Daily Archives: December 14, 2007

In my 32 years of life, I have met so many nice people.  Sure, most of my friends are professionals in business, law, and politics.  However, I am fortunate to have made friends from all walks of life.

I have a lot of friends who work in various trades and labor.  When I was seventeen years old, my first job was working in the warehouse for Duty Free Shoppers Hawaii.  I appreciate all the work they do to make Hawaii and our country better.  Without their dedication, our state and country would collapse.  

I have reached out to people who got in trouble with the law.  I am a strong believer that people can better themselves.  I tried to help a friend who got in trouble with selling drugs.  I made speeches to students at various schools about the dangers of drugs.  Earlier this year, I met a person who changed his life around at a fundraiser dinner for a non-profit organization.  When I got in trouble with my driving under the influence incident, he emailed me about how he remembered my conversation with him, and he sent me his encouraging words.  I was sincerely touched by this. 

I have tried my best in my personal promise to myself to make a difference on behalf of the girls and women who have entrusted me with their stories of rape and domestic abuse.

I have met women in various industries and sometimes they get mistreated.  I try to see the good in all people.

I have enjoyed making friends in acting, film directing and producing, photography, art, creative writing, and music.  Artists help us get by in the real world.  I love to dream big dreams.  The art world helps me to bring out my creativity.

I have met people struggling and I have met people who are finacially secure.  I have learned from them all.

In a summary, we are all in this world together.  We are interconnected and need to help each other and learn from each other.  Dream and strive for all your goals.  There is no such thing as failure.  You gain skills and knowledge in every so called “failure.”  Therefore, let's go all out in all our goals, helping others, and seeking happiness.

Today, I enjoyed attending the Carpenters Union's Christmas party.  There was a lot of people and great food.  The carpenters are doing a great job in building our homes and buildings.

A handful of us in the Hawaii State Legislature, including House Speaker Calvin K.Y. Say and Senate President Colleen Hanabusa attended a meeting with Democratic National Party Chairman, Governor Howard Dean.  We discussed all types of issues relating to our party.  It was nice to meet Governor Dean in person.

On Thursday, December 13, 2007, I had meetings with members of the agriculture industries and renewable industries.

In regards to agriculture, I am supporting research to make our agriculture produce competitive in the global market.  Research helps produce have a longer shelf life, get protected from diseases, and have better taste.  I am also working on Kunia land banking legislation Governor Lingle vetoed.

I am working on legislation to help expand concentrated solar power energy in Hawaii.  Sopogy, Inc. is on its way in building a solar farm at NELHA in Kona, Hawaii with the help of the law I supported that floated $10 million in special purpose revenue bonds for them.

On Wednesday, December 12, 2007, I attended the Hawaii Plantation Village's Christmas Party with my mom as my guest.  In the past I have supported state grant to this important non-profit organization because they preserve and showcase Hawaii plantation lifestyle, an era of many of of Hawaii's first generation immigrants in the late 1800s.

At the Christmas party, many of the attendees lived on the plantation and volunteer for the organization.  Many sang songs, played the ukulele, and made ethnic jokes.  The attendees were diverse made up of Japanese, Chinese, Caucasion, Portuguese, Hawaiian, Filipino, and Puerto Rican.  I am so proud to live in a plae where we share each other's cultures, religions, and traditions.