U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and U.S. Rep. Ed Case have agreed to a format for their only debate in the Democratic primary for Senate — a one-hour live telecast on PBS Hawai'i set for the evening of Aug. 31.

The questions will be selected by AARP Hawai'i, the debate's sponsor, which has invited voters to submit suggestions. Gerald Kato, chairman of the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's School of Communications, will be the moderator.

Akaka and Case will each have five minutes for opening remarks, two minutes to answer each question, one minute for optional rebuttals, and three minutes for closing statements. Kato will enforce the ground rules and may ask follow-up questions for clarity. The candidates will not be allowed to question each other.

The format was the last sticking point between the two. Akaka agreed to a debate last week — subject to the format — after repeated requests from Case.

"Both candidates were clearly committed to making it work. The debate is on," said Barbara Kim Stanton, the state director for AARP Hawai'i. "We feel very confident — and I think the candidates do, too — that this is going to be a very fair and informative and orderly way to get the issues out."

Case had wanted the discussions on the format to be done in public before the media, but the Akaka campaign and AARP Hawai'i declined, so the congressman negotiated in writing. Case was disappointed the candidates will not be allowed to question each other and that the debate will not be simulcast or rebroadcast on commercial television or C-SPAN, which could have increased the audience.

"I am grateful that Hawai'i voters will benefit from at least one fair and full debate, and look forward to presenting them with this crucial choice," Case said in a statement.

Akaka, who polls show is leading in the primary, said some of his advisers did not want him to debate. He said he agreed to one debate so voters would have the opportunity to compare the candidates together.

The senator's campaign, in a statement, said the debate "will provide Hawai'i citizens important, relevant information in a structure that is open and fair."

No live audience or news media will be allowed in the studio during the debate. Recordings of the debate will be provided to the media for use in news coverage.

Stanton said the debate format was based on AARP's national guidelines and has been used in thousands of debates sponsored by the group across the country during the past two decades.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.