Daily Archives: November 9, 2003

In 1997, at the age of 22, I wrote this poem because of the dramatic things my friends and I went through. At that time, I knew girls who survived rape and abuse. My best friend was almost shot by a person with road rage. I myself was being hunted down by a crazy person and his friends because he was upset I dated his ex-girlfriend who I no longer was dating since 1995. This person finally stopped trying to attack me after I took him to court in 1999 where he received a misdemeanor conviction. The girl I was seeing at the time was almost raped at her own graduation party set up by her friends in a hotel in Waikiki. I remember her running upstairs to me. I took her away from the room and headed downstairs to call the police but she would not let me because she didn’t want to make a commotion. Rather, she cried in my arms.

I directed a lot of my energy towards my studies and public service. Instead of just focusing on myself, I focused on others. I really felt that politics was a way to make positive changes in the world. I had an unbelievable drive to enter politics. In fact, starting in 1996, I was already planning for my 2002 run for political office.

EASE THE PAIN

There is no word
Which describes my anger at the evils of the world
I don’t understand the reason
Why people hurt other people?
I wish I had the power
To ease the pain of others

The problems will never cease
My goal is to see it does
Only together we have the power
To ease the pain of others

People will say I am a dreamer
I don’t care
I won’t stop
I’ll make them a believer

— Jon Riki Karamatsu 1997 —

This is a poem I created in the Fall of 1997 at the age of 22 while I was attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa. At the time, I was Student Body Vice President. I made a number of poems that fall because of a literary course I was taking. Much of my political drive in my early years was due to the pain suffered by people I knew. Although much of my current legislation is in the economic development arena, I still have a strong passion for women and children issues.

PLEASE SWEETIE DON’T CRY

Hiding in the corner, a little girl cries
Clinging to a teddy bear
She feels lost
Just yearning for someone who cares

Hurt by those she trusts
She keeps the pain inside
What she knows, she won’t tell
Please sweetie don’t cry

I wish I could fly
I would put her in my arms and carry her to the sky
Above the highest mountains
I’d show her the beauty from up high

Little girl wherever you are
I pray for you
May you find joy and live a full life
All alone in the corner at age five
Please sweetie don’t cry

-Jon Riki Karamatsu 1997-

This year has been a very challenging year for me thus far. Not only was this my first year in state elected politics, but I also began my first business following the lead of entrepreneurs Stacey Hayashi and Scott Murakami. I incorporated JRK Enterprises LLC and began an e-commerce business. I sell Hawaiian themed products for the home as well as some Hawaiian clothing on the internet. Much of my transactions are with mainland U.S. customers, therefore, I am exporting many local products and playing a small role in bringing revenue into Hawaii.