HONOLULU » Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle and U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono are facing each other in the first of five general election debates in their race to replace U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.

The Senate hopefuls planned to debate for about 90 minutestoday at a luncheon hosted by the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber is billing the event as a forum rather than a debate. It’s the first time the candidates have come face to face since Hirono won the Democratic primary and Lingle was picked Aug. 11 to represent Republicans.

The forum will include questions from a moderator without formal rebuttals, plus questions from the audience.

The candidates will debate four times on television in October, starting Oct. 8 on KHON-TV.