The Projector: The Governor's Race and HECO's Renewable Power Play

In the Corner Jeff Davis, of the Libertarian Party, works the phone before taking part in a forum with three other gubernatorial candidates at UH West Oahu on Aug. 26. The Libertarian candidate has been vocal about the plight of homeless children, energy policy and ending "pay-to-play" politics.
Nice Tie State Sen. David Ige, who crushed Gov. Neil Abercrombie in the Democratic Party primary, gets playful with the Libertarian candidate before the forum. Ige readily acknowledges he isn't the most exciting candidate, but the dominance of his party in the state may give him a head start with many voters.
The Four Candidates The candidates share a moment of levity before drawing numbers to determine the order of opening and closing statements. They took questions on education, homelessness, housing, rail development, government waste and transparency, economic stimulation and digital media.
Please Let Me Introduce Myself In the first formal gathering of all four candidates, Aiona, Davis, Hannemann and Ige offered their views on Hawaii and how it should be lead. In a field without an incumbent and with three candidates who could easily end up in double figures, the Nov. 4 vote is surprisingly open.
Independents Getting in Sync Hannemann's wife Gail and the Independent Party candidate for lieutenant governor, Les Chang, check their smart phones before the start of the forum. Mufi Hannemann said he wants to transfer zoning power of the Hawaii Community Development Authority to the city so that it can facilitate the creation of more affordable housing.
Face in the Crowd State Sen. Mike Gabbard takes in the forum. Aiona, who was comfortable and confident in the debate, noted that electing him and his running mate Elwin Ahu would be a historic first — two Hawaiians in the state's top positions.
Podium on the Move City Information Affairs Specialist Adam LeFebvre wheels in a podium on Aug. 25 after a news conference by all of Hawaii's mayors at Honolulu Hale. They addressed the broader implications of a federal judge's decision to strike down a Kauai ordinance requiring biotech companies to disclose their use of GMOs and restricted pesticides.
Bike Power A backpack of a protestor of HECO solar power policies outside the company's Ward Ave. offices on Aug. 25. HECO filed new long-term energy plans with the state Public Utilities Commission on Aug. 26 that outline strategies for more clean energy, reducing consumer costs and improving solar integration into its grids.
A Flicker of Hope Highlights of HECO's plans, to be achieved by 2030, include at least 65 percent renewable energy, reducing electric bills by 20 percent and nearly tripling the amount of distributed solar power. But dozens of protestors, like the one who brought this LED candle to the evening protest, have deep doubts about the company.

What it means to support Civil Beat.

Supporting Civil Beat means you’re investing in a newsroom that can devote months to investigate corruption. It means we can cover vulnerable, overlooked communities because those stories matter. And, it means serve you. And only you.

Donate today and help sustain the kind of journalism Hawaiʻi cannot afford to lose.

Donate

About the Author

PF Bentley

PF Bentley is the former Chief Photographer for Civil Beat.

Use the RSS feed to subscribe to PF Bentley's posts today

Hawaiʻi News

Legislature 2025

Ideas

Special Projects

Newsletters

More

The Projector: The Governor’s Race and HECO’s Renewable Power Play

What it means to support Civil Beat.

About the Author

Mahalo!

Hawaiʻi News

Legislature 2025

Ideas

Special Projects

Newsletters

More

GET IN-DEPTH REPORTING ON HAWAII’S BIGGEST ISSUES

What it means to support Civil Beat.

About the Author

GET IN-DEPTH REPORTING ON HAWAII’S BIGGEST ISSUES

Sign up for our FREE morning newsletter

Mahalo!