Delegates and alternates were elected at the March 6, 2024 Biennial Elections and vacancies will be filled at district council meetings on or about april 2. To learn more about how to become a delegate, contact your district chair.

There is a $50 registration fee for the APril 27 Convention that must be pre-paid - no walk in registration.

Each District has the opportunity to award full scholarships to 2 District members. Please reach out to your district chair.

REGISTRATION Now Open!

Delegates and alternates were elected at the March 6 Biennial Elections but there are still vacancies in many districts. Vacancies will be filled at district council meetings on or about April 2, 2024.

For information, contact your district chair or email county chair ponokekela@gmail.com.

convention work will focus on Two committees updating our Platform and adopting Resolutions. we also look forward to hearing from federal, state and county elected leaders, meeting/spending time with Democratic candidates seeking office in the coming elections, and celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the Hawai’i Democratic Party revolution in 1954 and our deep ties to and support of labor!

to join a Convention Committee after being elected a County Convention Delegate, please email the committee chair before noon sunday, march 24, 2024:

• Resolutions: Malama Solomon (malama_solomon@yahoo.com)

• Platform: shannon matson (shann.matson@gmail.com)

Calendar of Important Dates Leading Up To

The 2024 Hawai’i County Pre-Convention & Convention:

Sun., March 24, 2024 – noon – Deadline for 2024  County Convention Delegates to request joining either the HI County Resolutions or Platform Committee by email to the chair.  `

Mon., March 25, 2024 – Registration Opens for Hawai’i County Convention – preferably completed online using ActBlue for electronic payment of $50 Registration Fee.  Or may mail check to:  Hawai’i County Democrats, P.O. Box 5282, Hilo, HI 96720.  

Deadline for $50 Registration is midnight, Tuesday, April 16, 2024.  Thereafter, an additional $25 late registration fee applies.  Final deadline to register:  Midnight, Mon., April 22, 2024.  No walk-in registration.  

Each District Council may award two Convention scholarships – please request by emailing your District Chair.  (District Chair contact information: www.HawaiiCountyDemocrats.net/contacts) Scholarships cover breakfast and lunch cost at the County Convention. 

Mon., March 25, 2024 – noon - Deadline for Committee Chairs to inform County Chair, Secretary and Convention Chair of committee memberships.

Tues., March 26, 2024 – midnight – Deadline for Committee Chairs to inform committee members of meeting schedule prior to the Pre-Convention.  Must hold at least one committee meeting before Pre-Convention – in person, hybrid or via Zoom. 

Tues., April 2, 2024 (on or about this date) – District Meetings – In Person, Hybrid or Zoom to fill vacancies and address challenges. 

Tues., April 2, 2024 – midnight – Deadline to submit proposals to the appropriate Committee Chair.   Convention Committee Chairs may ask proposers to revise proposals – informing them of issues/concerns and/or suggesting revisions.  Proposers must return revised one-page document to Committee Chair by Noon, Tues., April 9. SEE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS AND TEMPLATE FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS BELOW.

Email draft resolution and/or revision/additions to:

Resolutions: Chair Malama Solomon; Vice Chair Patti Cook

• Malama_Solomon@yahoo.com

• cookshi@aol.com

Platform: Chair Shannon Matson; Vice Chair Corinna Nguyen

• Shann.Matson@gmail.com

• Corinna.nguyen@ilwulocal142.org  

Tues., April 9, 2024 – noon - Deadline to re-submit revised proposals to the Committee Chair.

Wed., April 10, 2024 – midnight – Deadline for Committee Chairs to submit Report to County Chair and Secretary.

Thurs., April 11, 2024 – midnight – Deadline for County Secretary to share out Reports with all Convention Delegates and Alternates for consideration at the Saturday, April 13, 2024 Pre-Convention. 

Saturday, April 13, 2024 – HI County Pre-Convention – Waimea Elementary School Cafeteria.  (Best to park on campus adjacent to the cafeteria, not by library.) 

