David Chang, the chairman of the state GOP, said Tuesday that Republicans prefer open primaries.

In response to a lawsuit filed Monday in federal court by the Democratic Party of Hawaii challenging the state's open primary system as an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment right to free association, Chang said in a statement that the minority party invites all voters to participate in GOP primaries.

We invite the participation of Republicans, Independents, and dissatisfied Democrats in the Hawaii Republican Party's open primaries to provide voters in every district with a community-focused General Election alternative that reflects the values of the majority of Hawaii's voters.

In contrast, the Democrats seek to limit who may participate in selection of their candidates to protect the interests of their party bosses, machine politics, and their far left base.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui is getting some help in his effort to increase after-school programs for middle school students.

The nonprofit Honolulu Professionals Foundation has scheduled a fundraiser Sunday to support the initiative known as the Resources for Enrichment, Athletics, Culture and Health initiative, or R.E.A.C.H.

The fundraiser is set for 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Pagoda Restaurant in Kaheka. Tickets are $75 prior to June 20  and $90 after.

Musical acts scheduled to appear include Hoʻaikane, Anuhea, Weldon Kekauoha, Micah G, MânoaDNA, Jon Yamasato, Funkshun, RKSB and Kama Kakaio.

Tsutsui, in a news release on Monday, said:

“Middle and intermediate school students have been left out of organized after-school programs for a long time. R.E.A.C.H. has been created to fill that void by enriching our children’s lives in a supervised safe, educational and fun environment. I hope everyone comes to support this worthy program."

The R.E.A.C.H. initiative aims to better prepare middle school students for high school and beyond through a variety of programs and activities outside of regular instructional hours. Activities would be in the areas of academics, arts and culture, and athletics.

Tsutsui has said he would like to have a pilot program introduced in a handful of schools by the start of 2014. Lawmakers and other policy leaders say it could be modeled after the fee-based After School Plus (A+) program in elementary schools.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui has won the endorsement of the Ironworkers Union Local 625 and the Sheet Metal Union Local 293 in his election campaign next year.

Tsutsui, the former Senate president who ascended to lieutenant governor in December after Brian Schatz was appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie to the U.S. Senate, is facing a potential Democratic primary challenge from Rep. Calvin Say.

T. George Paris, of the Ironworkers, and Art Tolentino, of the Sheet Metal Union, praised Tsutsui:

We believe that Mr. Tsutsui is committed to supporting and improving the lives of Hawaii’s working men and women. Shan is a local boy with strong roots to our local heritage and culture. With his business background as an owner of a small local business, he knows the value of hard work, commitment and perseverance. As former Senate President, he is aware of the State of Hawaii’s needs.

The state Department of Taxation reported Friday that state tax collections are up 9.9 percent through May, eleven months into the fiscal year.

The collections are higher than the 6.7 percent revenue growth projected by the state Council on Revenues for fiscal year 2013, which ends in June.

General excise and use taxes are up 9.7 percent. Hotel-room taxes are up 13.4 percent. Individual income taxes are up 13.9 percent.

Former Honolulu City Councilman Tom Berg and Eliza Talbot, a former Hawaii Republican aide now living in California, had an intense exchange Thursday afternoon on Facebook after Berg described Honolulu City Councilwoman Kymberly Pine as a "whore" because of her support for rail.

Berg and Talbot both once worked for Pine when she was a state lawmaker. Berg, who had an awkward falling out with Pine, lost to Pine last year.

From Berg, a rail opponent:

For all you KYM PINE whore fans -- raping us over this rail scam -- you get what you deserve -- wake up!!!!

From Talbot:

That is the most embarrassing, sexist comment I've ever seen from you, which is saying a lot. If she wasn't a woman you wouldn't use he word "whore." You should be absolutely ashamed of yourself. I thought you were smarter than to resort to sexist, disgusting terms like the about a female. Good riddance that the people voted you out of office. How shameful!

From Berg:

Whore in terms of Rail Eliza -- not whore in sexual terms -- Pine is a WHORE for rail PRP scammers and their ilk -- you misinterpreted the connection -- if you are pro-rail -- you too are a whore.

Later in the Facebook exchange, Berg likened the fight against rail to the struggle among blacks and women to win voting rights.

You have aligned yourself with the pro-rail faction -- the same type of people against women and blacks having the right to vote -- shame on you. We the people know rail is a fraud here -- but money talks -- I thought you had more class and shmarts ....wooops.

Berg, reached by telephone, confirmed the Facebook exchange. The man who describes himself as a "politician" on the social media network insisted that his use of the term "whore" had no sexual connotation.

"Everybody, to me, who supports rail is a whore," he explained.