Congressional candidate Tulsi Gabbard took on her top rival in the race, Mufi Hannemann, despite his absence from a political forum on Maui Tuesday night.

She said it was no offense to the other people running in the CD2 race to represent rural Oahu and the Neighbor Islands, like Esther Kiaaina and Bob Marx who were the only other candidates participating in the debate. But Gabbard said she just believes she stands the best chance at defeating former Mayor Hannemann, who she described as an “empty chair” because he’ll represent corporate interests in the nation’s capital.

The two-hour debate was relatively dry, free of any impassioned exchanges between candidates. The simple question-and-answer forum, streamed live online at akaku.org, afforded the trio an opportunity to pitch their platforms to viewers.

Hannemann said Tuesday that he will participate in a forum for the Democratic candidates in the 2nd Congressional District race at 5:15 p.m., Thursday, at the Waimea School cafeteria on the Big Island. 

— Nathan Eagle