Caldwell Hypocritical on Debates -- Ducks Another Debate 

News Release from Djou Campaign October 11, 2016 

Honolulu, HI - After having just demanded a live debate, Kirk Caldwell now refuses to debate Charles Djou on Olelo public television.  The debate was offered for October 14th or 19th, and Djou accepted either date, but Caldwell declined citing scheduling conflicts.  Olelo then offered October 21st, Djou accepted, and Caldwell refused to respond.  Kirk Caldwell's refusal to debate comes just days after he sent a press release where he called for a live TV debate with Djou.

"This is hypocritical, but typical, of Caldwell.  Just like the mayor's leadership on rail, Caldwell makes promises he has no intention of keeping and then completely fails to follow through.  The mayor called for a live televised debate last week, then at the first opportunity, he declines and refuses to debate," stated Jon Kunimura, press secretary for Djou for Mayor. 

Djou has accepted 20 public debates and mayoral forums in this campaign -- more than Caldwell has accepted.  Caldwell accepted, but then at the last minute declined to attend the Kakaako Improvement Association mayoral forum on August 31.  The mayor also failed to attend the Kalihi, Kahala, and Kaimuki Business Associations joint mayoral forum on August 5 and the Pacific Palisades Community Forum on September 10.  Caldwell is now also declining to appear at a live TV debate on Olelo on October 14, 19 and 21 - even after he publicly just called for a live TV debate.

The Djou for Mayor campaign encourages the public to view the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce debate, which was live streamed on KHON, and can be viewed in its entirety here.

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Charles Djou is running for Mayor of Honolulu. He represented Hawaii's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House and previously served on the Honolulu City Council and Hawaii State House.  Djou is an Army Reservist and Afghanistan war veteran.  He is married to Stacey Kawasaki Djou and together they have three children.