>> THIS IS A BIG ELECTION YEAR IN HAWAI'I.

VOTERS WILL CAST BALLOTS FOR A NEW GOVERNOR, TWO CONGRESSIONAL SEATS, INCLUDING ONE WITH NO INCUMBENT, A U.S.

SENATOR, MAYORAL RACES IN MAUI AND HAWAI'I COUNTIES, ALL 76 SEATS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, COUNTY COUNCIL RACES AND OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

WHO ARE THE FRONT-RUNNERS IN TONIGHT'S LIVE BROADCAST OF INSIGHT START NOW.

>> Daryl: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I, I'M DARYL HUFF.

THE 2022 ELECTIONS ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND HAWAI'I VOTERS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SHAKE UP THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE HERE AT HOME.

HAWAI'I WILL LOOK TO ELECT ITS NINTH STATE GOVERNOR AS DAVID IGE HAS REACHED HIS TWO TERM LIMIT.

BECAUSE OF REDISTRICTING ALL 76 SEATS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE ARE ON THE BALLOT.

BOTH US CONGRESSIONAL SEATS AND ONE U.S. SENATE SEAT WILL ALSO BE VOTED ON THIS YEAR AS WELL AS THE MAYORS OF MAUI AND KAUA'I COUNTIES AND THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

THIS WILL BE THE SECOND ELECTION CYCLE WITH ALL MAIL-IN VOTING OFFICIALS ARE ALSO LOOKING TO MAKE VOTING MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

THERE IS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL US OR CALL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE CONVERSATION ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW TO OUR GUESTS.

SCOTT NAGO IS THE CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER FOR THE STATE OF HAWAI'I.

HE HAS OVER 20 YEARS OF ELECTIONS EXPERIENCE.

AFTER RECEIVING HIS DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I AT MANOA, HE BEGAN HIS CAREER IN ELECTIONS.

HE WAS APPOINTED CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER IN 2010.

WENDY OSHER LEADS THE MAUI NOW NEWS TEAM.

SHE HAS SERVED AS THE NEWS DIRECTOR FOR PACIFIC MEDIA GROUP FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, OVERSEEING THE COMPANY'S SIX MAUI RADIO STATIONS.

SHE HOLDS A DEGREE IN PRINT JOURNALISM FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

JOINING US VIA ZOOM IS CHAD BLAIR.

HE HAS BEEN A WRITER, EDITOR, AND TEACHER IN HONOLULU FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS.

HE COVERS POLITICAL DECISION MAKERS AND THEIR IMPACT FOR HONOLULU CIVIL BEAT.

CHAD HAS WORKED AS A JOURNALIST FOR PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS, HAWAI'I PUBLIC RADIO AND HONOLULU WEEKLY.

AND ALSO JOINING US VIA ZOOM IS COLIN MOORE.

HE IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC POLICY CENTER AT U.H.

MANOA.

HE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO HONOLULU CIVIL BEAT AND APPEARED AS A POLITICAL ANALYST FOR HAWAII NEWS NOW.

LET ME START OFF A SCOTT NAGO FROM ELECTIONS DIVISION.

SO ALL -- HOW WILL THIS ELECTION LOOK?

HOW WILL IT BE CONDUCTED?

HOW WILL YOU ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WHO STILL AREN'T REALLY COMFORTABLE VOTING BY MAIL?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HAWAI'I DOES CONDUCT ELECTIONS BY MAIL.

2020 WASN'T DONE BY MAIL BECAUSE OF COVID.

WE ARE POLLING BY MAIL NOW.

YOUR BALLOT WILL COME TO YOU -- ALL REGISTERED VOTERS WILL RECEIVE THEIR BALLOT IN MAIL AT LEAST 18 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ELECTION.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS VOTE -- MAKE SURE YOU SIGN THE RETURN ENVELOPE, DROP IT BACK IN THE MAIL AND MAKE SURE IT'S RECEIVED AND NOT POSTMARKED BY ELECTION DAY, 7 P.M. >> RECEIVED NOT POSTMARKED.

MAIL IT IN A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE?

>> YES.

YOU CAN MAIL IT IN OR DROP IT OFF IN PERSON AT A BOX.

OR IF YOU'RE STILL NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE MAIL SYSTEM, YOU CAN GO TO A VOTER SERVICE CENTER, WHICH WILL BE OPEN TEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE ELECTION UP UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

UP UNTIL 7:00 PM ELECTION DAY AND VOTE THERE IN PERSON.

>> Daryl: WILL THERE BE MORE SITES AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE IN PERSON?

>> THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL SITES BUT THEY WON'T BE OPEN THE TEN DAYS.

THERE WILL BE, LIKE, POP-UP SITES, I BELIEVE IN WAHIAWA AND THE WINDWARD SIDE.

>> Daryl: CHAD BLAIR, YOU COVERED THE LAST ELECTION.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT THE MAIL-IN VOTING AND WHAT WAS EXECUTED?

>> WELL, NOT TO TEASE SCOTT HERE.

WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THIS, BUT IT LOOK A LONG TIME FOR THAT FIRST PRINTOUT, AS WE STILL CALL IT, CAME OUT WAS IT, LIKE, 11:00 AT NIGHT.

WE KNOW THE REASONS WHY.

THERE WERE STILL PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE.

HONOLULU HALE, KAPOLEI HALE.

BUT, BOY, THE TURNOUT REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

MOVING HAWAI'I UP FROM THE LOWEST JUST ABOUT TURNOUT REALLY GETTING US NOT QUITE BACK TO WHAT WE HAD A STATEHOOD, WELL OVER 90%, BUT IT FELT GOOD TO SEE PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE AND CARING.

THAT WAS EXCITING.

AS A VOTER AND RESIDENT OF HAWAI'I TO SEE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THEIR ELECTION.

>> Daryl: WENDY OSHER FROM MAUI, HOW DID IT GO AT MAUI WITH MAIL-IN VOTING?

>> I THINK WITH COVID PANDEMIC, PEOPLE WERE COMFORTABLE.

IT WAS GOOD TIMING FOR IT.

FOR PEOPLE TO GET USED TO THAT.

THE PEOPLE WHO WERE USED TO GOING TO THE POLLS, THEY STILL DID THAT.

WE STILL HAD LINES AT THE POLLING PLACES, BUT OVERALL IT WENT SMOOTHLY ON MAUI.

>> Daryl: COLIN, WHAT HAVE WE NOTICED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE USE MAIL-IN BALLOTS?

DOES IT CHANGE THE WAY PEOPLE VOTE?

>> WELL, PARTLY WHAT I'LL SAY FIRST IS IT CHANGES THE CAMPAIGN STRATEGY A LITTLE BIT.

BECAUSE VOTES START COMING IN MUCH, MUCH EARLIER.

THIS YEAR, I BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO MAIL OUT ON JULY 26, SO THAT CREATES THIS WINDOW.

BUT YOU'RE NOT QUITE SURE WHEN YOUR CAMPAIGN NEEDS TO PEAK.

THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS A LOT OF PEOPLE TURN THEM IN RIGHT AWAY.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE TURN IT IN RIGHT AT THE LAST MINUTE.

YOU REALLY WANT TO GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT RIGHT WHEN THE BALLOTS ARE RELEASED AND YOU WANT ANOTHER BIG BOOST OF PUBLICITY RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION DEADLINE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK PERHAPS THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE FAMILY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE VOTING BECAUSE YOU SEE THAT BALLOT ON THE KITCHEN TABLE.

I DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE FOR THIS, BUT I SUSPECT THAT ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO OUR HIGH VOTER TURNOUT.

PEOPLE ENCOURAGED THEIR CHILDREN TO VOTE.

OR MAYBE IN SOME CASES, THE CHILDREN ENCOURAGED THEIR PARENTS TO TURN THAT BALLOT IN.

IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY.

THERE'S NEVER BEEN A STATE THAT MOVED TO MAIL-IN BALLOT AND SAW SUCH A BIG BOOST THAT WE SAW.

WE'RE OFF THE CHARTS IN TERMS OF HOW BIG OF A DIFFERENCE THAT MADE.

>> Daryl: SCOTT NAGO, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT BIG CHANGE?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY.

2020 IN AND OF ITSELF WAS UNIQUE.

IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, YOU HAD THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE VOTED BY MAIL.

AS THE ELECTION OFFICIAL, I WANT TO SAY BECAUSE OF THE MAIL.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S REALLY TRUE BECAUSE WE DID HAVE THE PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE WERE AFFECTED BY GOVERNMENT, AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD BECAUSE THEY WERE AFFECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

SO IT COULD HAVE BEEN SOME OF THAT.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE FACT THAT IT WAS THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

BUT OUR GOAL WAS JUST TO MAKE VOTING AS EASY AND SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE.

