On Monday, November 19, 2007, I attended the grand opening of the Waipahu Festival Marketplace. I helped secure the state's grant of $750,000 to help build the marketplace. The federal government and City and County of Honolulu also appropriated funds for this important project. The marketplace sells seafood, vegetables, crafts, and many other retail products.
I presented a House certificate and gave a speech. In my speech, I explained how former executive director Darrlyn Bunda of the Waipahu Community Association (WCA) would come and visit us legislators at the State Capitol tirelessly for the past several years presenting us the WCA's vision of the Waipahu Festival Marketplace. I spoke further, “I closed my eyes and tried to imagine what the Waipahu Festival Marketplace would look like? I imagined a lot of people. I imagined a lot of produce and products. But look at this (the marketplace). This beats my imagination. Congratulation to the Waipahu Community Association for all their work!” I also thanked the many legislators not in the Waipahu area that supported this project.
It is wonderful to see the revitalization of the Waipahu community. I will continue to do my best to support economic and community development in Waipahu for everyone to enjoy.
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 