Doors open 8:15AM.  Meeting begins at 9:30AM.  All HCC members may attend but only registered Convention Delegates may vote.  bring water/flask, lunch, printed documents as needed and/or device. (wifi not guaranteed.) Potluck donations welcome for breakfast/snacks.

Saturday, April 27, 2024 – HI County Convention – Kealakehe Intermediate School Cafeteria.  Doors open at 8:15AM.  Meeting begins at 9:30AM.  $50 Registration before midnight Tuesday, April 16. Additional $25 for late registration until midnight, Monday, April 22.  This is deadline for Registration;  No walk-in registration.  Covers morning beverages, light breakfast and lunch.  Bring water/flask and printed documents as needed/or device.  Wifi not guaranteed.

Rules Re: Registration-Participation Dates and Procedures including Proposal Submissions to Resolutions and Platform Committees

Click here to review Rules.

Please Join Us! 2024 Is A Very Important Election Year!

Will elect District Council officers and directors and County and State Convention DelegateS. CONCURRENTLY, we will HOLD THE PARTY-RUN PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY!

EVERY District Council around the entire state will meet at the same time in their own district for THESE Elections,

The Democratic Party of Hawai‘i invites you to join us. iNDIVIDUALS MUST BE ENROLLED PARTY MEMBERS TO VOTE - BUT RESIDENTS MAY WALK IN, REGISTER TO VOTE ONLINE, ENROLL IN THE PARTY ONLINE AND VOTE!

District Locations:

01 Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School cafeteria                               

   35-2065 Old Mamalahoa Hwy,

     Laupāhoehoe, HI 96764

​02 ILWU Hilo Union Hall                              

     100 West Lanikaula Street, Hilo, HI 96820

​03 Kea‘au Community Center             

     16-186 Pili Mua St, Kea‘au, HI 96749

​04 Hawai‘i Academy of Arts and Science           

     15-1397 Homestead Road, Pahoa, HI 96778

​05 Keaau Community Center

     16-186 Pili Mua St, Kea‘au, HI 96749

​HD 5 Satellite - Ocean View Community Center 

     92-8924 Leilani Circle, Ocean View, HI 96737

​HD 5 Satellite -  Rodney Yano Memorial Hall

     82-6145 Mamalahoa Highway, 

     Captain Cook, HI 96704

​06 Kona Outdoor Circle Education Center 

     76-6280 Kuakini Highway,

     Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

​07 West Hawai‘i Civic Center Bldg G

     74-5044 And Keohokalole Highway

     Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

​08 Waimea Elementary School Cafeteria

     67-1225 Mamalahoa Highway

     Kamuela, HI 96743

All District 8 Members Invited.

For the agenda and details, email Vice Chair: MakaiFreitas.dph@gmail.com.

February 16, 2024 (Update on previously posted meeting notice:

Aloha Kakou,

Hawai’i County Democrats District 5 (Portions of Kea‘au and Kurtistown, Mountain View, Glenwood, Fern Forest, Volcano, Pāhala, Punalu‘u, Nā‘ālehu, Wai‘ōhinu, Hawaiian Ocean View and Ho‘okena) will meet virtually at 2PM, Sun., Feb. 18, 2024 to prepare for the very important in-person-only meeting from 6-8PM Wed., March 6, 2024 in 3 D5 locations to conduct the Hawai’i Democratic Party’s Primary Presidential Primary (PPP) and Biennial District Elections. 

All D5 party members are invited to the Feb. 18 virtual meeting and if interested, please email Gretchen12447@hotmail.com for the zoom link.  Must be a party member or enroll please, which can be done quickly online.  Must be registered to vote in Hawai’i County D5. (Email Gretchen if assistance needed w/ voter registration or party enrollment.)

Regarding the PPP: there are currently five candidates that have registered to run for US President in Hawai’i. 

After voting in the PPP on March 6, D5 members will conduct District Council and County and State Convention delegate elections. 

The Feb. 18 meeting is an “all hands on deck” call out since we will need the current District 5 Council Members  to declare their candidacy or make a determined effort to find a replacement candidate. We will also need the help of the current Council to run the PPP and Biennial Election of the District Council.