SENDING SOMEONE THE BALLOT AUTOMATICALLY AND ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS FILL IT OUT, SIGN IT AND RETURN IT.

YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE AFFIX POSTAGE TO THE BALLOT.

THAT'S WHAT WE TRIED TO DO, MAKE IS SIMPLE AND EASY.

>> Daryl: HOW LARGE A PROPORTION OF THE BALLOTS WOULD YOU SAY CAME IN, SAY, THE FIRST WEEK, WEEK AND A HALF.

>> SO IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, IN HONOLULU ALONE, I BELIEVE IN THE FIRST WEEKEND, WHEN THE BALLOTS CAME BACK, I BELIEVE WHEN THE BALLOTS CAME BACK, I BELIEVE WE RECEIVED SOMEWHERE AROUND 150,000 IN THE FIRST WEEKEND.

SOMEWHERE AROUND THAT NUMBER.

THAT WAS THE BIGGEST BUNCH WE'VE SEEN.

>> Daryl: WAS THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE TOTAL VOTE?

BECAUSE I REMEMBER THE TOTAL VOTE USED TO BE ABOUT 250,000, AND IT BUMPED UP.

>> IT -- THAT WAS THE BIGGEST WAVE OF BALLOTS WE'VE SEEN, WAS IN THE FIRST WEEKEND OR IN THE FIRST RETURN.

>> Daryl: CHAD, DO YOU THINK THAT -- HOW DO YOU SEE THAT KIND OF VOTING PROCESS AFFECT THE CAMPAIGN?

COLIN MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THE PUBLICITY.

DOES IT ALSO AFFECT HOW YOU DEAL WITH OTHER CANDIDATES OR WHAT PUBLIC APPEARANCE YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE?

DOES IT LITERALLY MOVE THE ELECTION CYCLE UP?

>> WELL, COLIN'S SPOT-ON HERE.

IT CHANGES EVERYTHING CONSIDERABLY.

I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE AS MUCH TV ADVERTISING HAPPENING ON THE NIGHT BEFORE THE PRIMARY.

ALTHOUGH IF THE RACES ARE CLOSE, PARTICULARLY THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S RACE, I THINK YOU COULD SEE SOME CAMPAIGNS, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE?

SPEND THEIR MONEY.

GET THE WORD OUT.

YES, WHEN DO YOU DEBATE?

WHEN DO YOU SHOW UP FOR THAT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FORUM?

WHEN DO YOU FLY OVER TO THIS ISLAND AND THAT ISLAND?

ALL THAT CHANGES CONSIDERABLY.

I THINK SOCIAL MEDIA ALSO WILL BE MORE AND MORE OF A FOCUS US.

ALL ABOUT TRY TO PERSUADE VOTERS RIGHT UP UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.

>> Daryl: WENDY, DID YOU SEE A LAST-MINUTE CRUSH VOTERS?

HOW DID IT AFFECT MAUI, DID YOU NOTICE?

>> BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AS WELL, MORE PEOPLE WERE EDUCATED VOTERS.

THEY GOT TO SEE THE CANDIDATES IN FORUMS ONLINE AND GO BACK AND VISIT THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I THINK PEOPLE THAT VOTED MAY HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE EDUCATED.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE PLUSES OF THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE.

>> Daryl: THAT'S INTERESTING.

PLUS MAUI, YOU'RE COVERING SUCH A HUGE EXPANSE OF TERRITORY.

IT'S HARD TO GET A LOT OF PEOPLE IN ONE PLACE.

THERE'S SO MANY TOWNS.

DID THE DIGITAL NATURE, IT DID HELP GETTING THE WORD OUT?

>> I DO.

FOR EXAMPLE, THIS TIME AROUND AS WELL, WE HAD MAYORAL FORUM WITH THE KIHEI COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION.

ALL FIVE CANDIDATES THAT FILED TO THAT DATE PARTICIPATED IN IT.

PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO SEE THEIR VIEWPOINTS ABOUT THE SOUTH MAUI AREA.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT APPROACH THIS TIME AROUND.

PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE AKAMAI ABOUT USING THE INTERNET AND WATCHING THEIR MEDIA ONLINE.

>> Daryl: YOU KNOW, AT HAWAI'I NEWS NOW, WE HAD A FEATURE WHERE WE CALLED IT THE JOB INTERVIEW FOR THE MAYOR CANDIDATES.

WE HAD THESE LONG INTERVIEWS AND POSTED THE WHOLE THING.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WASN'T AVAILABLE IN THE PAST SO MUCH AS YOU CAN LITERALLY GO WITH THE INTERNET AND SEE EVERYTHING THAT THE CANDIDATE HAD DONE.

COLIN, HOW DID YOU SEE THE ASPECT OF WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC AND HOW PEOPLE NOW CAMPAIGN?

HOW MUCH CHANGE HAS THERE BEEN IN THAT, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, IT'S FORCED PEOPLE TO -- THERE WERE TWO STRATEGIES.

THE EXPENSIVE WAS GO TRADITIONAL LEGACY MEDIA TO BUY ADVERTISEMENTS OR TO REALLY INVEST HEAVILY IN SOCIAL MEDIA.

I THINK A LOT OF CAMPAIGNS DID BOTH.

IT WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO DO THE TRADITIONAL CAMPAIGN WHERE YOU WALK THE DISTRICT.

YOU GO DOOR TO DOOR.

IN SOME WAYS THAT'S TOUGH FOR NEW CANDIDATES OR CANDIDATES WHO HAVEN'T RAISED AS MUCH MONEY BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN A STRATEGY.

HERE IN HAWAI'I, IN OUR HOUSE DISTRICT, WHICH IS RELATIVELY SMALL, YOU COULD KNOCK ON EVERY DOOR IN THE DISTRICT.

SOME POLITICIANS FAMOUSLY DO THAT.

SENATOR STANLEY CHANG, FOR EXAMPLE, BECAME LEGENDARY FOR WALKING HIS DISTRICT, KNOCKING ON EVERY DOOR.

THAT STRATEGY WASN'T AVAILABLE EASILY DURING IN THE PANDEMIC.

AND I THINK IT'S COME BACK A LITTLE BIT.

PEOPLE EXPECT YOU TO BE SIGN WAVING.

THEY'D STILL LIKE TO SEE AT LEAST THAT YOU VISITED.

YOU NEED THAT DOOR KNOCKER THAT SAYS YOU STOPPED BY, BUT REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY SHIFTED CAMPAIGNS, I THINK, TO INVEST IN A LOT MORE MONEY IN SOCIAL MEDIA.

EVEN THOSE WHO COULDN'T PAY FOR BIG TV ADVERTISEMENTS.

>> Daryl: I NOTICE YOU SEE PEOPLE ANNOUNCING WHO ARE RUNNING FOR SOMETHING.

B.J.

PENN DID THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER ON MAINSTREAM.

YOU HAD TO GO FIND HIM.

I WANTED TO SAY KEN FROM MAUI WRITES, LAST ELECTION I DID MAIL-IN.

SO NICE TO GO ONLINE AND RESEARCH CANDIDATES AND THINK ABOUT WHO I WANTED TO VOTE FOR.

IT WAS THE MOST THOUGHTFUL VOTING FOR ME.

QUESTION FOR SCOTT NAGO.

TWO YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A COORDINATED MEDIA CAMPAIGN ABOUT MAIL-IN.

WILL YOU DO THAT AGAIN?

IS THAT SOMETHING IN THE CARDS?

>> TWO YEARS AGO, WE RECEIVED A LOT OF COVID MONEY.

THAT'S WHY WE COULD DO A LOT OF THAT COORDINATED CAMPAIGN.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE THAT COVID MONEY SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OTHER AVENUES TO GET THE WORD OUT.

WE'RE GOING TO GET THE WORD OUT, WHETHER IT BE SOCIAL MEDIA OR TRADITIONAL MEDIA, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING THE WORD OUT.

BUT IT WON'T BE AS BIG AS IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT COVID MONEY.

>> Daryl: ONE QUESTION, PEOPLE GET A BALLOT IN THE MAIL.

YOU HAVE TO CONVINCE THEM IT'S REAL.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S THE HARD PART.

THE OTHER ISSUE WE'RE FACING IS THAT WE DIDN'T VOTE BY MAIL LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

THAT'S JUST THE WAY WE VOTE.

HAWAI'I VOTES NOW.

HAWAI'I IS A VOTE BY MAIL STATE.

EVERY REGISTERED VOTER WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A BALLOT IN MAIL.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE GOT TO STRESS, THE IMPORTANCE OF DON'T GO TO YOUR POLING PLACE ON ELECTION DAY BECAUSE IT WILL NOT BE OPEN.

>> Daryl: IF YOU LOSE TRACK OF THAT, YOU'LL STILL GET ANOTHER BALLOT, RIGHT?

>> YOU CAN ALWAYS GO TO A VOTER CENTER TO VOTE.

THERE'S LIMITED VOTER SERVICE CENTERS.

YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, ELECTIONS.HAWAI'I.gov TO FIND A LIST OF VOTER SERVICE CENTERS.

EVEN IF YOU VOTED BUT FORGOT TO MAIL YOUR BALLOT IN, YOU CAN DROP IT OFF AT THE DROP BOX.

GO TO OUR WEBSITE AGAIN.

THERE'S VARIOUS PLACES OF DEPOSITS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MAKE SURE YOUR DROP IT OFF IN THE RIGHT COUNTY.

>> Daryl: CHAD, WHEN SCOTT WAS TALKING I WAS REMEMBERING AFTER THE ELECTION OF 2020, THERE WERE ACCUSATIONS ABOUT MAIL-IN BALLOTING, IT AFFECTS THE COUNTING.

IT CHANGES HOW THE RESULTS ARE RELEASED, AND IT CAUSED BOTH SIDES TO BE SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THE OTHER.

DO YOU SEE THAT KIND OF RAISING ITS HEAD AGAIN THIS YEAR?

>> IT'S HAPPENING IN PENNSYLVANIA IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE BETWEEN OZ AND I FORGET THE OTHER FELLA'S NAME.

THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

AND TRADITIONALLY -- COLIN, YOU'RE THE EXPERT ON THIS AND SO IS SCOTT.

THE MAIL-IN BALLOTS, PEOPLE THAT VOTE EARLY, FILL THAT OUT, TEND TO BE MORE LIBERAL, MORE DEMOCRAT.

AND THERE'S A SUSPICION CIRCULATED AMONG CONSERVATIVE CIRCLES, GOT TO VOTE IN PERSON AND SO FORTH.

SUDDENLY, REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE RECOUNT ARE SAYING, NO, MAIL THAT IN NOW.

DO THAT.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT CHANGES THE DYNAMIC.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME.

NOBODY DOES.

I HOPE PEOPLE THAT FIGURED IT OUT NOW.

AS KEN FROM MAUI SAYING, HOW NICE TO BE ABLE TO SIT THERE -- OR COLIN SAID THIS AS WELL.

SIT THERE AT YOUR DINNER TABLE AND TALK IT OVER.

LOOK THINGS UP ONLINE.

THAT'S LIBERATING.

>> Daryl: WENDY ON MAUI, THERE'S ALWAYS THE IMPRESSION THERE'S MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LARGER CONSERVATIVE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE MASKING ISSUES AND VACCINE ISSUES, AND THAT LINES UP TO A CERTAIN EXTENT TO VOTER SUSPICION ISSUES.

DO YOU HEAR THAT FROM FOLKS THERE?

THEY'RE SUSPICIOUS OF OUR VOTER SYSTEM OR PEOPLE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HAWAI'I'S VOTING SYSTEM?

>> NOT NECESSARILY IN THE VOTING SYSTEM.

I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE USED TO MAILING IN THEIR BALLOTS NOW, BUT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL CANDIDATES THEMSELVES, THERE'S BEEN THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC YEAR, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HARD LINE, EITHER ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

>> Daryl: IT'S INTERESTING.

WE WERE TALKING EARLIER, MAUI MAYOR'S RACE IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MORE VIGOROUS RACES.

DESCRIBE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND HOW DO THE CANDIDATES FALL?

>> WE HAVE, I BELIEVE, SIX CANDIDATES WHO ACTUALLY FILED PAPER.

FOUR ADDITIONAL THAT HAVE NOT COMMITTED YET AS OF MONDAY.

THREE FRONT-RUNNERS ARE INCUMBENT MAYOR, MIKE VICTORINO, A LONG TIME COUNCILMEMBER, MAYOR.

AND WE HAVE RICK, A RECENTLY RETIRED JUDGE WHO GAVE UP HIS 200 PLUS THOUSAND DOLLAR A YEAR JOB TO RUN FOR MAYOR.

HE SAID THAT A LOT OF REASON FOR THAT IS HE'S LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE OF HIS THREE GRANDKIDS.

AND THEN ALSO MICHAEL MOLINA, LONG TIME COUNCILMEMBER, EDUCATOR, AND CURRENT COUNCILMEMBER.

HE GOT BACK IN AFTER A TERM LIMIT.

>> Daryl: WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE WANT TO RUN AGAINST MIKE VICTORINO?

>> I THINK JUST FOR THAT REASON.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DIVISION IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS.

THE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T WANT TO WEAR MASKS OR WERE IMPACTED BY THEIR BUSINESS, THEIR FAMILIES WHO SUFFERED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

JUST PEOPLE WHO WERE -- WHO HAD PERSONAL IMPACTS FROM THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE.

I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY WHO'S IN OFFICE RIGHT NOW HAS -- LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE THAT ARE FOR YOU OR AGAINST YOU.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE HAD TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS THESE PAST TWO YEARS.

>> Daryl: COLIN, HOW DO YOU SEE THAT PLAYING OUT, NOT JUST MAUI BUT ACROSS THE STATE.

THE PANDEMIC HANGOVER, I GUESS I'LL CALL IT.

>> WELL, YOU DO SEE SOME CANDIDATES KIND OF RUNNING A POPULAR STYLE CAMPAIGN.

GARY, WHO'S RUNNING FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR.

I THINK THAT'S A BIG PART OF HIS CAMPAIGN PLATFORM, BEING CRITICAL OF SOME OF THE COVID RESTRICTIONS.

I DON'T THINK YOU SEE THIS TO THE SAME SEEING ON THE U.S. MAINLAND, BUT I THINK THIS WILL BE PART OF B.J.

PENN'S CAMPAIGN.

HE HAD A VERY, I THINK, RELATIVELY HOSTILE CONFRONTATION DURING A BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING.

HE WAS CRITICAL OF D.O.E.

POLICIES WITH STUDENTS WEARING MASKS.

SO IT EXISTS HERE, BUT I DON'T THINK REALLY CAPTURES MORE THAN ABOUT 20% OF THE ELECTORATES.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DECISIVE IN THESE RACES.

BUT THERE CERTAINLY ARE CANDIDATES WHO ARE RUNNING BECAUSE OF THAT ANGER THAT THEY FELT OR THEY FEEL MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY FELT UNDER THOSE RESTRICTIONS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY HURT THE MAINSTREAM CANDIDATES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE FRONT-RUNNER OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, WHO RIGHT NOW IS UNDOUBTEDLY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JOSH GREEN, NOBODY'S MORE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STATE'S COVID RESPONSE THAN JOSH GREEN.

THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO REALLY HURT HIM.

THERE ARE FOLKS WHO OPPOSE JOSH GREEN, BUT HE'S BEEN POLLING EXTREMELY WELL.

AND SO THAT HASN'T TURNED INTO A LIABILITY FOR HIM IN THE WAY THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE CANDIDATES ON THE U.S. MAINLAND WHERE BECAUSE THEY WERE SO ASSOCIATED WITH THAT RESPONSE WITH MASKING, IT'S REALLY MADE THEIR CAMPAIGNS FOR ELECTIONS VERY DIFFICULT.

>> Daryl: CHAD, YOU READ IT THE SAME WAY?

IT'S A SMALL MINORITY AND IT REMAINS PRIMARILY A DEMOCRAT STATE OR DO YOU SEE SOMEONE LIKE B.J.

PENN GETS THROUGH TO A GOP NOMINATION, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IS A SLAM DUNK.

MY APOLOGIES TO HEIDI TSUNEYOSHI, BUT DO YOU SEE THERE ACTUALLY BEING CHANCE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO SEE SOMEBODY VIABLE THIS YEAR?

>> IT REALLY IS REMARKABLE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE POLLED PAPERS.

DEADLINE ISN'T UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY.

I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE.

THERE ARE SIX -- I WOULDN'T CALL IT HOUSEHOLD NAMES.

CERTAINLY, B.J.

PENN, HEIDI TSUNEYOSHI, GARY CORDERY IS GETTING UP THERE, AS WELL.

SIX REPUBLICANS VYING FOR THE PRIMARY GUBERNATORIAL RACE.

THAT IS REMARKABLE.

THERE IS A PALPABLE ANGER THAT IS CONTINUING OVER THE MASK MANDATES.

IF SOMETHING CHANGES IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THINGS ARE GOING UP, YOU WONDER WHETHER THAT MIGHT FACTOR INTO OUR CONCERN.

PUTTING A MASK ON AGAIN.

