Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 5, 1 May 2010 — CONGRESSIONAL HOPEFULS TO FACE OFF IN OHA-SPONSORED DEBATE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESSIONAL HOPEFULS TO FACE OFF IN OHA-SPONSORED DEBATE

Forum airs live May 3, rebroadcasts May 8

By Jennifer Armstrong KaWai Ola When former U.S. Congressman Neil Abercrombie resigned on Feb. 28 to run for governor, three major candidates emerged for the ehanee to serve in the country's capital. Former U.S. Congressman Ed Case and state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, who are running as Democrats, and

Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou, who is running as a Republican, are vying to fill the seat in the May 22 special election for the lst Congressional District. The candidates will face off in a live televised debate sponsored by OHA on Monday, May 3. The forum will broadcast live from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and simulcast on the three Hawai'i News Now ehannels KGMB, KHNL and KFVE. The debate will also stream live on oha.org and hawaiinewsnow.com. The program will rebroadcast on Hawai'i News Now channels on Sunday, May 8 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. In partnership with Hawai'i News Now, the debate will be the only congressional forum that will be conducted in front of a live audience. "OHA is very excited to be working with Hawai'i News Now on this special

congressional debate," said OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona. "We hope this forum will be a means to understanding the ideas and values of our elected leaders and how they affect all residents of Hawai'i, especially Native Hawaiians." The debate will be formatted as a live discussion with panelists posing questions to the candidates and a moderator managing the discussion. The three panelists confirmed are OHA Chief Executive Officer Clyde Nāmu'o, University of Hawai'i Dean of the Hawai'inuiākea School of

Hawaiian Knowledge Maenette Ah Nee-Benham, and polkieal analyst Dan Boylan. Hawai'i News Now anchor Tannya Joaquin will moderate. With important Hawaiian issues, such as the Hawaiian Recognition Bill, at the forefront, OHA hopes the debate will be a means of identifying the candidates' positions on issues affecting Hawaiians

and also highlight other subjects important to eaeh candidate. Abercrombie is a longtime supporter of the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, also known as the Akaka Bill. The all-mail special election will determine who will fulfill the remainder of Abercrombie's term in Congress, whieh ends in January 201 1. Ballots were to be sent to urban Honolulu voters in the first week of May and the results will be announced on May 22. ■

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Case

Djou

Hanabusa