Hawaii 24/7 Staff

U.S. Senate candidate Mazie Hirono on Thursday committed to appearing at five debates or forums ahead of the August primary election, a schedule her Democratic rival Ed Case called ‘an insult.’

Case previously has said he welcomed any chance to debate Hirono and pointed out Hirono had turned down at least eight other invitations, including one in West Hawaii.

The Mazie for Hawaii Senate campaign announced the schedule in a press release Thursday.

“I look forward to having a conversation with the people of Hawaii about my plans to help our families through these challenging times, protect Social Security and Medicare for our kupuna, strengthen our economy, and create a more sustainable future for our state,” Hirono said. “I’m pleased that these debates and joint forums will include a neighbor island debate, and sponsorships by public radio and public television.”

The events are:

* May 25: A hosted joint forum by the Oahu County Democrats in advance of the Hawaii Democratic State Convention

* May 29: The Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association

* June 12: A debate hosted by the Maui AARP

* June 13: A radio debate sponsored by Hawaii Public Radio

* June 14: A televised candidate forum hosted by PBS Hawaii

Responding to Hirono’s announcement, Case called her debate schedule an “insult to the voters of Hawaii.”

“This schedule is shibai,” he said. “In cherry picking just a few with the least possible exposure, they’re fooling nobody. This is plain and simple about avoiding any real statewide public discussion at all costs and is typical of what’s wrong with DC today.

“This is a critical election, and every Hawaii voter wants and deserves every opportunity to size us up side by side and make this decision for themselves. We want our candidates and public officials to discuss openly and directly with us how we’ll fix Washington, grow our economy and much more, not hide behind handlers and spin.

“Our next Senator must be able to provide strong effective leadership in the world’s greatest deliberative body, to stand and fight for us in DC, and to keep in touch with us back home. It’s tragic that my opponent is denying Hawaii’s voters the opportunity to judge for themselves who can best do the job.

“The campaign’s real slogan is: ‘No Debates; Just Watch My Commercials’. I hope voters see through the slick ads upcoming to what’s really going on.

The invitations rejected by Hirono include: KITV4/Civil Beat (statewide TV debate); KHON2 (statewide TV debate); Hawaii News Now/Honolulu Star-Advertiser (two statewide TV debates); Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce ; Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association (Big Island); Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; and Hawaii Pacific University. Pending invitations include the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce.