And then there were three: The governor of Florida will join the former governor of South Carolina and a former U.S. president in the Hawaii Republican Presidential Caucus on March 12.
It’s a real possibility that the race could be over by then, as Donald Trump still holds massive polling leads over Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley and the few Republicans still in the running.
Trump is leading in both Iowa and New Hampshire, where — respectively — the first GOP presidential caucus will be held Jan. 15 and the GOP presidential primary is Jan. 23. Dozens of other primaries and caucuses follow, including Super Tuesday on March 5, when California and Texas are the major prizes.
Still, local Republicans have their hopes high for a decent turnout at the polls.
“We welcome all Republican presidential campaigns to Hawaii,” says Tamara McCaky, chair of the Hawaii GOP. “With the inclusion of Ron DeSantis, we anticipate a robust contest that will energize our base and attract even greater participation across the state.”
Pull up a chair: Ron Kouchi, president of the Hawaii State Senate, has new duties: He’s been named chair of the Senate President’s Forum, a nonpartisan, non-ideological, nonprofit educational organization of state senate leaders.
The gig rotates between Democrats and Republicans, and Kouchi takes over for Kentucky State Senate President Robert Stivers.
The forum, according to the state Senate, hosts three educational conferences each year “where legislative leaders meet to discuss and share their experiences in their positions, and gain insight from globally recognized experts.”
Kouchi says he’s hoping to have one of the conferences held in Hawaii: “We need to put a spotlight on Hawaii, including its innovations and challenges, and bring it to the forefront of national politics.”
Oscar contender? “Aikāne,” described as a “universal queer love story rooted in Native Hawaiian tradition,” could vie for best animated short at the Academy Awards next year.
The film, by Hawaii filmmakers Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson, qualified for consideration by winning the recent New Hampshire Film Festival jury award for best animated short.
“Aikāne” was made with the help of animator Daniel Sousa and filmmaker, kumu and Kanaka Maoli activist Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu.
Click here to watch “Aikāne,” which also was honored at the recent Hawaii International Film Festival.
The Oscar finalists should be announced in mid-December.
Listen to the music: The Blog was surprised to learn that the 1970s rockers the Doobie Brothers were still around.
In fact, just last week they released a new single — “Lahaina” — along with a music video to provide aid and support to Maui following the August wildfire disaster.
The single, reports Maui Now, features Mick Fleetwood, Jake Shimabukuro and Henry Kapono.
Proceeds will go to the People’s Fund of Maui, and the Doobie Brothers will donate $100,000 to the organization.
Guitarist and vocalist Pat Simmons, co-author of “Lahaina” with Michael McDonald, has called Maui home for 28 years.
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