The 2014 campaign season is off and running. That’s right. Not just 2012. We’re talking 2014.

Governor Abercrombie is jumping in with a scheduled August 25 fundraiser at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom. Single tickets are $300, while tables are going at levels–Plumeria ($3,000), Maile ($6,000) and Pikake ($12,000).

I’m not sure how that last category works, since the contribution limit is $6,000 in the governor’s race. Perhaps a couple can buy a $12,000 table and the contribution will be split between them? I don’t know.

The notice of this event hasn’t showed up on the Campaign Spending Commission’s website, although the statute only requires that it be submitted “prior to the fundraiser.”

Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz held his own $500 per person fundraiser at Morton’s Steak House back on May 31, 2011. The person in charge of the fundraiser was his chief of staff, Kimberley Yoshimoto, who is also listed as Schatz’s campaign chairperson on his campaign’s latest organizational report. That seems like it’s just asking for trouble, given the requirement that campaign activities be carefully separated from official business.

Abercrombie and Schatz were not the first candidates to hold fundraisers for their 2014 reelection bids. That “honor” apparently went to City Council member and now chairman, Ernie Martin, who has already had three fundraisers this year.

The first was a $1,000 a person event on March 15 at the Tantalus home of Linda Wong, lobbyist for Kamehameha Schools.

The second, on April 21, was a $500 per person event at Assaggio Italian Restaurant at Ala Moana. Chad Tsuneyoshi, now Martin’s campaign treasurer, was the person in charge of the first two events. The third, a $50 per ticket affair, was held at the Blaisdell Center’s Pikake Room on June 27.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa is also off and running with a $100 per person event at the Grand Wailea Resort & Spa on May 7. Person in charge was Mel Pomroy, owner of Kahului Carpet & Drapery Products.