Meet the candidates at Honolulu Community College

Mayoral candidate forum organized and hosted by HCC students comes just three days before important primary election

Honolulu Community College
Contact:
Brian Furuto, (808) 845-9187
Honolulu Community College
Posted: Sep 11, 2008

HONOLULU — Honolulu Community College‘s (HCC) student government, the Associated Students of the University of Hawaiʻi (ASUH), will hold a Honolulu Mayoral Candidate Forum on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 2:00 p.m. in the Norman Loui Conference Center located on the HCC campus. The forum, which will be held just three days prior to the critical primary election, is expected to draw a large campus crowd as well as residents and businesses in the surrounding Kalihi area. The top three Honolulu mayoral candidates - incumbent Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi and University of Hawaiʻi Professor Panos Prevedouros — have tentatively agreed to appear at the student-driven event.

The goal of the forum is to give students and the community a better understanding of each candidate‘s position on the issues that will impact Honolulu in the future. According to Joseph Lewis, HCC‘s ASUH President, "Many students are interested in the mass transit issue, but our concerns and questions run much deeper—housing costs, roads, taxes, education, and the future of Hawaiʻi are important to us and our families."

In addition, as part of its 2008 "Go Vote" campaign, HCC‘s Student Life and Development Office, Native Hawaiian Center, and ASUH Senate in coordination will present two other "Meet the Candidates" forums featuring candidates running in the Honolulu City Council and State Board of Education (BOE) races.

The "Go Vote" campaign seeks to educate students and the community on the elections process and the importance of exercising their Constitutional right to vote, as well as to provide opportunities for students to learn about relevant issues of importance for the 2008 election year along with candidate and issue forums.

HCC Student Life Director Emily Kukulies emphasized the importance of these types of events to engage students in the government process. "Civic education and civic duty are central to the role that higher education plays in society. These are values we strive to encourage in our students and the purpose behind the ʻGo Vote‘ campaign," she said.

"Besides being a great opportunity for students to become informed and involved in a democratic process, these forums touch on many of the things our professors try to instill in us in our classes—leadership, public speaking, democracy, history, philosophy and human services." says Lewis.

The "Meet the Candidates" forum schedule is as follows:

BOE "Meet the Candidates" Forum

Monday, Sept. 15

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., HCC Cafeteria


The forum will feature candidates running in both the Honolulu District and the At-Large races. Candidates confirmed to appear at the forum to date include Janis Akuna, Pauline Namuo, Robert Peters, Malcolm Kirkpatrick, Carol Mon Lee and Denise Matsumoto.

City Council District 7 "Meet the Candidates" Forum

Tuesday, Sept. 16

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., HCC Cafeteria


To date, Lillian Hong and Lynn Vasquez-Dela Cerna have confirmed their appearance.

Honolulu Mayoral "Meet the Candidates" Forum

Wednesday, Sept. 17

2:00 to 3:00 p.m., HCC Loui Conference Center


The top three candidates — incumbent Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi and University of Hawaiʻi Professor Panos Prevedouros — have tentatively confirmed their appearance.

An additional "Meet the Candidates" Forum will be held on Thursday, Sept. 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the HCC cafeteria to accommodate candidates who were unable to attend their respective forum. Other "Meet the Candidates" sessions may be offered throughout the duration of the "Go Vote" campaign, which runs until the November 4, 2008 General Election.

The forums are open to the public. Parking is limited.


ABOUT HONOLULU COMMUNITY COLLEGE

HCC is an open door, comprehensive community college that offers a broad range of liberal arts courses and 24 career and technical education programs. The college is an integral part of the University of Hawaiʻi System. Students have direct transfer to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, and the University of Hawaiʻi—West Oʻahu to complete their four-year baccalaureate degree. HCC offers one of the best educational values in the United States. Students enjoy high-quality education at very affordable tuition rates and receive instruction in small classes taught by well-credentialed faculty who are dedicated to excellence in teaching.

For more information, visit: http://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu