MEDIA RELEASE

The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce and several community organizations are sponsoring pre-General Election candidate forums, and the next is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23 at Kealakehe High School cafeteria.

The candidates for U.S. Senate, former Gov. Linda Lingle and Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, have been invited.

Lingle accepted the invitation weeks before the Aug. 11 Primary. Hirono’s staff initially said they would consider the request after the Primary.

Although the team has not yet received a formal reply from Hirono, they will continue with the event as planned. If Hirono is able to attend, there will be a seat at the table for her. If Lingle is the only attendee, the moderator, Sherry Bracken of LAVA 105 and Hawaii Public Radio, will still pose questions and the event will be a talk story with which candidates take part.

As this race for U.S. Senate is considered a key race by political observers, the sponsors want to make sure the community has a chance to learn about the candidates and that the candidates hear what issues are important to Hawaii Island residents.

Attendees are invited to bring questions to the event, or submit them now to sherryb@lava105.com, or via fax to 769-5050 or via telephone to 329-1758.

The event runs 2-3:30 p.m. and be carried live on LAVA 105.3 fm radio. Unlike the other candidate forums, there will be no food sales preceding the event.

The sponsors include Kohala Coast Resort Association, Hawaii Island Board of Realtors, West Hawaii Today, hawaii247.com, Mahalo Broadcasting/LAVA 105 radio, Rotary of Kona, and Kealakehe High School.

Volunteer support has been provided by the Boy Scouts and Interact Club in helping with setup and cleanup of the cafeteria.