Welcome to the Hot Seat. Joining us live for the next hour, from noon to 1 p.m. today is Avi Soifer, dean of the University of Hawaii-Manoa’s William S. Richardson School of Law. He’ll answer your questions live during the hour.

There’s quite a bit going on at the law school theses days. Today the law school kicks off its new part-time, evening program with the orientation of its inaugural class. Add to that the school’s Lehua Program, which focuses on students who have leadership promise who have overcome adversity; the school’ s Native Hawaiian Law Center, with its community outreach; the Pacific and Asian Law program; and its award-winning Environmental Law Program. Clearly, there’s much to talk about.

Just a reminder of our Hot Seat ground rules: Please keep your questions concise and on point so that we can get to as many questions as possible; and keep it civil, no personal attacks please.

So get those questions ready — let’s chat…

To say there’s much happening at the university’s law school would be an understatement — that’s according to Avi Soifer, dean of the University of Hawaii-Manoa’s William S. Richardson School of Law.

Indeed, he’s right. The law school kicks off its new part-time, evening program Tuesday with the orientation of its inaugural class. Add to that the school’s Lehua Program, which focuses on students who have leadership promise who have overcome adversity; the school’s Native Hawaiian Law Center, with its community outreach; the Pacific and Asian Law program; and its award-winning Environmental Law Program. Clearly, there’s much to talk about.

So now’s your chance. Soifer will join us live on The Hot Seat from noon to 1 p.m; he’ll answer your questions live during the hour.

To join the conversation, just watch for the new posting that will go up at noon and post your questions there. If you can’t make the live session, you can e-mail your questions to me in advance at jmbelding@honoluluadvertiser.com

See you Tuesday at noon, with law school dean Avi Soifer.

The debate around transit has once again landed in the lap of the City Council. The Council, led by a proposal offered up by rail opponent Charles Djou, is considering an amendment to the City Charter to let voters weigh in on transit. The final wording and structure of that proposal remains unclear.

Councilman Djou joins us today for our live blog chat, where he’ll answer your questions live from noon to 1 pm.

Just a reminder of our Hot Seat ground rules: Please keep your questions concise and on point so that we can get to as many questions as possible; and keep it civil, no personal attacks please.

All set? Let’s chat

The debate around transit has once again landed in the lap of the City Council. The Council, led by a proposal offered up by rail opponent Charles Djou, is considering an amendment to the City Charter to let voters weigh in on transit. The final wording and structure of that proposal remains unclear.

Joining us live Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. will be City Councilman. Councilman Djou will take your questions live during the hour.

To join the conversation, watch for the new posting that will go up at noon Thursday and post your questions directly. Or if you can’t make the live session you can send your questions in advance to me at jmbelding@honoluluadvertiser.com

See you Thursday, with Councilman Charles Djou.

Get ready, folks. Joining us live for the next hour, from noon to 1 p.m. will be Rep. Kirk Caldwell. Rep. Caldwell found himself on the short end of the stick last week after a last-minute flurry of politicians trying to beat the filing deadline ended in confusion – and with Caldwell out in the cold.

Here’s the recap: Councilwoman Anne Kobayashi’s 11th-hour decision to run for mayor left her council seat wide open; out of left field (and all the way from Arkansas) comes ex-councilman Duke Bainum, who rented a condo the day of the deadline to meet residency requirements; then House Majority Leader Kirk Caldwell decides to dump his House seat to challenge Bainum for the council seat.

But after several questions and challenges, the city clerk ruled Caldwell ineligible because he did not properly withdraw from running for his House seat in time — that means he will lose his House seat and the ability to run for Council. And Bainum apparently gets the seat free and clear, unopposed.  And the questions continue — including questions surrounding the state’s own elections officer and his failure to register to vote (until recently), which is a requirement of his job. Unfortunately, all of this does little to inspire voters in a state with among the lowest voter turnouts in the nation.

Shall we chat? Just a quick reminder of our Hot Seat ground rules: Please keep your questions concise and on point so that we can get to as many questions as possible; and keep it civil, no personal attacks please.

Ready? Just hit the comment button below, and let’s go…