While he has yet to make it official, Kirk Caldwell is actively raising money to campaign to be governor of Hawaii.

He has scheduled a “Food, Friends, & Our Future” livestream event for Nov. 3, billed as “the first major event of Kirk’s run for governor.”

The notice for the fundraiser was emailed from FriendsOfKirkCaldwell2022@gmail.com.

Asked for comment Tuesday, Caldwell said, “I am preparing to run for governor. I have been on the neighbor islands putting together campaign organizations, putting the infrastructure together to run a statewide campaign. I am doing all the things that I think someone running for governor needs to do, but we have not set a formal announcement yet. We will make that when we are ready.”

There is also a website headlined “Kirk Caldwell for Governor,” paid for by 2021 Friends of Kirk Caldwell. While there was little posted on the site as of Tuesday morning, it did say this:

Lauren Wright, the contact for the fundraiser, works for Imanaka Asato, a law firm run by Mitchell Imanaka, who as recently as July was in charge of a Caldwell fundraiser for governor.

Caldwell, who served in the Hawaii House of Representatives and was mayor from 2013 to January, has not been shy about expressing interest in the governorship. He told Hawaii News Now shortly after completing his second and final term that he was “seriously” looking at a run.

But he has struggled to raise campaign cash, trailing Lt. Gov. Josh Green, who has all but declared his intention to run for governor. Former First Lady Vicky Cayetano declared her candidacy in late August.

Caldwell has struggled in the polls, too. A May 2021 Civil Beat survey found that he was far less admired than Green.

The fundraising event is a twofer: The Nov. 3 virtual event featuring Caldwell, “special guests” and entertainment; and a “gourmet meal” at “one of the islands’ finest restaurants” on a future date of the donors’ choosing.

The virtual event is asking for as much as $24,000 a table at the virtual event, “plus a very special dinner with wine for eight” at dining establishments such as Jade Dynasty and Roy’s.

The promotional flier, which shows Caldwell wearing a blue palaka print, includes a synopsis of Caldwell’s life and political experience that says this:

Cayetano held her first fundraiser on Oct. 14, while Green held his 10th fundraiser on Monday.

The Hawaii primary is Aug. 13.