HAVING EVEN A LOCKDOWN.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT I WOULDN'T UNDERESTIMATE THAT ANGER THAT'S DRIVING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO AT LEAST POLL PAPERS AND MANY OF THEM TO FILE TO RUN FOR ELECTION.

>> Daryl: I'M GOING TO ASK SCOTT, ARE YOU SEEING A LOT MORE CANDIDATES OR IS IT THE FACT YOU HAVE MORE RACES THAN BEFORE?

>> SO THERE ARE 118 SEATS UP FOR ELECTION.

ALL 76 SEATS FOR LEGISLATIVE.

AS OF TODAY THERE WERE 248 FILED FOR OFFICE, WE HAVE TWO MORE DAYS TO GO, OR THREE MORE DAYS UNTIL THE DEADLINE ON TUESDAY.

>> Daryl: ONLY THREE MORE DAYS?

>> THREE LONG DAYS.

>> Daryl: FEELS LIKE IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE.

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING ON MAUI THAT'S INTERESTING?

>> WELL, THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A SHAKEUP IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE HAVE SENATOR KALANI ENGLISH WHO DEPARTED.

SO EVEN BEFORE THE ELECTIONS, THERE WAS A SHIFT IN SEATS IN POSITIONS.

SO PEOPLE ARE JUST GETTING USED TO THAT, AND NOW WE HAVE ROS BAKER, WHO'S RETIRING AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS IN OFFICE.

AND JUST A LOT OF SHIFTS GOING AROUND AND SPACES OPENING UP.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE THEM BEFORE.

>> Daryl: A LOT OF AMBITION OUT THERE TOO.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR CHANCES LIKE THIS.

>> YEAH.

>> Daryl: THIS IS A QUESTION FROM SOMEONE SAYING WHO IS BEHIND -- CHAD, WHY DON'T YOU TRY THIS OR JOSH.

WHO'S BEHIND NEGATIVE ADS BEHIND JOSH GREEN?

I'M A VOTER AND LOCAL PERSON, AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS.

BOTH OF YOU HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS.

CHAD, WHY DON'T YOU GO FIRST?

>> THANKS FOR THAT SOFTBALL QUESTION, DARYL.

>> Daryl: I'M GLAD I DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER.

>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE BRADDAHS' AD?

AND JOSH GREEN IS NOT A CERTIFIED PHYSICIAN AND SO FORTH?

>> Daryl: IT WAS FOLLOWED UP BY ANOTHER AD THAT RAN THIS WEEKEND.

QUESTIONED JOSH GREEN'S ETHICS.

HIS SALARY AS A DOCTOR AND SO ON.

IT FELT EARLY TO ME TO RECEIVE THESE KIND OF ADS.

WHAT'S YOUR READ AND WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> WHENEVER GROUPS ARE RUNNING THIS KIND OF STUFF, THEY KNOW THAT NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING STILL IN THIS DAY AND AGE CAN BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

COLIN'S RIGHT, JOSH GREEN, BY ALL INDICATIONS, HAS A VERY COMMANDING LEAD.

NOT ONLY WITH THE POLL NUMBERS, THE LATEST WE'VE SEEN ANYWAY, AS WELL AS THE MONEY AND UNION ENDORSEMENTS.

THIS IS WHAT YOU DO IF YOU'RE TRAILING.

YOU START ATTACKING.

WHO'S BEHIND THIS?

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE STILL LOOKING INTO, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN ACCUSATIONS THAT VICKY CAYETANO'S CAMPAIGN IS SOMEHOW TIED TO THAT.

VICKY REJECTED THAT.

SHE SAY'S I'M RUNNING ON MY OWN POSITIONS.

I THINK MORE INFORMATION WILL BE COMING OUT, BUT IT DOES TEND TO WORK.

COLIN, WOULD YOU AGREE NEGATIVE ADS STILL HAVE AN IMPACT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S LONG BEEN THIS MYTH THAT NEGATIVE ADS DON'T WORK IN HAWAI'I.

NOT ALL NEGATIVE ADS ARE CREATED EQUALLY.

SOME ARE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE THAN OTHERS.

I THINK THIS VICTORY CALLS PAC AD, I DON'T THINK IT'S A STRONG NEGATIVE AD, BUT IT IS A RELATIVELY EARLY ONE.

AND TO GET BACK TO THE CALLER'S QUESTION, I THINK WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET AT IS THIS ISSUE ABOUT COORDINATION.

MAYBE FOLKS DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES THIS PROBLEMATIC.

SO WE DON'T KNOW FULLY WHO'S BEHIND THESE, BUT U.S. ELECTION LAWS TENDS TO BE VERY PERMISSIVE.

THERE'S A LOT YOU CAN DO COMPARED TO MOST NATIONS.

BUT ONE RULE THAT'S VERY CLEAR, A CAMPAIGN CANNOT COORDINATE WITH AN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE GROUP.

SO THIS AD IS PAID FOR BY A PAC OR INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE GROUP.

THE RULE IS THEY CAN'T HAVE ANY CONNECTION WITH THE CAMPAIGN.

THEY CAN'T TALK TO THE CAMPAIGN, THEY CAN'T TAKE MONEY FROM THE CAMPAIGN.

IT HAS TO BE TOTALLY INDEPENDENT.

IF IT IS TOTALLY INDEPENDENT, THEY CAN SPEND AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY LIKE.

THE RULES FOR RAISING MONEY IS DIFFERENT.

BUT IT'S THIS BRIGHT LINE IN AMERICAN ELECTION LAW, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT TROUBLING.

I THINK THAT GETS AT THE CALLER'S QUESTION.

I'M SURE JOURNALISTS WILL KEEP INVESTIGATING THIS.

>> Daryl: SO YOU GOT TO KIND OF FEEL FOR VICKY CAYETANO.

ASSUMING WHAT SHE'S SAYING IS TRUE, THAT SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THESE ADS AND SHE CAN'T CONTROL THESE PEOPLE.

IT PUTS HER IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION.

SHE HAS A VERY OUTSPOKEN HUSBAND WHO SAID A FEW THINGS THAT HURT HER CAMPAIGN.

SHE'S A NEWCOMER TO POLITICS, AT LEAST AS A PERSONAL EXPERIMENTER.

YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS IS DIFFICULT FOR HER, ESPECIALLY STARTING OFF SO FAR BEHIND.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE RACE PLAYING OUT, CHAD, IN TERMS OF GOING FROM HERE?

>> THE GOVERNOR'S RACE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES?

I'VE NEVER SEEM ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS.

TO HAVE A PROMINENT CANDIDATE LIKE KIRK CALDWELL DROP OUT.

EVEN THOUGH IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION.

AND THEN TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO PROBABLY CAN SERVE IN CONGRESS FOR 30 YEARS OR MORE, DECIDING NO, COME BACK.

KAI KAHELE IN THIS CASE, RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

HAPPENING VERY CLOSE TO THE FILING DEADLINE.

IN THAT REGARD, IT'S VERY, VERY EXCITING.

I HATE TO SAY IT AT THIS VERY LATE DATE, MONEY IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND JOSH GREEN, I COUNTED TODAY, I THINK HE'S HAD OVER 30 FUNDRAISERS SINCE HE DECLARED HE WANTED TO BE GOVERNOR.

EVEN BEFORE HE DECLARED.

KAI KAHELE IS SAYING, PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR 5-DOLLAR DONATION, RIGHT.

BECAUSE HE'S NOT ACCEPTING PAC MONEY.

WE'LL SEE WHETHER IT WORK.

>> Daryl: WENDY, HOW IS THE GOVERNOR'S RACE PLAYING OUT IN MAUI?

YOU'VE GOT A BIG MAYOR'S RACE.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THERE?

>> I WAS GOING TO THE CANDIDATES, AND I BELIEVE THERE IS ONE CANDIDATE FROM MAUI, SELENA BLACKWALL, AN ALOHA AINA CANDIDATE, WHO FILED PAPERS FOR THE SEAT.

KAI KAHELE, HE'S VISITED THE ISLAND, AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN BEFORE HE COMMITTED TO IT.

THERE'S TALK ABOUT IT.

I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED AFTER THIS RECENT TERM, SO -- >> Daryl: IS THERE A REAL SENSE THAT THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS NEED A GOVERNOR THAT PAYS ATTENTION TO THEM?

IS THERE A SENSE THAT OAHU IS IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING?

>> OF COURSE, THERE'S ALWAYS THAT LITTLE BIT OF A, I'M FROM THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS AND WE WANT TO BE HEARD BECAUSE OAHU HAS SUCH A LARGE POPULATION, A VOICE.

>> Daryl: DOES THAT MEAN THAT A NEIGHBOR ISLAND CANDIDATE LIKE KAI KAHELE MIGHT HAVE A BETTER SHOT AND DOING WELL ON MAUI?