Also participating in the virtual meeting will be D5 member Diana Van de Car, a long time Party Activist, who will provide a brief overview of her get-out-the-vote efforts for the 2024 Presidential Election and current legislative advocacy for a Hawai’i Constitutional Amendment re: LGBTQIA+ rights. 

Questions?  Please call or email. 

Please share this with family, friends, neighbors, and your D5 network.  Individuals can register to vote and/or update voter registration, and/or enroll in the Democratic Party online and participate in both Sunday’s meeting and the March 6 PPP and Biennial Elections.  This is a very important election year – your voice is needed and welcome! 

MAHALO! 

Lester Michael Klungness, District 5 Chair

Hm 808-968-6789

iPh 808-895-3075

email klungnesm001@hawaii.rr.com

The State Party is holding briefings - the final two for Council officers and members (must pre-register) will be: :

Wednesday, February 21 @ 6PM - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqcOGgrTkpE9YNhPHIxJTKJDVgDpbaQsa

THURSDAY, February 29 @ 6PM - https://us06web.zoom.us/.../tZIof-uurzIpEtQVRLlT5WTv9pOeA...

If you are unable to ATTEND one of these briefings, THE STATE PARTY HAS recorded the first briefing and you can find it here along with your House District location: https://www.hawaiidemocrats.org/2024biennialelection

All Dist. 8 Party Members invited though only elected Council members may vote. Agenda to focus on preparing for the 2024 Legislature and important Biennial District Elections and (very likely) the Party-Run Presidential Preference Primary on Wed., March 6, 2024, 6-8PM.

An agenda will be shared out prior to meeting.

Questions: Email Chair Malama_Solomon@yahoo.com.

District 8’s Biennial Elections and (very likely) the ppp will be held at Waimea Elementary School Cafeteria, 6-8 pm. Please join us!

ALOHA,

WE WILL BE HOLDING OUR HCC MEETING NEXT SUNDAY, January 28, 2024, FROM 2:00PM TO 4:00PM AT THE West Hawaii Civic Center Meeting Room (Building G) AT 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy IN Kona. THIS WILL BE OUR First REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING FOR 2024.

THIS WILL BE AN IN-PERSON MEETING, BUT THERE IS A ZOOM OPTION FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO Kona.

AS YOU KNOW, ALL HAWAI’I COUNTY PARTY MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND HCC MEETINGS – THEY JUST CANNOT VOTE.  AS ALWAYS,  IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE INTERESTED IN GETTING MORE INVOLVED IN THE PARTY, PLEASE INVITE THEM BUT PLEASE, IF POSSIBLE, LET ME and PATTI COOK KNOW TO BETTER MANAGE THE MEETING. 

Meeting Information and Documents Can be Found Here.

PLEASE EMAIL ME (GRETCHENHK@HAWAII.RR.COM) FOR ATTACHMENTS AND ZOOM INFORMATION IF NEEDED.

AS ALWAYS, ATTENDANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WE PREPARE FOR ALL THE EVENTS OF 2024, INCLUDING BIENNIAL DISTRICT MEETINGS, COUNTY AND STATE CONVENTIONS, AND THE PARTY-RUN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY. This Sunday we will be voting for an Interim County Party Chair and Reviewing aN updated version of our County Bylaws. PLEASE LET Me and PATTI COOK KNOW IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING AND LET US KNOW WHO YOU ARE NAMING AS YOUR PROXY, SO THAT WE CAN BE SURE TO HAVE A QUORUM. KEEP IN MIND THAT the CHAIR CANNOT BE NAMED AS A PROXY. 

PLEASE RSVP BY EMAIL BY FRIDAY, 1/26/24 IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND SO WE KNOW HOW MANY TO SET UP FOR. WE ASK THAT YOU BRING A PRINTED COPY OF THE AGENDA and related documents (especially ramseyer version of proposed revised bylaws), AND  DRINKING WATER FOR YOURSELF. AS ALWAYS, SNACKS TO SHARE ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. 

