Voters and candidates meet face-to-face at primary election forum

News admin July 18, 2026 0 Comments

Voters and candidates meet face-to-face at primary election forum

WAIMEA (HawaiiNewsNow) – Voters met face-to-face with candidates at a longstanding Primary Election Candidate Forum Thursday evening, on Hawaii Island.

About 100 attendees gathered at the Clarence T.C. Ching Gymnasium at the Parker School SMART Center to sit down with some of the people running for county council, state representative, and lieutenant governor.

The Waimea Community Association hosted the event, which was set up in a format similar to speed dating.

Candidates each sat at a different table, rotating regularly, while attendees stayed in place, giving the community a chance to sit down in a small setting to share their concerns and ask questions before casting their ballots next month.

“Democracy is strongest when conversations happen face-to-face,” said WCA President Nancy Carr Smith. “This format gives residents and candidates the chance to go beyond campaign messaging and have real conversations about the issues shaping our community.”

Volunteers from the League of Women Voters attended the event to help residents with voter registration updates.

The forum was free to attend and open to the public.

“With ballots arriving just days after the forum, there’s no better time for voters to hear directly from the people seeking to represent them,” Carr Smith said. “An informed community is a strong community.”