MAUI'S ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT.

>> I THINK PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION IF THEY'RE FROM THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS.

THEY GET A LITTLE BIT MORE SHINE.

>> Daryl: WHAT ARE -- PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT LINDA LINGLE.

>> I DON'T THINK SHE EVER WENT AWAY.

I THINK SHE'S ACTIVE IN THE BACKGROUND.

>> Daryl: SHE IS?

OKAY.

INTERESTING.

COLIN, YOUR TAKE ON WHERE WE'RE GOING.

IS KAI KAHELE, DO YOU SEE HIM AS A REALLY VIABLE CANDIDATE AT THIS STAGE?

GIVEN THE WAY HE'S CONDUCTED HIS CAMPAIGN AND SO FAR HIS LACK OF PRESENCE ON MAJOR MEDIA?

MY WIFE THE OTHER WAY SAID, OH, I FINALLY SAW A KAI KAHELE POSTER IN MAKAKILO.

>> HE'S GOT A REAL UPHILL BATTLE.

HE'S CERTAINLY A VIABLE CANDIDATE.

HE HAS TREMENDOUS NAME RECOGNITION.

BUT HE GOT A LOT OF BAD PRESS RELATIVELY RECENTLY.

AND HE WAS REALLY BEHIND IN THE MONEY RACE.

I MEAN, HE'S TRIED.

I THINK IT WAS A STRATEGIC MOVE TO TURN WHAT WAS A LIABILITY, NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY INTO AN ADVANTAGE BY SAYING HE'S NOT GOING TO TAKE OUTSIDE FUNDS.

AND HE'S RELYING ON PUBLIC MONEY, BUT THERE'S THRESHOLD HE HAS TO RELEASE.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR HIM.

I SUSPECT HE HASN'T EVEN BROKE 20% IF HE DID A POLL.

HE'S GOT A LOT OF GROUND TO MAKE UP.

AND, REALLY, THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT, FOR A STATEWIDE RACE LIKE GOVERNOR, YOU'VE GOT TO BE ON TV.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THAT'S TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT, BUT FOR A BIG STATEWIDE RACE, RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, YOU NEED TO HAVE BIG TV AD BUYS.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET YOUR NAME OUT THERE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT FULLY AWARE THAT HE IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

I SUSPECT SOME VOTERS ARE CONFUSED BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SO MANY CANDIDATES COMING IN AND LEAVING THIS RACE.

THEY'RE WONDERING WASN'T HE RUNNING FOR CONGRESS?

NOW HE'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

SO HE'S GOT TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO MAKE HIS MESSAGE CLEAR.

THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO HAVE A MONEY TO GET YOURSELF ON TELEVISION.

THAT REALLY, FOR A BIG RACE LIKE THIS, THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO DO.

VICKY CAYETANO, I THINK SHE STRUGGLED A LITTLE BIT.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF ADS FOR HER.

JOSH GREEN IS BEGINNING TO ROLL OUT THOSE ADS, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THOSE.

IT'S GOING TO BE HARDER TO CLOSE THE GAP.

LIKE WE SAID BEFORE, WE'RE AN ALL MAIL-IN STATE AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START VOTING IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS.

THAT'S NOT A LOT OF TIME TO MAKE UP.

>> Daryl: I'VE GOT A QUESTION FROM ANONYMOUS.

WHO HAS APPLIED FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1 FROM ALL PARTIES?

IS THIS IS TOUGH RACE FOR ED CASE?

CHAD?

>> WELL, GARY IS PROBABLY OUT THERE WATCHING NOW.

HE'S GOING TO TELL YOU HE HAS A CHANCE.

HE'S RAISING A LOT OF ATTENTION.

HE'S A FIRST TIME CANDIDATE FOR THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO KNOCK ED CASE OFF.

HE'S A VERY ESTABLISHED FIGURE.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN A FORGIVENESS FOR HIM SINCE HIS MISTAKE TO RUN AGAINST DAN AKAKA BACK IN 2006.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, HE'S SERVED BOTH THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

I THINK HE'S GOT A SOLID BACK, BUT I DO KNOW THAT PEOPLE THAT DON'T THINK ED CASE IS AS DEMOCRAT OR LIBERAL AS HE SHOULD BE AND ARE GUNNING TO TAKE HIM DOWN.

>> WENDY, IN CONGRESSIONAL 2, YOUR FOLKS' CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, IS THERE MUCH INTEREST THERE?

I'M WONDERING, JILL TOKUDA IS FROM OAHU.

SHE'S WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE MAIN CANDIDATE.

ARE THERE CANDIDATES YOU'RE AWARE OF FROM THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS?

>> I BELIEVE ANGUS McKELVEY POLLED PAPERS.

HE'S THE CURRENT REPRESENTATIVE FOR MAUI, BUT HE ENDED UP FILING FOR ROZ BAKER'S OLD SEAT.

WHAT WAS THE QUESTION AGAIN?

>> Daryl: I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, ARE THERE NEIGHBOR ISLAND FOLKS VYING FOR THAT SEAT?

HAVE YOU HEARD ANY?

PRETTY QUIET, ISN'T IT?

LET ME ASK COLIN.

WHY IS THERE NOT MUCH INTEREST IN THAT SEAT?

I'M SURPRISED YOU DON'T HAVE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE RUNNING FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TRY AND HOP FOR KAHELE'S SEAT?

THAT'S USUALLY A REAL MAGNET FOR AMBITIOUS POLITICIANS.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A TIMING ISSUE.

I WILL MENTION ONE OTHER CANDIDATE, PATRICK, WHO JUST GOT HIMSELF ELECTED TO HOUSE, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM KAILUA.

BUT HE'S GOING TO HAVE, I THINK, A REAL CHALLENGE GOING UP AGAINST JILL TOKUDA, WHO'S MUCH MORE WELL-KNOWN.

SO WHY WEREN'T MORE CANDIDATES?

THERE ARE TWO WHO CONSIDERED IT.

TWO MAINSTREAM CANDIDATES.

ANGUS McKELVEY, WHO WE JUST MENTIONED, AND JARED KEOHOKALOLE, THE SENATOR FROM THE ONE FROM THE WINDWARD SIDE.

THEY DECIDED IT WASN'T THEIR TIME.

THEY COULDN'T MOUNT A CHALLENGE AGAINST JILL TOKUDA.

AND I THINK THAT CALCULATION WENT INTO IT.

THERE WERE BETTER RACES FOR THEM.

KEOHOKALOLE DECIDED TO STAY IN THE SENATE.

McKELVEY DECIDED TO RUN FOR BAKER'S SEAT.

THERE WASN'T A LOT OF TIME TO THINK THROUGH THIS.

I GIVE JILL TOKUDA CREDIT FOR SEEING AN OPPORTUNITY AND SEIZING IT VERY QUICKLY.

GETTING OUT OF THE L.G.

'S RACE AND GETTING INTO THE CONGRESSIONAL 2 RACE BEFORE PEOPLE BEGAN TO ASSOCIATE HER WITH THAT L.G.

'S RACE.

IN A SIMILAR WAY, THAT'S HOW KAI KAHELE WON THAT BEFORE.

PEOPLE WEREN'T COMFORTABLE RUNNING AGAINST TULSI GABBARD.

HE GOT IN THERE EARLY, AND WHEN TULSI GABBARD DECIDED NOT TO RUN FOR REELECTION, HE ESTABLISHED HIMSELF FOR CANDIDATE FOR THAT RACE.

IN POLITICS, IT'S TIMING AND IT TAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF GUTS TO GET IN THERE QUICKLY AND ESTABLISH YOURSELF AS THE CANDIDATE TO BEAT.

>> Daryl: A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR SCOTT NAGO FROM THE VIEWERS.

FOR MR. NAGO, BARBARA FROM KAILUA WONDERING WHETHER THERE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE OF AN EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, DID YOUR DEPARTMENT GO BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE AND REQUEST FUNDS TO GET THE WORD OUT THIS TIME AROUND?

>> WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO VOTERS.

IT'S BEING CREATIVE AND FINDING A WAY TO MAKE SURE YOU GET THE BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.

WE USE SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE HAVE A VOTER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WE MONEY MONTHLY ON YouTube.

VARIOUS TOPICS ON VOTING AND WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO VOTE OR HOW TO GET READY TO VOTE.

WE DO RUN RADIO ADS.

WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF WAYS WE GET THE MEDIA OUT.

>> Daryl: YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY?

>> YOU COULD ALWAYS USE MORE MONEY.

THERE'S NO LIMIT TO HOW MUCH MONEY YOU CAN ASK FOR.

IT'S LIKE A CAMPAIGN.

