Replacing Mufi Hannemann and Peter Carlisle and other political news:

• The Honolulu City Council will decide Thursday the date of the special election to fill the remaining two years of Hannemann’s vacated mayoral office (Kirk Caldwell is acting mayor and wants the job permanently) and the prosecuting attorney position that will be vacated by Peter Carlisle, who is running for mayor. The options are to hold the election the same day as the Sept. 18 primary or the Nov. 2 general election. Will the two Councilman running for mayor — Rod Tam and Donovan Dela Cruz — recuse themselves from the vote?

• A web page headline from Radio New Zealand International today: “Honolulu’s Samoan born mayor to run for Governor.” The story itself correctly points out that Mufi Hannemann was “the first person of Samoan ancestry to become Honolulu’s mayor,” but it doesn’t clarify that Hannemann was actually born in Hawaii or that he also has European ancestry.

• A North American-based conservative web site focused on “Life, Family and Cultural News” has posted an article pointing out the sharp difference on Hawaii civil unions between Hannemann (who opposes them) and his Democratic primary opponent, Neil Abercrombie, who supported the recently vetoed House Bill 444. “Many Christians, who also count themselves as socially conservative working-class Democrats, opposed the bill vigorously, and have made no bones about their intention to take down any candidate for governor that would sign legislation affecting the status of marriage,” the article says.

• On Kauai, two County Council incumbents, Daryl Kaneshiro and Lani Kawahara, will not be seeking reelection. But Council Chairman Kaipo Asing will run again, as will Derek Kawakami, Dickie Chang, Tim Bynum and Jay Furfaro. And Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. will face Waimea resident Diana LaBedz.

• Citibank Hong Kong is being slammed by area environmentalists for offering credit card holders 15 percent off a shark’s fin dinner at a Chinese restaurant chain. Hawaii this year made it illegal to possess, sell or distribute shark fins in the state, forcing restaurants to remove shark fin soup from menus.

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