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Chair's Corner
On Fairness, Unity, and Giving the Benefit of the Doubt
Aloha Members of the Hawaii Republican Party,
I want to address an important issue that affects not only our party but also the broader political landscape... fairness and the importance of giving people the benefit of the doubt. Far too often, we witness situations where individuals are unfairly treated, attacked, or misrepresented. We can recall clearly the numerous untruths, relentless attacks, and deliberate misrepresentations against President Donald Trump. Similarly, Tina Peters* continues to endure unjust incarceration simply for advocating transparency and election integrity, and we should do something about these types of unfair acts.
Unfortunately, this pattern of unfairness is not limited to national politics. It occurs far too often right here within our own state and party. One recent example is in regards to the selection process to fill the seat in District 18, vacated by the late Representative Gene Ward.
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As your State Chair, my goal was to ensure a fair, transparent, and inclusive process that genuinely respected the voices of the constituents of District 18, as well as the representatives currently serving our state.
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Representatives Lauren Matsumoto and Diamond Garcia appreciated being included in this collaborative effort, which allowed their input and ensured the chosen candidate could effectively work alongside them. The process began with community members from District 18 selecting a panel of three trusted local voices who could objectively evaluate candidates. Initially, fourteen individuals expressed interest, however, due to criteria and personal reasons, a couple stepped aside.
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In the first round, candidates submitted resumes and personal statements explaining their qualifications and vision. The dedicated panel, predominantly composed of District 18 residents, carefully reviewed these submissions, narrowing the pool to six finalists after a tie necessitated including an extra candidate. These finalists then participated in an in-person interview at the Hawaii Kai Library, presenting detailed campaign plans and engaging in a question-and-answer session.
Following deliberations, the panel made their final recommendations by majority vote. This was not a decision made by any single individual, but rather a collective choice reflective of the community’s voice, again with the majority vote coming from the District 18 panelists. Brett Kulbis provided valuable administrative assistance, ensuring a well-documented and orderly process, while Nolan Chang, as County Chair, facilitated essential logistics.
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This process exemplifies fairness, transparency, and unity in action. Personally, as your State Chair, this has been one of my more pleasant experiences...collaborating with committed individuals who genuinely care about their community’s future. I extend my gratitude to everyone involved, especially to District 18 for their active participation. Congratulations and best of luck to the three candidates moving forward.
Remember, Hawaii remains predominantly blue, but our mission is clear... to turn it purple and ultimately red. This can only be accomplished by welcoming newcomers, educating voters, recruiting passionate candidates, and, above all, working together. We must remember individuals like Brandon Straka, founder of the "Walk Away" movement, who courageously chose to leave the Democratic Party and inspire countless others to follow.
Let us continue striving for fairness, understanding, and unity...within our party and beyond.
Mahalo,
Tamara McKay
State Chair, Hawaii Republican Party
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* Don't know who Tina Peter is? Learn more about her (here). Some believe Tina Peters is a national hero and a political prisoner. Others view her as a County Clerk that broke a rule. Learn the story and then decide. If you want to help her, call Governor of Colorado, Polis and demand a full pardon. (Or at least to be freed during the appeal process). Tina is not a danger to society. (This action is not endorsed by the Hawaii Republican Party, however it is a national issue, an fair-elections issue that maybe the HRP membership would find of interest).
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BAD BILL ALERT!! ACTION ITEM.
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The time is NOW! Call your Reps and Senators and remind them that they swore an oath to uphold the both constitutions. Tell them to vote "NO" on this VERY BAD Bill. Tuesday it hits the floor for a vote. CALL NOW!!!
Read below the evolution of this slight of hand of our Hawaii State Legislature.
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The flyer/image above shows how the anti-gun legislators used procedural maneuvers to bypass deadlines and the committee hearing process by stuffing language from a defeated semi-automatic firearm ban bill into a new bill. The original bill, House Bill 893, did not receive a committee hearing in the Senate by the legislative deadline and should have been defeated for the year. On March 13th, however, the Chair of the House Committee on Judiciary Committee inserted the language from HB 893 into SB 401, thereby bypassing a Senate committee hearing on the bill.
Yesterday, this terrible, unconstitutional bill has now passed the Conference Committee. The Conference Committee is made up of members from both the House and Senate. They met yesterday to resolve differences between the last House and Senate versions of SB 401 SD2 HD1.
Read the bill (here).
Make no mistake, this is a violation of the 2nd Amendment. Whatever your personal opinions are on firearms, the law of the land can not be overridden by a state legislature. That's not how this Republic works. (Only Banana Republics work that way). We must educate our public servants.
Each of us need to call all of our own House Reps and Senator, (and then the rest, especially if you have time).
Find your Senators (here)
Find your House Representatives (here)
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Dates: May 24–25, 2025
Location: Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall, Kapaa, Hawaii
Cost: $75 for two days
Link to purchase tickets (Here) or use the QR Code Below.
See the Hawaii Republican Party website for more information (here)
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Not paid for by the Hawaii Republican Party. No candidates or committees endorsed.
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Not paid for by the Hawaii Republican Party. No candidates or committees endorsed.
No proceeds go towards the Hawaii Republican coffers. This event is a stand-alone event, and is promoted solely for the purpose to inform the HRP membership.
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Know Where Your Money Goes
At the Hawaii Republican Party, we believe in transparency and giving our donors the power to make a difference where it matters most to them. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our "Know Where Your Money Goes" fundraising initiative—a unique opportunity to choose how your contribution is spent.
With this program, you can directly impact the areas that resonate most with your values and priorities. Whether you want to support our operations, amplify our message, or invest in the tools needed to grow our grassroots movement, the choice is yours!
Donate today and tell us where your money goes! 🌺
(click here)
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DELEGATES TO THE STATE CONVENTION
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Check with your County's Chair to see if your precinct has open delegate seats Ask to be appointed as a delegate to the state convention.
SEE BELOW for the County's websites
(use the forms to contact your County if no email or phone is listed).
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Click the red button above to go directly to the Republican Report site.
Join the mailing list to get the Republican Report in your inbox!
Join the RR Mailing List
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