Although difficult to imagine, the 2016 Election will be over after Tuesday, Nov. 8. The U.S. Congress, our State Legislature and the County Councils will soon be back in session working on the issues debated and promises made during recent campaigns. All three levels government will be represented on this edition of INSIGHTS.

We all hear the reasons and excuses. But we’re in last place. CNN did a feature story on us and called Hawai‘i “The State That Doesn’t Vote.”   It hasn’t always been that way. In 1959, 93 percent of registered voters cast a ballot.

In nonpartisan Honolulu City Council District 7 (a sprawling and diverse area of Honolulu with Kalihi at its core), Councilmember Joey Manahan is seeking a second four-year term. His opponent, former state legislative aide Chace Shigemasa, has never held public office and strongly believes incumbents need to be challenged.

In State House District 22 (Waikiki-Ala Moana-Kaka‘ako), Democratic incumbent Rep. Tom Brower is seeking his sixth term and faces a challenge from Republican Kathryn Henski, a retired businesswoman. Brower is the lawmaker who suffered injuries in an assault last year at a Kaka‘ako homeless camp where he was videotaping.

Harry Kim, who previously served two terms as Hawai‘i County’s Mayor, will be returning to the seat, with a 51.6% outright win during last weekend’s Primary Election. Hawai‘i County’s Mayoral race was a crowded one, with 13 candidates vying for the office. Kim is scheduled to appear for this discussion.

INSIGHTS hosts live candidate discussions for two hotly contested neighbor island races:   –Kaua‘i State House District 14 incumbent Derek Kawakami has opted out of running for re-election, choosing instead to run for Kaua‘i County Council. Kaua‘i County managing director Nadine Nakamura and activist Fern Rosenstiel are vying for this seat.

INSIGHTS kicks off Election 2016 coverage with an overview discussion on key local races and the issues driving these races – including the messy Presidential contest, local elections for Mayor and your district’s state representative. Leaders from Hawai‘i’s Democratic and Republican parties, along with political analysts, take a look at what’s at stake.

Insights on PBS Hawai‘i will wrap up four months of weekly Election 2014 candidate discussions by asking political analysts: What Do the Results Mean for Hawai‘i’s Future? How will the choices made by Hawai‘i’s voters affect our state, our communities, and our lives? Daryl Huff moderates a discussion with:   Chad Blair, Civil Beat […]

INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI‘I is closing out its Election 2014 coverage with the contest for Maui Mayor and the three-way race to represent State Senate District 18.

A statewide initiative is asking voters whether public funds can be appropriated for the support of private preschools. On the next INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI‘I, hosted by Mahealani Richardson, representatives from each side of the statewide preschool initiative will present their respective points of views.