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL, IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY, NEXT SUNDAY, 1/28/24 AT 2PM AT THE West Hawaii Civic Center Meeting Room (Building G).

GRETCHEN H. KLUNGNESS

HCC SECRETARY

Chaired by Pono Kekela. All county party members are welcome to assist with planning both the Pre-Convention meeting on Sat., April 13, 2024 at Waimea Elementary School Cafeteria, and the County Convention on Sat, April 27, 2024 at Kealakehe Intermediate School Cafeteria.

Info: michael.k.kekela@gmail.com

A fun fundraiser with friends - set to the music of “bODY & SOUL”

A fundraiser for the Hawai’i County Committee - presented by Districts 3-4-5.

here’s a sampling of the tempting silent auction items!

For Questions or to arrange Silent Auction Donations: viviansuet@hotmail.com

Happy New Year!   Gary Saito asked that we share out this meeting invitation.  All HI County party members are invited to participate - feel free to share with others you think may be interested.  

If interested in participating, party members should email Gary at: leoleo1.gs@gmail.com.

Chaired by Pono Kekela. All county party members are welcome to assist with planning both the Pre-Convention meeting on Sat., April 13, 2024 at Waimea Elementary School Cafeteria, and the County Convention on Sat, April 27, 2024 at Kealakehe Intermediate School Cafeteria.

Info: michael.k.kekela@gmail.com

All Dist. 8 Party Members invited though only elected Council members may vote. Agenda to focus on preparing for the 2024 Legislature and busy election year ahead.

An agenda will be shared out prior to meeting.

Questions: Email Chair Malama_Solomon@yahoo.com.

All HCC Party Members welcome. For zoom link, email BarbaraDalton27@icloud.com

Must pre-register to participate:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEucemurzsqGdO_--U071ybHN7dHX8zrzmg

Aloha,

As you may remember, we will be holding our HCC meeting next Sunday, November 19, 2023, from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at the ILWU Local 142 Hawai’i Division – Harry Kamoku Hall at 100 W. Lanikaula Street in Hilo. This will be our last regularly scheduled meeting for 2023.

This will be an in-person meeting, but there is a Zoom option for those of you who are unable to travel to Hilo.

As you know, all Hawai’i County party members are welcome to attend HCC meetings – they just cannot vote.  As always,  if you know of someone interested in getting more involved in the party, please invite them but please, if possible, let me, Patti Cook and James Hustace know to better manage the meeting. 

Click here for agenda:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wk5DB0T2u0km47UYI-a7_1yySCEgAKPQ/view?usp=drive_link

Please email me (Gretchenhk@hawaii.rr.com) for attachments and zoom information if needed.

As always, attendance is very important as we prepare for all the events of 2024, including Biennial District meetings, County and State conventions, and the Party-Run Presidential Primary.   Please let me, Patti Cook and Chair James Hustace know if you are unable to attend this meeting and let us know who you are naming as your proxy, so that we can be sure to have a quorum.  Keep in mind that as Chair James Hustace cannot be named as a proxy. 

Please RSVP by email by Friday, 11/17/23 if you plan to attend so we know how many to set up for.  We ask that you bring a printed copy of the agenda and  drinking water for yourself.  As always, snacks to share are always welcome. 

We mahalo ILWU Local 142 for welcoming us to their newly renovated Hilo headquarters. 

Looking forward to seeing you all, in person or virtually, next Sunday, 11/19/23 at 3pm at the ILWU Hall.

Gretchen H. Klungness

HCC Secretary

 November 7, 2023

Aloha Fellow District 3 Democrats -

As Democrats Nationwide gather today to vote for their values, it feels appropriate to reach out to connect with Dems locally! I hope you can join us for a VIRTUAL District 3 meeting Tuesday, November 14, at 6 p.m. on Zoom. The purpose of this meeting is to reconnect and to fill vacancies on our District 3 Council as well as briefly go over updates on coming events (Party Fundraiser at the Eagles Club in Kea'au - Sat., Jan. 20th, 2024 and District Organizing meetings Wed., March 6th, 2024 - as well as our coming Presidential Primary and County and State Conventions).

