In response to those who have reached out and asked about my thoughts on the latest Kahele campaign developments:

I agree, that losing the opportunity for public matching funds is not good news but my response…once I got past the disappointment…was to just double down.

Today my wife Claudette decided that she would match the donation of $100 I made about one month ago…and I’m reaching out to other friends encouraging them to also contribute $100 as her “match” and keep the “match” going.

Please at this particular point in time, today, give what you can – but no more than $100. And keep the conversation and the matching process going by reaching out to 3 of your friends!

We can do this. We have only a few hours before Kai will take the stage on PBS Air Date: Thursday, Jul 7, 2022, 7:30 PM – alongside his competitors. We need to show him now, with a flood of new online donations, before he steps up on that stage – that we’ve got his back.

Yes…he has an uphill battle but in my opinion, Kai Kahele is still by far the best choice to be Hawaii’s next governor.

The failure to file a form on time = the failure to qualify for key public benefits. How many times have we heard this story?

Congressman Kahele could easily have thrown someone under the bus for the error but he has accepted full responsibility. As a true leader should do.

Campaigns, especially low-budget people-powered campaigns, often are managed and run by volunteers who may not be familiar with all of the forms, and all of the boxes to be checked.

They do the best they can but sometimes the ball gets dropped. In this case, the dropped ball was a very large one. I’m sure there is no shortage of people feeling very awful about this and what role they may or may not have played.

The candidate is ultimately responsible for everything but must spend the vast majority of their time “on the streets” meeting people face-to-face. They must trust those helping them and delegate the day-to-day tasks of campaign administration.

A ball was dropped, responsibility was accepted – it’s time to move on and prove that we as a community can elect the leaders we want and deserve – without their big money, big favors, and the pay-to-play corruption too many see as “just the way things are done”.

Yes…I am all in for Kai Kahele and ask that you join me. Today. Now. Before he takes the stage on PBS tonight at 7:30 pm. Give online whatever you feel comfortable with. But no more than $100 – because Hawaiʻi is not for sale.

*If you have already not done so, you might find interesting my blog piece: Why I’m Supporting Kai Kahele Over Josh Green