Video by David Corrigan | Voice of Stephanie Salazar

HILO, Hawaii: U.S. Senate hopeful Ed Case was in his hometown of Hilo on Thursday night, holding his first East Hawaii campaign function since he announced he was running for the seat being vacated by Sen. Danny Akaka.

The ‘Case for Hawaii’ team held the chili-rice pau hana in the large pavilion at Wailoa River State Park. Case took a moment to speak with Big Island Video News during the event.

The 86 year old Akaka is retiring at the end of this, his fourth term. Akaka was in the US House when chosen to fill the term of the late Sparky Matsunaga, who died in 1990. A former U.S. Congressman, Case challenged and lost his bid to replace Akaka in 2006.

So far, it is known that Case will face Congresswoman Mazie Hirono in the Democratic primary. Other possible Democratic candidates include Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz, and former Mayor of Honolulu Mufi Hannemann. Other names mentioned, former Hawaii Governor John Waihee and Hawaii State Senate Vice President Donna Mercado Kim, as well as State Senate President Shan Tsutsui.

The candidates for the republican senate primary may include former Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle

The deadline for candidates to register for the U.S. Senate race is May 2012… the general election — which includes the presidential race, is set for Tuesday, November 6, 2012.