The available vacancies to fill are seven “At-Large Director” positions. All members present at this meeting whose voter registration and Party enrollment are verified may participate and vote in these elections.

Proxy voting is not allowed. The top vote-getter wins. Any Democratic Party of Hawai`i Member living in District 3 who is present or who has submitted an in absentia form (contact me for an in absentia form) may be nominated as an At-Large Director. You may nominate yourself. No second is needed for nominations. If desired, each nominee will be given up to two minutes to speak. 

When it is time to vote, verified participants will use the “Raise Hand” feature or raise their hand prominently enough to be seen onscreen to cast their vote. District Chair and Secretary will count the votes, and the Secretary will record the total votes cast. A coin toss will decide ties. 

Please encourage your family, friends, and anyone in the district who wants to make a positive change for our community, to join us. If you need to update your voter file or party info, you can do so at the links below:

Update Voter Registration: State of Hawaii: Office of Elections Online Voter Registration.

Update Party records: https://www.hawaiidemocrats.org/join.

Your insight and engagement help guide the direction in which our local and state parties grow. Mahalo for your service to our Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi. If you have not received the Zoom link via HIDEMS, or have any questions about the coming election to fill vacancies or how to get more involved, please reach out to me at shann.matson@gmail.com,

Aloha, 

Shannon Matson

District 3 Acting Chair

ALL D5 PARTY MEMBERS INVITED THOUGH ONLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY VOTE.

District 5 Meeting Agenda

1st Item: A fun Fundraiser at Eagles Hall in Keaau, Current title PARTY 4 THE PEOPLE. Jointly hosted by Districts 3, 4 and 5.

The new date is Saturday, January 20, 2024, and the new band is Body N Soul per verbal conversation last evening.  Details to be shared at the next HCC meeting on Sun., Nov. 19, 2023 at the ILWU headquarters in Hilo by Vivian Toellner.

a  We all need to encourage attendance to raise funds.

b  We need volunteers to handle:

i         sign-in,

ii        collect the cover charge, meal charge, and donations,

iii       sign up attendees for Party membership,

iv       help with food service, provide a dessert,

If you can volunteer, enter your name in the Chat and what you want to volunteer to do.

c  We especially need to try to encourage young people to attend.

2nd Item: Early planning for the Hawai’i Democratic District Officer elections on Wed., March 6th, 2024, at 6 PM.

a)    By Nov. 1, I need to submit locations and Officers and/or at-large Directors willing to run the 3 D5 meetings in Kea’au, Oceanview (tentative) and Captain Cook (hosted by Zach Zorn),

b)    I also need Officers and/or at-large Directors to work on trying to attract Democrats to the March 6 Biennial meeting to run for District 5 leadership positions and State Convention delegate positions.

c)     The Wed., March 6th meeting will also elect delegates to the State Democratic Party Convention May 18-19, 2024.  (To attend the State Convention, one needs to be elected by the D5 members.  All who are elected to attend the State Convention are also automatic D5 delegates to the County Convention Sat., April 27, 2024.)

NOTE: Attending the District 5 Meeting, you don’t have to be a Democratic party member, but you can only vote if you have officially enrolled in the Democratic Party and live in the district.

Prior to the Nov. 7 D5 meeting, I would like each of you to identify 3 to 8 issues for our District, County or State that you think should be included in the HCC’s Standing Policy Committee’s Agenda. Please email your recommended issues to Gretchen to compile and discuss during the meeting, vote to prioritize and then send the top 8 to Gregor Ilagan, who offered to chair that committee.

Thank you all for your cooperation.

Mike Klungness, D5 Chair

PO Box 364, Mt. View HI 96771

Hm 808-968-6789

iPh 808-895-3075

email klungnesm001@hawaii.rr.com

This AGENDA is being shared out with all d5 members via HIDEMS email along with zoom link. If you need link, email:

klungnesm001@hawaii.rr.com.

IF ASSIGNING A PROXY, PLEASE ADVISE DISTRICT CHAIR Mike Klungness IN ADVANCE BY EMAIL.

