Civil Beat Events
2026 General Election Forums: Kauaʻi County Mayor and County Council
Join us on Friday, September 25 at Kauaʻi Performing Arts Center for Honolulu Civil Beat’s 2026 General Election Forums featuring Kauaʻi mayoral candidates Mel Rapozo and Bernard Carvalho and an exhibition forum of Kauaʻi County Council candidates.
The Kauaʻi County Mayoral Event will be from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will be moderated by Civil Beat Assistant Manager Editor Nathan Eagle. This free event will be recorded and sent to all those who register.
Submit your questions for the Kauaʻi County Mayoral candidates here.
The following confirmed Kauaʻi County Council candidates will be available for an informal exhibition style meet and greet from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Dane Smith
- John Scooby Mattos
- Todd Ozaki
- Taylor Shigemoto
- Addison Bulosan
- Billy DeCosta
- Mike Coots
- Paul Applegate
- Michelle Correa
- Umi Martin
- Cheree Rapozo
- Arryl Kaneshiro
- Keola Kaiminaauao
- Fern Anuenue Holland
Register here to attend in-person or to receive the free recording.
2026 General Election Forum: Congressional District 2
Join us on Wednesday, October 7, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for Honolulu Civil Beat’s 2026 General Election Forum featuring Congressional District 2 candidates Brenton Awa (R) and Jill Tokuda (D). 
The forum will be in-person as well as livestreamed free to the public and will include a live audience Q&A moderated by Civil Beat Politics Editor Chad Blair.
Submit your questions for the candidates here.
2026 General Election: Senate District 18
Join us online on Friday, October 9, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for Honolulu Civil Beat’s 2026 General Election Forum featuring Senate District 18 candidates Danielle Bass (D), Max Hanna (N), and Kelly Kitashima (R). 
The forum will be livestreamed free to the public and will include a live audience Q&A moderated by Civil Beat Politics Editor Chad Blair.
Submit your questions for the candidates here.
Register to attend the online forum here.
2026 General Election Forums
Our initial lineup of general election events is here! We will hold virtual candidate forums as well as a few in-person events for some districts. *Stay tuned for updates as we confirm additional forums throughout the state. 
Register today for your district’s candidate forums and remember to pre-submit your questions to our moderator. A link to join the online forums will be sent 24 hours prior to the event.
Mail-in ballots should arrive in your mailbox beginning October 16, so be sure to check out Civil Beat’s 2026 Election Guide that includes essential information, candidate positions, news stories and more. Get informed before you vote!
2026 General Election Forum: Maui County Mayor
Join us on Wednesday, September 23, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for Honolulu Civil Beat’s 2026 General Election Forum featuring Maui Mayor candidates Richard Bissen and Yuki Lei Kashiwa Sugimura. This event will directly follow the House District 14 Forum. 
The forum will be in-person moderated by Civil Beat Editor Nathan Eagle.
Submit your questions for the candidates here.
2026 General Election Forum: House District 14
Join us on Wednesday, September 23, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Lahaina Civic Center for Civil Beat’s 2026 General Election Forum featuring House District 14 candidates Pa’ele Kiakona (G), Sne Patel (D) and Elle Cochran (R). The Maui Mayoral Event will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The forum will be in-person and will include a live audience Q&A moderated by Civil Beat Editor Nathan Eagle.
Submit your questions for the candidates here.
Register to attend in-person or to receive the free recording.
Civil Cafe: Election Integrity in Hawaiʻi
Join us on Thursday, September 17 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at Punahou School for a roundtable discussion on election integrity in Hawaiʻi. Civil Beat Politics Editor Chad Blair will moderate a panel of leaders and community voices to discuss how elections are conducted in Hawaiʻi, including how security and transparency are maintained and what more can be done to strengthen the public’s trust in the state’s electoral process.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. where you may register, participate in interactive activities and enjoy complimentary snacks. The official event will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m.
If you can’t make it live, a free recording will be sent to everyone who registers.
Featured Speakers:
- Chad Blair (Moderator) – Politics Editor for Honolulu Civil Beat
- Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto – Hawaiʻi State House Representative for House District 25
- Senator Karl Rhoads – Hawaiʻi State Senator for Senate District 13
- Camron Hurt – State Director for Common Cause Hawaiʻi
- Colin Moore – University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization
The Davis Democracy Initiative aims to educate future generations who understand, respect, and defend the democratic values, culture, and institutions needed to secure our common future. DDI is made possible through the generosity of the Mark and Janie Davis Family Foundation.
Submit your questions to the panel here.
Register here for the in-person event or to receive the free recording.
2026 General Election Forum: House District 42
Join us online on Wednesday, September 16, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for Honolulu Civil Beat’s 2026 General Election Forum featuring House District 42 candidates Diamond Garcia (R) and Anthony Makana Paris (D). 
The forum will be livestreamed free to the public and will include a live audience Q&A moderated by Civil Beat Politics Editor Chad Blair.
Submit your questions for the candidates here.
2026 General Election Forum: House District 18
Join us online on Monday, September 14, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for Honolulu Civil Beat’s 2026 General Election Forum featuring House District 18 candidates Joe Gedeon (R) and James (Jamie) Wataru (D). 
The forum will be livestreamed free to the public and will include a live audience Q&A moderated by Civil Beat Politics Editor Chad Blair.
Submit your questions for the candidates here.
2026 General Election Forum: House District 39
Join us online on Friday, September 11, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for Honolulu Civil Beat’s 2026 General Election Forum featuring House District 39 candidates Daniel De Gracia (R) and Corey Rosenlee (D). 
The forum will be livestreamed free to the public and will include a live audience Q&A moderated by Civil Beat Politics Editor Chad Blair.
Submit your questions for the candidates here.
Civil Beat hosts numerous public and member-exclusive events every year, including monthly member coffees and pau hanas, Civil Cafe panel discussions, and an intimate speaker series known as Hawaii Storytellers. Through our events, Civil Beat looks to foster community discussions by providing a place where citizens can share their thoughts and debate important issues in a civil manner.
