Maui County Council member Yuki Lei Sugimura is trying to unseat Mayor Richard Bissen in a closely watched race this election.

Longtime Sen. Michelle Kidani may be leaving office early amid concerns about whether she is mentally fit.

Federal actions cloud the revenue picture. Immigration, marijuana and energy issues also loom.

The party has pulled back its nomination of Inam Rahman of Waipahu as one of three choices to fill a legislative vacancy.

That’s one of several proposals the Charter Review Commission may put on the ballot next fall, along with increasing oversight of the County Council’s budget.

Political analysts say the move could deter potential challengers in the race.

The state Republican Party just elected its third chair in six months while several party officials have recently resigned over fights with leadership.

The state Elections Commission has gone off the rails. Lawmakers and others have some ideas for fixing it but it won’t be easy.

Two legislators strongly reject a proposal from the Hawaiʻi Elections Commission to return to same-day, in-person voting.


The state Elections Commission has asked the Legislature to revert to in-person, same-day voting. But experts say voting by mail is safe and popular.