Monthly meeting - all D8 party members invited though only elected Council members may vote. RSVP requested to assist with setup.

In Person only. Agenda emailed to D8 Council Members and interested party members. D8 members who would like to attend may request agenda: makaiFreitas.dph@gmail.com

if assigning a proxy, Please advise District Chair Malama Solomon (malama_Solomon@yahoo.com) and Secretary Joy Fisher (joyfisher374@gmail.com) in advance by email.

Regular Meeting for the Executive Committee of the Hawaii County Committee.

As always, only HCC Executive Committee members may vote at Executive Committee meetings but all Hawai'i County Party members are welcome to Attend.

If you would like to Attend, please email HCC Secretary Gretchen Klungness at gretchenhk@hawaii.rr.com. Please do not publicly share the Zoom details.

Aloha Fellow Dems!

Please go to linked draft AGENDA re: the sunday, oct. 15, 2023 HYBRID HCC meeting - 3-5PM - in person at west hawai’icivic center (building G) and via zoom: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J4BQpj9_mmz2E4c6uIahyywAVT6VtBt6/view?usp=sharing

If you are An HCC party member and wish to attend by Zoom, please email our HCC Secretary to request zoom link ahead of time -not on afternoon of meeting please: gretchenhk@hawaii.rr.com.  Gretchen will also provide additional attachments.

This will be an important meeting to prepare for a very busy 2024 election year – please join us.

Please note specific assignments in the agenda for District Chairs re: securing a meeting site in your district for the 6PM Wed., March 6, 2024, Biennial Elections.  The deadline for completing this including confirming wifi and insurance requirements is Nov. 1 so that there’s time to fulfill pre-election outreach requirements. 

Also attached are meeting minutes with roll call and other related attachments from our September HCC meeting, and a preliminary 2024 HCC Budget for review.  We appreciate Treasurer Charlie Brister’s and Asst. Treasurer Vivian Toellner’s considerable work to clarify our county party’s routine expenses, projected2024 event costs and possible income, and recommendations to strengthen our county’s financial standing as we move into a critical year for the party locally and nationally. 

As always, all HCC party members are invited to all meetings, but only elected officers may vote. 

NOTE:  We still urgently need tech assistance for our county hybrid meetings – handling zoom, etc.  Addressing this is critical to improve hybrid participation by everyone at HCC meetings.   If you or someone you know can assist with this, please let me know. 

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Mahalo,

James Hustace - JamesHustace@gmail.com

Hawai’i County Chair

Regular Meeting for the Executive Committee of the Hawaii County Committee.

As always, only HCC Executive Committee members may vote at Executive Committee meetings but all Hawai'i County Party members are welcome to Attend.

If you would like to Attend, please email HCC Secretary Gretchen Klungness at gretchenhk@hawaii.rr.com. Please do not publicly share the Zoom details.

Aloha Hawai'i County Democrats!

We hope you are well though sure you share our grief over the devastating Maui wildfires. We send our warmest aloha to our extended Maui 'ohana. 

The Hawai'i County Committee will be meeting from 3-5PM, Sunday, September 10, 2023 at the Hawai'i Island YMCA in Hilo - it will be a hybrid meeting so also accessible via Zoom though in-person participation is always more meaningful. Our meeting will begin promptly at 3 p.m. and will need to adjourn by 5 p.m. Please arrive early if you would like to socialize.

If you need the Zoom link, please email HCC Secretary Gretchen Klungness at gretchenhk@hawaii.rr.com. Please do not publicly share the Zoom details.

As you will see from the agenda, there is much to cover. We need everyone's participation as 2024 will be very important for our democracy and our Party - locally and nationally.  

As always, only HCC members may vote at HCC meetings but all Hawai'i County Party members are welcome to participate in the discussion.

Please RSVP by email if you plan to attend so we know what to set up for. Please bring a printed copy of the agenda, drinking water and - as always - snacks to share are welcome.

Mahalo nui,

James Hustace

Democratic Party of Hawai'i

Hawai'i County Chair