Editor’s note: A previous version of this article understated the amount spent by state Sen. Clayton Hee, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor,  for TV ads airing July 14-20.

The primary election is around the corner and Hawaii candidates are spending big in hopes of making themselves more visible to voters.  Ad buys are increasing, especially for candidates running for the U.S. House District 1 seat.

• State Rep. Mark Takai, running for Congress in District 1, spent $64,955 on spots running July 14 to July 20. According to a Civil Beat poll in May, Takai was second only to Donna Mercado Kim in the crowded Democratic primary.

• Kim spent roughly two-thirds less than Takai during the same period, with $18,720 spread among 95 spots.

• Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang spent approximately $9,000 on 30 spots running from July 17 to July 21 and Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson, who bought ads for the first time, spent $19,445 on 75 spots running from July 14 to July 20.

• In the race for lieutenant governor, the incumbent, Shan Tsutsui, spent $70,755 on spots running July 14 to July 20.  His opponent, state Sen. Clayton Hee, continues to spend less, buying spots approximately 75 spots for a total of $52,275 for ads running July 14 to July 20. And Republican Warner Sutton purchased his first ad buys from July 14 to July 20, spending approximately $200 on 14 spots on KFVE.

• U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz continues to be the biggest spender overall, purchasing over $90,000 in ad buys on nearly 300 spots.

• His challenger for the Senate, U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, spent slightly over half of what Schatz spent, buying $50,700 worth of ads.

• The governor’s race continues to show a big difference in ad spending between Gov. Neil Abercrombie and former Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona.  Abercrombie spent a total of $67,225 on 261 spots running from July 16 to July 22 while Aiona spent just $6,415 of 20 spots running from July 14 to July 20. Of course, Abercrombie faces a strong challenge in the Democratic primary from state Sen. David Ige, who is still not buying TV spots.

Links to contracts:

ABERCROMBIE:

KITV Contract July 16 to July 22

KGMB Contract July 16 to July 22

KHNL Contract July 16 to July 22

KFVE Contract July 16 to July 22

KFVE Contract July 21 to July 27

KFVE Contract July 28 to Aug. 3

KFVE Contract Aug. 4 to Aug. 10

KHON Contract July 16 to July 22

EHON Contract July 16 to July 22

KHON Contract July 28 to Aug. 3

KHON Contract Aug. 4 to Aug. 10

AIONA:

KITV Contract July 7 to July 20

KGMB Contract July 14 to July 20

KHON Contract July 14 to July 20

ANDERSON:

KITV Contract July 14 to July 20

KITV Contract Aug. 4 to Aug. 9

KHON Contract July 14 to July 20

KHON Contract Aug. 4 to Aug. 10

Oceanic Time Warner Contract July 15 to July 18

CHANG:

KGMB Contract July 17 to July 21

KGMB Contract July 28 to Aug. 8

KHNL Contract July 17 to July 21

KHNL Contract July 28 to Aug. 8

KFVE Contract July 17 to July 21

KFVE Contract July 28 to Aug. 8

KHON Contract July 18 to July 20

KHON Contract July 28 to Aug. 3

KHON Contract Aug. 4 to Aug. 10

HANABUSA:

KGMB Contract July 14 to Aug. 8

KHNL Contract July 14 to Aug. 8

KHON Contract July 28 to Aug. 3

KHON Contract Aug. 4 to Aug. 10

Oceanic Time Warner Contract July 14 to July 20

Oceanic Time Warner Contract July 21 to July 27

HEE:

KGMB Contract July 14 to July 20

KGMB Contract July 17 to July 22

KGMB Contract July 17 to July 22

KHNL Contract July 21 to July 27

KFVE Contract July 21 to July 27

KHON Contract July 14 to July 27

KHON Contract July 21 to July 27

KHON Contract Aug. 4 to Aug. 10

KIM:

KITV Contract July 14 to July 20

KITV Contract Aug. 1 to Aug. 5

KITV Contract Aug. 6

KGMB Contract July 21 to July 27

KHNL Contract July 21 to July 27

KFVE Contract July 21 to July 27

KHON Contract July 21 to July 27

Oceanic Time Warner Contract July 14 to July 20

SCHATZ:

KITV Contract July 14 to July 20

KGMB Contract July 28 to Aug. 3

KHNL Contract July 28 to Aug. 3

KHON Contract July 28 to Aug. 3

KHON Contract Aug. 4 to Aug. 10

SUTTON:

KFVE Contract July 17 to July 27

TAKAI:

KITV Contract July 16 to July 22

KGMB Contract July 16 to July 22

KHNL Contract July 16 to July 22

KHON Contract July 16 to July 22

TSUTSUI:

KITV Contract July 21 to July 27

KITV Contract Aug. 4 to Aug. 9

KGMB Contract July 14 to July 20

KGMB Contract July 28 to Aug. 3

KHNL Contract July 14 to July 20

KHNL Contract July 21 to July 27

KHNL Contract July 28 to Aug. 3

KHNL Contract Aug. 4 to Aug. 9

KFVE Contract July 21 to July 27

KFVE Contract Aug. 4 to Aug. 9

KHON Contract July 21 to July 27

KHON Contract Aug. 4 to Aug. 9