>> Daryl: CHAD, LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION, DO YOU THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE GENERALLY DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE TOO EDUCATED ABOUT ELECTIONS?

THEY CONSIDER THAT A THREAT TO THEIR INCUMBENCIES?

>> I THINK THERE'S A REASON WHY THERE'S NO TERM LIMIT AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

YOU HAVE TERM LIMITS FOR COUNCILS AND MAYORS AND NOT FOR CONGRESS, BUT THERE'S A REASON WHY INCUMBENTS WIN GENERALLY 90% OF THE TIME.

IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO KNOCK OFF -- I GOT TO GIVE THEM CREDIT.

THEY FINALLY WENT TO MAIL-IN BALLOTING.

IT TOOK THEM FOREVER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

I SEE THEM WORKING MORE AND MORE.

THEY ARE GETTING SCOTT'S AGENCY A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY.

YOU THINK WITH THAT $2 BILLION PLUS, THERE WOULD BE MORE FOR YOU THERE.

THEY DID HELP WITH VOTING CENTERS, ALTHOUGH THAT'S COMING IN THE COUNTIES.

LET'S FACE IT, ONCE YOU GET IN OFFICE, PARTICULARLY IN THE LEGISLATURE, A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE THERE A VERY LONG TIME.

DARYL, LET ME JUST ADD, TOMMY WATERS STRONGLY INDICATED INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR CD2.

A COUPLE THINGS HAPPENED.

KAI KAHELE WAITED FOREVER TO MAKE HIS RACE OFFICIAL FOR GOVERNOR.

THAT HAD SOME PEOPLE SAYING, I CAN'T WAIT OR I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL YOU DECIDE.

THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES WITH UNIONS SPECIAL INTEREST PACS.

THAT'S THE REASON SOME PEOPLE ARE RUNNING AND OTHERS ARE NOT.

>> Daryl: ON THAT QUESTION ABOUT EDUCATING VOTERS, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DON'T SEE MUCH, CIVIL BEAT DOES A NICE JOB OF FEATURING ALMOST EVERY CANDIDATE, GIVING PEOPLE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GO.

MAUI NOW, YOU HAVE SERVICE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEARN ABOUT CANDIDATES.

MEDIA TRIES TO DO WHAT IT CAN.

BUT ONE QUESTION IS WHY THE GOVERNMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, DOESN'T HAVE A FLIER WITH THE CANDIDATES BIOS AND SO ON.

THAT WAS SOMETHING PART OF THE ELECTION DIVISION YEARS AGO.

AND ALONG THOSE LINES THIS BROADER QUESTION, WHEN WILL HAWAI'I IN ORDER TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD?

SEEMS CORPORATE BACKED CAMPAIGNS ARE SETTING THEIR SIGHTS ON PROGRESSIVE BODIES, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL.

DO YOU THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A WAY TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT AND POWER OF MONEY ON THESE CAMPAIGNS?

I KNOW THAT'S AN EDITORIAL QUESTION.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I'M QUALIFIED TO ANSWER THAT, BUT -- >> Daryl: LET ME PUT IT IN THE FRAME OF THAT.

MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL, THERE IS ON MAUI QUITE A DEVELOPMENT, ANTI-DEVELOPMENT SCHISM, AND THE COUNCIL HAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH ON THAT, RIGHT?

THERE HAVE BEEN BIG MONEY CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON MAUI COUNCIL IN THE PAST.

IS THAT HAPPENING THIS YEAR ON MAUI AGAIN?

>> I REALLY DON'T SEE A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES IN TERMS OF MONEY THIS YEAR.

IN THE MAYOR'S RACE, THERE ARE THREE FRONT-RUNNERS WITH THE BIGGEST COFFERS.

FOR THE COUNCIL, I THINK PEOPLE ARE -- THEY'RE CONSCIOUS OF HOW THEY SPEND THEIR FUNDS AND DON'T WANT TO SPEND UNNECESSARILY.

>> Daryl: MAUI, IS IT AT-LARGE?

EVERYONE VOTES FOR ALL COUNCILMEMBERS, BUT THE COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE TO COME FROM A SPECIFIC DISTRICT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Daryl: EVERY ISLAND IS DIFFERENT.

EVERY YEAR I TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT.

WHICH ISLAND IS AT-LARGE?

WHICH ONES ARE BY DISTRICT LIKE OAHU?

LET ME ASK COLIN MOORE.

IS THERE ANY PROGRESS TOWARDS LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD, AS THIS CALLER PUTS IT?

>> WELL, I MEAN I, GUESS IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU WANT TO TACKLE THAT.

WHEN PEOPLE TALK BIG MONEY, THEY'RE OFTEN TALK ABOUT SUPER PACS.

THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT WE CAN DO.

THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED INDEPENDENT PACS CAN RAISE AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY WANT AND SPEND AS YOU MUCH MONEY AS THEY WANT AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT COORDINATING WITH CAMPAIGN.

THERE ARE MUCH MORE STRICT RULES FOR ACTUAL CAMPAIGNS.

HOW MUCH MONEY THEY CAN RAISE FROM INDIVIDUALS.

HOW MUCH THEY CAN TAKE IN TERMS OF CONTRIBUTIONS.

RATHER THAN RESTRICTING MONEY, I'D LIKE TO SEE US LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD WITH PUBLIC FINANCING OF CAMPAIGNS.

MAKING THAT A LITTLE EASIER.

NOW, DO HAVE A SYSTEM OF PUBLIC FINANCING IN HAWAI'I.

ONE THAT MANY CANDIDATES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

THIS IS WHAT KAI KAHELE IS GOING TO TRY TO DO.

THERE'S A THRESHOLD.

YOU REACH THAT THRESHOLD AND THE STATE BEGINS TO MATCH YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ONE FOR ONE TO A CERTAIN POINT.

YOU HAVE TO AGREE TO A LIMIT ON HOW MUCH MONEY YOU SPEND.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT PROGRAM EXPANDED.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A WAY TO GET MORE CANDIDATES RUNNING TO CREATE MORE COMPETITIVE RACES.

THAT'S HOW I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS ADDRESSED RATHER THAN MUCH MORE DIFFERENT PROBLEM OF RESTRICTING CAMPAIGN GROUPS, HOW MUCH THEY CAN RAISE AND SPEND.

I WILL SAY, I WANT TO GET BACK TO A POINT THAT WAS RAISED EARLIER.

SOMEWHAT ON THIS ISSUE, THAT EVERY SEAT IS UP FOR ELECTION THIS YEAR.

ALL THE SENATE SEATS, ALL THE HOUSE SEATS.

BUT IF YOU LOOK, THERE AREN'T MANY COMPETITIVE RACES.

WE HAVE A FEW MORE DAYS FOR PEOPLE TO FILE.

BUT I COUNTED AND THIS IS SUBJECTIVE.

BUT HOW MANY COMPETITIVE RACES, WHETHER IN THE PRIMARY OR GENERAL IN THOSE DISTRICTS WHERE THERE MIGHT BE A -- A REPUBLICAN MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE.

I CAN COUNT FOUR TRULY COMPETITIVE SENATE RACES AND ABOUT 20 TRULY COMPETITIVE HOUSE RACES.

SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS MORE PUBLIC FINANCING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR GOOD CANDIDATES TO GET IN THERE AND CHALLENGE INCUMBENTS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT INCUMBENTS WHO HAVE TO FIGHT WITH A SEAT.

>> Daryl: I CAME UP WITH A SIMILAR EXERCISE TODAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIND A PATH OF LEAST RESISTENCE TO GET BACK TO THEIR SEATS.

THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION, AND I'LL LET CHAD CHEW ON THIS FIRST.

WILL WE SEE LEGISLATURE ELECTION RESULTS AFFECTED BY OR INCUMBENTS NOT RUN BECAUSE OF THE CESSPOOL BRIBERY SCANDAL?

THE SCANDAL IN WHICH SENATOR KALANI ENGLISH FROM EAST MAUI AND TAI CULLEN FROM MAKAKILO AND VILLAGE PARK GOT BASICALLY CAUGHT TAKING MONEY TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION.

I'M NOT HEARING MUCH ABOUT THAT.

CHAD, YOU THINK IT WILL HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON VOTERS?

>> THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH CORRUPTION IN HAWAI'I, HONOLULU.

LOUIS KEALOHA.

IN MANY WAYS, I THINK WE'RE A LITTLE BIT NUMB TO EVERYTHING.

WHILE I THOUGHT CORRUPTION WOULD BE A WINNING ISSUE, AND I CAN TELL YOU, BY THE WAY, THE REPUBLICANS THINK IT IS.

THEY BROUGHT IT UP IN THEIR CAMPAIGNS, BUT I DON'T SENSE IT'S RESONATING WITH PEOPLE VERY MUCH.

