It’s a busy local election season and there’s a lot to report. Here’s a few political tidbits that surfaced this past week, and a glance at what’s to come:

• The Garden Island has this story that begins, “State elections officials say they are looking into why contributions from two fundraisers for state House District 16 incumbent James ‘Jimmy’ Kunane Tokioka did not appear on recent campaign finance reports released earlier this month.”
• Gov. Neil Abercrombie held campaign fundraisers Monday ($500), Tuesday ($1,000-$2,000) and Friday ($500). His campaign has also scheduled a last chance fundraiser Wednesday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village ($250-$500).
• The last chance to see Abercrombie debate challenger David Ige is Tuesday in Kona: 10:30 a.m. at the King Kamehameha (AARP Hawaii) and 6:30 p.m. at Kealakehe High School (Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce).
• Clayton Hee, a Democrat running for lieutenant governor, and Elwin Ahu, a Republican running for LG, will face off at the same Kealakehe High forum at 5:30 p.m. Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui has declined all debate invitations.
• The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260 has endorsed Tsutsui.
• Despite the governor’s last-minute decision to not attend three other AARP Hawaii forums, Ige says he’ll carry out “his commitment to meet with kupuna and other citizens” in Hilo and Honolulu.
• Ige has scheduled a fundraiser Sunday ($500) while Duke Aiona, seeking the GOP nomination for governor, held his own fundraiser Monday ($300).
• Honolulu magazine has this fun little piece on the “political fashion” of Ige and Abercrombie.
• The Congressional Progressive Caucus has endorsed Mark Takai for the open seat in Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District. The same group previously endorsed Stanley Chang for the same seat.
• Veterans in Politics International has endorsed Republican Charles Djou for Congress.
• The Libertarian Party of Hawaii’s candidate for governor, Jeff Davis, wants Abercrombie and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell to declare a “state of emergency” regarding homeless encampments. Davis says, “I mean, erecting a porta-potty is not rocket science, so why the prohibition against them if in a dedicated public space and its use and maintenance paid for by private citizens?”
• Caldwell and Abercrombie riffed on wearing Google Glass earlier this week. PF “Paid Foto” Bentley is in the clip doing his thing (below).
• Kelii Akina says he is the only candidate running for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to reject the formation of an independent Hawaiian nation. Akina says U.S. citizenship is best for Hawaiians.
• The Hill has this item on how the U.S. Senate increasingly ends its voting week early Thursday afternoons so senators can fly back home. (Judging from his Twitter feed, it would seem to include Brian Schatz.) In this election year, the House of Representatives is said to be doing much the same.
• Schatz and his opponent Colleen Hanabusa are sending out more email blasts blasting their opponent. Hanabusa’s latest, from communications director Peter Boylan, regards the candidates’ positions on evacuating U.S. embassies. Schatz’s latest, from campaign manager Clay Schroers, regards countering “misinformation” from the rival camp.
• Hanabusa’s Twitter feed shows her retweeting a picture of a supporter who shared a photo (see below) suggesting that they voted for her. Earlier this week, Donna Mercado Kim’s campaign was criticized for encouraging the practice.
• Tulsi Gabbard, who faces no primary opponent, worked out with her bipartisan buds on The Today Show. Gabbard is also asking supporters to donate money to Gwen Graham and Kevin Strouse, who are running for the House in Florida and Pennsylvania.
• Mazie Hirono, who is not up for re-election, is asking supporters to donate money to Michelle Nunn, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate in Georgia.

Screen shot of Colleen Hanabusa’s Twitter feed, July 26, 2014.

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