive the program benefits.

During a conference call this morning, Rep. Hirono expressed support for the recent DOE request for ESEA flexibility. She also fielded media questions about her 2012 US Senate run.

Former Hawaii governor, Linda Lingle announced today her run for the US Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Akaka.

Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann today announced his plans to seek the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District Seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.