The field of hopefuls for an open U.S. Senate seat in Hawaii is expected to narrow to three names as state Democrats pick finalists to forward to Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
Abercrombie will make a final appointment to replace U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who died last week.
The state party's steering committee is meeting Wednesday morning at its Honolulu headquarters to let 13 candidates make their cases. The committee will then meet in private to name three finalists.
Before he died, Inouye pushed to be replaced by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. He told Abercrombie in a letter it was his last wish.
Lt. Gov. Brian Shatz and incoming U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard have also put in for the job.
The appointee will serve until a general election in 2014.
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