Hawaii Island is part of the United States Second Congressional District, which includes all the neighbor islands and rural O’ahu. Six candidates are running to fill that seat, currently occupied by US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who is not running for re-election.
PBS Insights will feature all six candidates, tomorrow, Thursday, August 20, at 8 p.m. The candidates, in alphabetical order, as described by PBS:
–Joe Akana, who beat eight opponents in the Republican Primary, is a former U.S. Air Force intelligence analyst with advanced degrees and is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools.
-Non-partisan Ron Burrus grew up in Texas and also has lived and worked in California. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a certificate in sports management.
–John (Raghu) Giuffre, an author, is the nominee for the American Shopping Party, which he founded. He is a former Realtor, originally from Los Angeles, now living in Hilo.
–Jonathan Hoʻomanawanui, from the new Aloha ʻĀina Party, is a U.S. Army veteran and Chair of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Western Conference. He previously ran as a Republican for a State House seat on Kauaʻi.
-State Sen. Kai Kahele, who currently represents the greater Hilo area of Hawaiʻi Island, won out over three others for the Democratic Party nomination. A former UH Mānoa volleyball player, he is a pilot with the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard and also flies for Hawaiian Airlines.
–Michelle Tippens is the Libertarian Party candidate. The Texas native is a U.S. Army veteran and the founder of the Hawaii Veterans Cannabis Alliance.
Sen. Kahele was a guest on New West Broadcasting’s Island Conversations on Feb. 16, 2020, about his plans to run for the office. Click here for that discussion.
PBS Insights will be on Thursday, Aug. 20, 8 p.m. until 9 p.m., on Spectrum Channel 10, or online at pbshawaii.org, or on the PBS Hawaii Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pbshawaii. Questions may be called in to 1-800-238-4847 or submitted via email, even in advance, to insights@pbshawaii.org or through the Facebook page.
Photo below courtesy PBS Hawaii.
