We’re having a party: Every election year, the Democratic Party of Hawaii sends a survey to its candidates asking them if they support the party platform.

The default answer is “yes.” Most candidates don’t take a lot of time on this survey, even though there are 24 questions asking for views on specific points within the platform.

“Yes.” “Yes.” “Yes.” And so on.

Then there’s question No. 9, asking if they support and will push to enact full public funding of candidate campaigns. This is one of the key reform proposals to even the electoral playing field that never manages to gain passage at the Legislature.

The Sunshine Blog was pleased to see that eight of the 11 incumbent Democratic state senators on the primary ballot responded to the party survey (that’s six more than answered the Civil Beat Q&As). Six said, ahem, “yes.” Two others said, “yes, but …” before transitioning to “maybe” as they explained themselves.

As for the 40 Democratic incumbents in the House who are on the ballot, 14 said “yes,” nine said “maybe,” four said “no,” and 13 didn’t respond.

While some incumbents followed up on why they in essence said “maybe,” a couple clearly took umbrage at being asked the question.

“I do not believe that this survey is the appropriate venue for the committee to lobby for specific portions of the Platform over others,” said one representative.

“I’m honestly confused as to why this is part of the Democratic platform, as the most immediate effect would be to shower Republican candidates with money,” said another.

In addition to the platform, the Democrats adopt resolutions at their state convention each election year, but this year’s resolutions were not as heavy on reform as they were in 2022. Gone are these proposals, which The Blog especially liked:

• Apply the Sunshine Law to the Legislature.
• No campaign contributions during sessions.
• No leadership positions for legislators who, within the preceding six months, were hired as private-practice attorneys who would be bound by attorney-client privilege to not reveal the relationships even if a conflict of interest developed.

The Republican Party of Hawaii, by the way, also adopted a platform this year, but it’s devoid of state government reform proposals.

Which is strange because in the Civil Beat Q&As, Republican candidates were generally big on reform.

After all, what have they got to lose?

Back to the future?: The Hawaii County Democratic Party has selected three possible replacements for state Rep. Mark Nakashima, who passed away last month.

The candidates are Matthias Kusch, a retired battalion chief with the Hawaii Fire Department who also serves as District 1 chair; Kristen Alice Apruzzese, the director of community relations at Hope Services Hawaii; and Dwight Takamine, a retired attorney who served in the Legislature for 26 years before heading the state’s Department of Labor.

The Sunshine Blog hears the buzz in Hilo is that Takamine is favored for the District 1 seat that represents Hamakua, parts of Hilo and Kaumana. So much for term limits; it’s his old seat, after all.

But the decision is up to Gov. Josh Green, who by law has until Sept. 11 to name the new rep.

Because Nakashima was unopposed in both the Aug. 10 primary and the Nov. 5 general election, his replacement will serve only until Nov. 5. Green then will then have to choose from a list of three.

And for those who are keeping track — including The Blog — this will be Green’s seventh legislative appointment in less than three years.

Copping a plea: Speaking of the Big Island, mayoral candidate Kimo Alameda last week issued a statement correcting a recent radio advertisement that incorrectly stated “the Hawaii County Police Department endorsed Dr. Kimo Alameda.”

In fact, Alameda is backed by the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, the union representing Hawaii County cops as well as officers in the other three counties.

“I sincerely apologize for the error in our radio advertisement,” he said.

Alameda is in one of the most closely watched races in Hawaii’s primary this year. He is taking on the incumbent, Mitch Roth.

Five other candidates are also in the race as well, and if no one gets 50% of the vote plus one, there’ll be a runoff in November. And more radio ads, no doubt.