Monthly Archives: August 2009

Thank you for your support at our August 26, 2009 fundraiser at Royal Hawaiian Hotel and also to those of you who could not make it but sent your positive energy to us!  Mahalo to Luella Costales for coordinating the event and all our volunteers.  Pictures and video of this event will be available in the near future.  Again, thank you so much!

I attended the Maui Fukushima Kenjinkai Picnic on Sunday, August 23, 2009 from 9:00 A.M. – 1:30 P.M. at Paia Mantokuji Mission Fellowship Hall.  I saw Maui Councilman Mike Victorino there.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu & Maui Councilman Mike Victorino. My dad's friend from their Jaycee days. He took us legislators and staff during a break from a conference to see his son in the family room after a Phillies game in Philadelphia in July 2008.

I attended the Paia Rinzai Zen Bon Dance (Okinawan Bon Dance) in Maui on Saturday, August 22, 2009 from 7:00 P.M.  The food was delicious.  I got to meet a lot of new friends and some of Rep. Bob Nakasone’s friends.  Rep. Kyle Yamashita and his family attended the event.  I saw Rep. Gil Agaran there.

On Thursday, August 20, 2009 from 6:30 P.M. I attended the JustIce – A Mixer by Hawaii Legal Aid Society held at Bar 35.

Russ Awakuni & Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu. Russ and Jon were in the Young Democrats in the mid-1990s.

I greeted members of Ginowan (Okinawa) Kenjinkai at their picnic at Ala Moana Beach Park on Sunday, August 16, 2009.  I saw friends, friends of my father, and Rep. Ryan Yamane and his family, and Arnold Wong and his family.

Friends from left to right: Stan Higa, Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, Christine Higa, and Stan's brother.

With my friend Shannon Higa and her friend.

I greeted members of Urasoe (Okinawa) Kenjinkai at their picnic at Ala Moana Beach park on Sunday, August 16, 2009.  I saw Rep. Maile Shimabukuro and her family there as well.

I attended the Hiroshima (Japan) Kenjinkai Picnic on Sunday, August 16, 2009 from 11:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. at Ala Moana Beach Park.  I have ancestors from Hiroshima, Japan through my grandma Bessie Karamatsu’s family or the Okubo family.

I attended Jodo Mission of Hawaii’s Bon Dance on August 15, 2009 from 6:15 P.M. to 10:30 P.M.  I greeted as many people as I could and helped clean up.  Fourteen friends and family in my campaign team cooked barbecue sticks or helped the bon dance in other areas.  Ian Kitajima, Brandon Mistuda, Scott Murakami, and I are on the board of directors for Jodo Mission of Hawaii.  I saw Senator Carol Fukunaga volunteering at a food booth again.

With my friend Michelle Matsuo

My sister Lara, myself, and Jon Nishihara dancing.

Ellen Tengan and Tricia Murakami (formerly Masaki) dancing.

The team dancing.

My father Richard, mother Laraine, myself, and sister Lara

Jon Nishihara, Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, Brandon Mitsuda, and Ellen Tengan.

I attended Tom Gill’s Memorial Service on Saturday, August 15 from 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.  He was a veteran, attroney, community activist, U.S. Congressman, and Lt. Governor.  He had two attempts at governor in 1970 and 1974 but lost.  Although Gill was a maverick that wasn’t taken well by a number of leaders in the past, he fought for what he felt was right.  It is his vision and policy that garners my respect for him.

I made a statement on the Gill family video memory collection.  I explained how Tom Gill fought for equality and how we are still working on equality in issues regarding single mothers, pregnancy, and the same-sex community.

I attended the Jodo Mission of Hawaii Bon Dance on Friday, August 14 from 6:00 P.M.  I did a little bit of MC work for the bon dance and then I greeted as much people as I could.  My campaign team helped to cook barbecue beef, which we have done for the past several years.  I saw Senator Carol Fukunaga (volunteering at a food booth), Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, and Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz.