I THINK CRIME, I THINK COST OF LIVING, LOOK AT A GALLON OF GAS TODAY.

ANOTHER RECORD HIGH.

THE SITUATION GOING ON GLOBALLY.

A LOT OF OTHER THINGS PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT, LET ALONE COVID.

I HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH ABOUT TY CULLEN AND KALANI ENGLISH, AS TERRIBLE AS THOSE CRIMES WERE.

>> Daryl: WENDY, IT OCCURRED TO ME ON MAUI, WHAT WAS THE IMPACT ON THAT, ON POLITICS ON MAUI?

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OPINIONS WHEN IT INITIALLY FIRST CAME OUT.

WE'RE WAITING TO SEE THE WATER SETTLE AND TO SEE THE EXTENT OF HOW FAR OR HOW DEEP IT WENT.

AND IF THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED, THEY HAVEN'T REALLY INDICATED WHERE THOSE INVESTIGATIONS ARE GOING OR IF THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED.

>> Daryl: YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING WHEN WE HAVE THESE BIG INVESTIGATIONS.

HOW OFTEN THEY HANG OUT RIGHT UP UNTIL THE ELECTION.

COLIN, DO YOU SEE ANY 11TH HOUR SURPRISES COMING OUT OF THE CORPORATION INVESTIGATIONS?

>> I DON'T REALLY SEE 11TH HOUR SURPRISES, NO.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING YOU SAID.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN ACTIVE ON THIS.

HISTORICALLY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN HAWAI'I HAS BEEN STRONG ON ANTI-CORRUPTION, GOOD GOVERNANCE STUFF.

I'VE ALWAYS RESPECTED THEM FOR THEIR POSITIONS, BUT THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SHRINK THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

I'M NOT SURE, LOOKING FROM A COUNT EARLIER TODAY, DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYONE'S GOING TO RUN FROM KURT FEVELLA.

ONLY REPUBLICAN IN THE SENATE, HE'S SAFE GENE WARD IS NOT CHALLENGED.

HE'S SAFE, BUT OTHERS ARE VULNERABLE.

IT'S POSSIBLE WE COULD GO DOWN TO ONE REPUBLICAN IN THE SENATE AND ONE IN THE HOUSE.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY BAD.

IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOOD GOVERNANCE AND WANT TO FIGHT CORRUPTION, THAT'S SOMETHING A COMPETITIVE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM DOES.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LED TO THAT CORRUPTION SCANDALS, THE CULLEN, ENGLISH SCANDAL IS PEOPLE BEING TOO COMFORTABLE.

FEELING LIKE THERE ARE NOT GOING TO BE QUESTIONED OR INVESTIGATED BY AN OPPOSITION PARTY.

AT THIS POINT ONLY THE MEDIA DOES THIS WORK BECAUSE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF INCENTIVE TO LOOK INTO THESE THINGS FOR THEIR OWN MEMBERS.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A MORE COMPETITIVE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN HAWAI'I.

THAT WOULD BE ONE WAY TO FIGHT CORRUPTION AND LEAD TO MORE TRANSPARENCY.

>> Daryl: WE'LL TALK ABOUT A BUNCH OF DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES.

CHAD BLAIR, HANDICAP IN THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S RACE?

>> I WOULD JUST ADD THAT LAUREN MATSUMOTO IS PROBABLY SAYING, DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME.

I THINK COLIN IS RIGHT.

THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A REDUCTION.

BOB McDERMOTT IS LEAVING TO RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE.

VAL OKIMOTO IS RUNNING TO LEAVE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.

THAT'S A MINORITY.

IN TERMS OF THE L.G, RACE, WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT AT ALL.

THAT'S A COMPELLING RACE.

SYLVIA LUKE -- THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IKAIKA ANDERSON, SHERI MENOR McNAMARA.

KEITH AMEMIYA.

IT'S A PRETTY INTERESTING FIELD.

IT TOOK A LOT OF PEOPLE BY SURPRISE.

IT'S BEEN KIND OF QUIET.

NOT AS MUCH ATTENTION GIVEN TO THIS RACE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THEY TEND TO MOVE ON TO GOVERNORS.

LOOK AT JOSH GREEN.

VERY INTERESTING RACE.

SYLVIA LUKE SEEMS TO HAVE THE LION'S SHARE OF ENDORSEMENTS AND CAMPAIGN FUNDS.

IT ISN'T OVER YET, BUT THAT'S A RACE THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING CLOSELY.

>> Daryl: AND WE TALKED VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT OHA.

COLIN, IS THERE ANYTHING WE SHOULD BE WATCHING FOR THERE?

WHERE ELSE DO YOU SEE THERE BEING SOME GOOD FIGHTS?

HONOLULU CITY COUNTY?

>> OHA IS DIFFICULT TO PREDICT.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO RUN FOR OHA.

YOU'RE RUNNING FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE.

A LOT OF FAMILIAR NAMES.

MILILANI TRASK, SAM KING IS RUNNING AGAIN.

IN THE COUNCIL, WE HAVE FOUR COUNCIL SEATS IN HONOLULU THAT ARE UP, AND I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A FIGHT FOR HEIDI TSUNEYOSHI'S OLD DISTRICT.

THAT'S DISTRICT 2.

WE HAVE A BIG WAVE SURFER, MAKUA ROTHMAN RUNNING.

THAT'S A FUN RACE.

DISTRICT 4, BECKY GARDENER IS GOING TO RUN AGAINST TOMMY WATERS.

I SUSPECT TOMMY WATERS WILL PROBABLY WIN THAT.

HE DOES HAVE A LEGITIMATE CHALLENGE.

DISTRICT 6, TYLER DOS SANTOS TAM, WAS THE HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AGAINST IKAIKA HUSSEY.

TYLER PROBABLY HAS THE ADVANTAGE, BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO RUN AWAY WITH IT.

AND IN DISTRICT EIGHT, MAYBE THE MOST INTERESTING ONE, RON MENOR, WHO WAS ON THE COUNCIL, IS RUNNING TO SERVE ON COUNCIL.

AND VAL OKIMOTO, ONE OF THE FEW REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE HOUSE, LEFT TO RUN FOR THAT COUNCIL SEAT.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A BATTLE THERE.

I THINK THESE RACES HAVEN'T GOTTEN NEARLY AS MUCH ATTENTION.

THERE'VE BEEN WASHED OUT BECAUSE OF ATTENTION IN THE GOVERNOR AND LG'S RACE.

>> Daryl: SCOTT, I'VE GOT AN INTERESTING QUESTION ON FACEBOOK.

DO ANY THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES HAVE A SHOT THIS YEAR?

RATHER THAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY THAT REALLY HAVE A SHOT IN HAWAI'I.

THE DEMOCRATIC POWERHOUSE PRETTY MUCH OVERRIDES THE THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE.

HOW DOES A THIRD PARTY OR NONPARTISAN CANDIDATE GET FROM THE PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT TO GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT?

THE PARTIES GET TO CARRY THEIR CANDIDATES THROUGH, BUT NONPARTISANS, WHAT'S THE THRESHOLD THAT THEY HAVE TO HIT TO GET ON THE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT?

>> THE NONPARTISANS HAVE TO HIT A CERTAIN THRESHOLD.

IT'S NOT SIMPLY WINNING THE NONPARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTION WITH THE MOST VOTES.

YOU HAVE TO HIT A THRESHOLD TO MOVE ON TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

SO IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC THING.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE A PARTY THAT IS NOT A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, BUT YOU'RE A RECOGNIZED PARTY LIKE A LIBERTARIAN, THE GREEN PARTY OR ALOHA AINA, YOU MOVE DO MOVE DIRECTLY ON IF YOU WIN YOUR PRIMARY ELECTION.

>> Daryl: HOW DO THOSE PARTIES HOW DO THEY MAINTAIN THEIR STATUS AS PARTY?

DO THEY HAVE TO GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF VOTES OR CAN YOU BE A PARTY AND ALWAYS GET TO THE GENERAL ELECTION?

>> TO START A PARTY, YOU WOULD NEED TO GATHER SIGNATURES PRIOR TO FEBRUARY.

IT'S SET IN STATUTE.

HOW MUCH REGISTERED VOTERS YOU NEED.

ONCE YOU BECOME A ESTABLISHED PARTY, YOU NEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF VOTES TO MAINTAIN THAT STATUS FOR THE NEXT ELECTION.

>> Daryl: THERE'S A CHANCE THAT IF NO ONE PAYS ATTENTION TO THOSE PARTIES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, THEY CAN LOSE THEIR STAT US?

>> YES.

AND SHORTLY AFTER ELECTION, WE DID DISQUALIFY PARTIES THAT DID NOT MAKE IT.

THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO QUALIFY IS PETITION.

I DON'T KNOW THE AMOUNT OF TIMES, BUT IF YOU QUALIFY SO MANY TIMES, YOU ENTER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD WHERE YOU'RE ON THE BALLOT.

>> Daryl: REMEMBERING THE INDEPENDENCE FOR GOVERNMENT YEARS AGO.

THE NISHIKI'S, PRETTY MUCH A MAUI PARTY.

RICK REED WAS INVOLVED.

DO YOU SEE THIRD PARTIES ACTIVE ON MAUI?

>> I KNOW THAT THE GREEN PARTY HAS BEEN PRETTY ACTIVE.

THERE'S NICK, WHO'S RUNNING FOR DISTRICT 13 THIS YEAR.

HE'S BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE GREEN PARTY.

AND I THINK THEY'RE HOLDING THEIR CONVENTION SOON.

OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK IS SEE POPPING UP HERE AND THERE THE ALOHA AINA PARTY.

BUT MAJORITY OBVIOUSLY DEMOCRATS AND A FEW REPUBLICANS.

>> CHAD, A QUESTION FROM VIEWER, PLEASE EXTEND ON YOUR COMMENT ON SPECIAL INTEREST PACS.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID, BUT INGRID IS INTERESTED.

>> THERE ARE GROUPS NATIONALLY WITH LOTS OF MONEY.

GROUPS LIKE ONE EMILY'S LIST.

ONE EXAMPLE, VETERANS GROUPS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

WITH HOUSE AND SENATE UP FOR GRABS, I'M TALKING ABOUT U.S. HOUSE AND SENATE, THERE'S A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO LOSE BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, BASED ON THE NUMBERS.

SO THEN A SEAT IN HAWAI'I, A CD1 OR CD2, COUNTS VERY MUCH.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING A LOT OF ANNOUNCEMENTS SOON.

SOME OF THESE PACS WILL THROW A LOT OF MONEY THIS WAY TO MAKE SURE THEIR FAVORITE DEMOCRAT GETS ELECTED TO THE U.S. CONGRESS, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.

THERE'S ALSO LOCAL LABOR GROUPS VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON -- HOW SHALL WE SAY IT?

WHO THEIR FAVORITE CANDIDATES ARE FOR OFFICE.

>> Daryl: THAT'S WITHIN THE DEMOCRAT PARTY, PROGRESSIVE VERSUS CONSERVATIVE LINEUP.

ED CASE IS CONSIDERED MORE THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE.

BUT KAHELE WAS FAIRLY PROGRESSIVE.

SO THERE'S MONEY WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY GOING TOWARDS MORE PROGRESSIVE VERSUS LES PROGRESSIVE?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE GROUP.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE EMILY'S LIST, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE GOING TO ENDORSE A WOMAN WHO STRONGLY SUPPORTS ABORTION RIGHTS.

MY GUESS, JILL TOKUDA WILL BE PICKED THAT OVER PAT BRANCO.

MAYBE PAT BRANCO IS GOING TO APPEAL TO A MILITARY GROUP.

HE HAS AN INTERESTING BACKGROUND, I BELIEVE, IN FOREIGN SERVICE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S AS MUCH PAC MONEY FROM CONSERVATIVES SPENT HERE.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

IT ISN'T WORTH IT.

FOR DEMOCRATS TO LOSE A SEAT, THAT'S A CONCERN.

>> Daryl: COLIN MOORE, ALONG THOSE LINES OF PROGRESSIVE, MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, CONSERVATIVE, BUSINESS, NONPOLITICIAN, THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

COULD YOU QUICKLY TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT LANES THE DIFFERENT CANDIDATES ARE, SAY, IN THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S RACE.

WHAT LANES THEY'RE IN FOR THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN TERMS OF LABORING THEM AS BEST YOU CAN?

>> I'LL START WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

I THINK BOTH JOSH GREEN AND KAI KAHELE THINK OF THEMSELVES AS PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS.

KAHELE IS RUNNING MORE OF A POPULIST STYLE CAMPAIGN.

I DON'T REALLY SEE STRONG IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES.

VICKY IS RUNNING ON HER BUSINESS CREDENTIALS.

SO YOU HAVE SOMEONE IN THAT LANE.

SHE'S IDENTIFIED AS SOMEONE WHO CAN MAKE THINGS WORK BECAUSE OF HER BUSINESS EXPERIENCE.

FOR THE L.G.

'S RACE, YOU HAVE SHERI McNAMARA, FORMER HEAD OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

RUNNING AS A BUSINESS-ORIENTED DEMOCRAT WHO SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESS.

SHE SAYS THAT REPEATEDLY IN MOST INTERVIEWS.

THE OTHERS ARE A LITTLE HARDER TO CATEGORIZE.

SYLVIA LUKE, I THINK, SOMETIMES AS A PROGRESSIVE.

SHE'S MORE OF A TRADITIONAL LABOR DEMOCRAT.

KEITH AMEMIYA MAYBE THE MOST PROGRESSIVE OF THOSE CANDIDATES, BUT HARD TO TELL.

IKAIKA ANDERSON SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN.

ONE THING ABOUT HAWAI'I POLITICS IS, WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE STARK IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES IN A LOT OF OUR RACES.

THE ONE WHERE IT EXISTS, WHERE IT STANDS OUT, IT'S NOTABLE BECAUSE IT'S SO UNCOMMON AND THAT'S SCOTT SAIKI AND KIM COCO IWAMOTO.

THE HOUSE SPEAKER, WHO'S STILL GOING TO HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT CHALLENGE, WHO NEARLY LOST HIS SEAT LAST TIME FROM KIM COCO IWAMOTO, WHO IS CLEARLY RUNNING AT HIM FROM HIS LEFT.

THAT'S RELATIVELY DIFFERENT FROM MOST STATES.

>> Daryl: LET ME ASK WENDY, ON MAUI, DO YOU SEE A LOT OF PARTISAN DIVISION THERE OR WHAT DO YOU THINK -- YOU'RE FAMILIAR NOT JUST MAUI BUT ANYWHERE.

WHAT IS THIS THEY LOOK AT WHEN THEY DECIDE WHO TO VOTE FOR?

>> I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING MORE AT ISSUES.

OVERTOURISM WAS AN UMBRELLA ISSUE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

HOMELESSNESS.

THE REALIGNMENT OF THE HIGHWAY ON MAUI.

AXIS DEER.

PEOPLE ON MAUI ARE LOOKING AT THE ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING THEM.

>> Daryl: AND IS IT EASY TO TELL APART HOW THE CANDIDATES STAND?

ALL THOSE THINGS THEY OFFER TO FIX.

>> YEAH.

SOME STAND OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN OTHERS.

THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE THEIR PLATFORMS, BUT THAT'S REALLY WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.

PEOPLE TO MAKE CHANGES FOR THOSE PARTICULAR ISSUES.

>> Daryl: DO YOU THINK -- I'LL LET CHAD BLAIR IN 30 SECONDS SUM THIS UP.

WHAT DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOOK AT MOST WHEN THEY DECIDE WHO TO VOTE IN HAWAI'I?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, NAME RECOGNITION HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT, BUT I WILL SAY SOMETHING THAT I THINK SOMETIMES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND HERE'S WHERE KAI KAHELE HAS DIFFICULTY, A CHALLENGE HE HAS.

HE HAS STRUCK A SPARK, A NERVE IN THE STATE.

HE'S TAPPING INTO SOME DISCONTENT AND DESIRE FOR CHANGE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE CAN CARRY THAT TO VICTORY ON AUGUST 13, BUT PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY FOR PEOPLE THAT EXCITE THEM AND GIVE THEM SOME HOPE.

KAHELE HAS THAT MORE THAN VICKY CAYETANO AND JOSH GREEN.

>> Daryl: I GOT TO SAY I FEEL SOMETIMES LIKE HAWAI'I POLITICIANS ARE NOT THAT EXCITING.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT HAWAI'I POLITICIANS.

THAT'S MY EDITORIAL FOR TONIGHT.

MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS -- CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER, SCOTT NAGO, WENDY OSHER, NEWS DIRECTOR FOR MAUI NOW, AND JOINING US VIA ZOOM FROM HONOLULU CIVIL BEAT, CHAD BLAIR AND FROM THE U.H.

PUBLIC POLICY CENTER, COLIN MOORE.

INSIGHTS IS OFF NEXT WEEK, JOIN US THURSDAY, JUNE 16TH AS WE KICK OFF OUR COVERAGE OF ELECTION RACES WITH THE LEADING CANDIDATES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR HAWAI'I'S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

I'M DARYL HUFF FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I, ALOHA!