I was happy to see my friend Goro, one of a number of 100th Infantry Battalion members I hang out with once in awhile at Club 100, their headquarters. I look up to them.

My late grandma Bessie Karamatsu's friend at Jodo Shu.

I attended Unite Here Local 5 Open House & Blessing on Friday, August 14, 2009 from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.  The retired members performed line dancing.  I met an officer of the union that is my dad’s friend and talked to a constituent of mine that is also an officer of the union.  I greeted as much of the the union members as I could.

I attended Senator “Najo” Yoshinaga’s 90th birthday at Manoa Innovation Center on Monday, August 10, 2009.  I am so lucky to have him as my mentor and friend.  I still remember he and his wife being the first guests to arrive at my first fundraiser for my race for the 41st District Hawaii House of Representatives seat at Alan Wong’s Pineapple Room in the late Spring of 2002.  He has been my advisor in my 4 terms in the House, seeing my ups and downs, but always consistent in his support and advice.  Senator Yoshinaga is a living legend being a veteran of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, member of the Hawaii Legislature for 20 years from 1954 to 1974 (member of the 1954 Democratic Revolution), and attorney.  His life is filled with sacrifice, vision, and tenacity that keeps me inspired to do my best.  Like him, I have had many successes, but I also had my failures.  I will fly with my successes, but when I get knocked down, I will continue to work hard with tenacity.

Senator "Najo" Yoshinaga and Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu

I attended the Kula Shokufuji Mission Bon Dance.  One of the best bon dances I have ever attended.  The location is beautiful up in the mountains surrounded by darkness with the stars sparkling above.  The weather was cool though I was breaking a sweat because I was doing my best to meet as many people as possible.  Rep. Kyle Yamashita attended the event as well. I met friends of my late grandpa Maurice Karamatsu and Bessie Karamatsu.  My old friend Stacey Hayashi was there too.

I attended the Pearl City Hongwanji Bon Dance on Friday, August 7, 2009.  It was nice to campaign my hometown.  I saw classmates and their parents, and friends of my family.

A Special Evening With Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 from 5:30 P.M. at Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Candidate for Lt. Governor

Click here for invitation: JRK Invite[1]

Click here to print out the reply form and indicate the number of tables or individual seats you want to purchase, and mail the form with a check payable to Friends of Jon Riki Karamatsu: JRK _6-1-2 Fundraiser Reply Form

For all of you who wanted to see the pictures from the Super Mixer by AT Marketing & JP Productions held at the Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace on Tuesday, June 23, 2009, it is finally uploaded for your enjoyment.  Thank you for your patience.  The pictures are here: https://jonriki.wordpress.com/2009/06/24/super-mixer-by-at-marketing-jp-productions/

I attended the Higashi Hongwanji Betsuin Bon Dance in Liliha, Honolulu on Saturday, August 1, 2009 from 7:00 P.M. to 10:15 P.M.  I saw Rep. Corinne Ching there.

I attended the Honolulu Family Festival at Magic Island on Saturday, August 1, 2009 from 5:15 P.M. to 6:40 P.M. 

To do: Work on report & potential legislation from information & networking from the NCSL conference in Philadelphia on the following: Harassment by “sexting” or texting pictures of sexual nature, Health Information Technology (Follow up on my 2009 bill – I want $200 mill. of fed. dollars), & I will try to get $100K in farm-to-plate federal funding to promote Hawaii’s farm-grown food. 1st states ready, 1st to get $$.

Together We Can Overcome Negativity With Positivity! 

Sure, there are a lot of negative people out there.  Also, sometimes we can be unlucky in life.  We may get knocked down, but we get back up again a thousandfold stronger with positivity!  It is the only way to live life and it feels good!  If you are going through some hard times, I send my positive energy to you, and I know you will come back stronger than ever!

With Warmest Aloha,

Jon Riki Karamatsu

“Us Against the World” by Christina Milian

I attended the Waipahu Soto Zen Temple Taiyoji bon dance on July 31, 2009 from 7:00 P.M.  I saw Rep. Henry Aquino there as well.