Daily Archives: September 28, 2009

I was on Chai’s Cooking Show, which aired this past Sunday, September 27, 2009.  The other show I was in aired in July of 2009.

I don’t believe in no-win scenarios.  Sure, we can fail.  However, there is always a way to succeed.  We can make the impossible possible.  Whether you succeed or fail does not matter.  What matters is how hard you tried. 

Hawaii is going through its worst economic downturn.  I am determined to make Hawaii more sustainable by reducing our reliance on imports such as oil and out-of-state food by supporting renewable energy development and local farmers.  I will do all I can to strengthen our tourism, technology, science, health, and film industries.  I will continue to support project-based learning in our public grade schools and ensure we have a stable public community college and university system.  Finally, I am committed to reduce violence in Hawaii.

In summary, these are my short-term goals for Hawaii: 1. Make Hawaii a top 100 economic power per capita in the world; 2. Ensure 30% of our food is grown in Hawaii; 3. Have 10% of our energy produced in Hawaii; and 4. Reduce Hawaii’s violent crimes by 40%.

My long-term and far-fetched goals for Hawaii: 1. Make Hawaii a top 25 economic power per capita in the world; 2. Ensure 45% of our food is grown in Hawaii; 3. Have 20% of our energy produced in Hawaii; and 4. Reduce Hawaii’s violent crimes by 75%.

Success of the above goals will give Hawaii the flexibility to provide more services in areas of transportation, health coverage, and long-term care.  My goal is to have a diversified transportation system, ensure 97% of Hawaii’s people are covered with health insurance, and create a program to help expand long-term care insurance coverage to 90% of Hawaii’s population. 

My long-term & far-fetched goals for the world: Reduce the violence in the world by 75%, unite 90% of the world’s countries, expand space exploration beyond our galaxy.  Dreams are what makes me look forward to tomorrow.

I don’t believe in no-win scenarios even for our personal lives.  Negativity may knock us down, but we will get back up and come back a thousandfold stronger and nothing will stop us.  I wish everyone happiness and compassion.

As I campaigned throughout the state, it has been interesting to meet so many people.  The seniors really touch me because of the sacrifice they have done for us.  Many seniors tell me they see me on T.V.   Even though I am in the media often, they really appreciate my old school style of campaigning and we are often linked through my passion for culture, which means so much to them.  A number of them told me that I am like the old school times.  One lady told me, “Good you do this [meet the people].  This is how it [politics] used to be in the old days.”  A middle-aged lady told me I am like a blast from the past and that I am like the old school guys.  I signed my autograph on a number of my fans for seniors at the Portuguese Festival.  With the Filipino community, I am touched when the nanas and tatas hug me.  I am honored to represent many of them in the House of Representatives.  I also really enjoy talking to all the Hawaiian seniors.  I met a number of them at a hula performance.  Some of the elder Japanese ladies like to speak to me in Japanese even though it is pretty clear that I am a Yonsei (fourth generation Japanese) or Gosei (fifth generation Japanese).  They bow and I bow back.  With my background in Jodo Shu Buddhism and Shintoism, many senior AJAs bring up our connection and seem so happy I continue many traditions that are fading with the younger generations.  A number of seniors told me I handled my mistake (DUI) well and to keep going.  I have met so many of my grandparents’ friends, especially grandpa Maurice Karamatsu with his big network from his days as former Vice President of Duty Free Shoppers, executive for Hawaiian Airlines, and President of the Hawaii Buddhist Council.  Some of the elder ladies are so blunt when they talk to me, it is funny, and it reminds me of my grandma Ellen Sakai.

Recently a number of seniors at the Senior Fair told me, “Thank you for running.”  I told them, “No, thank you for all you have done for my generation so we can can go to public school and do well.”  I will never forget the look on their faces.  The were touched and some of their eyes welted up a little.  My eyes got teary but I held them in.  The most touching was at the Okinawan Festival when en elder AJA lady started to cry when I knelt before her and gave her my pen. 

History and culture is so important.  Okage sama de.  Domo arigatou gozaimashita.  I am who I am because of the seniors before me and all those before them.  Thank you so much.

16,000

I attended the Hawaii’s Plantation Village’s Awards Dinner at Hale Ikena in Fort Shafter on Saturday, September 26, 2009 from 5:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. after I spent the day at Hawaii’s Seniors’ Fair at Neal S. Blaisdell Center.  I presented House certificates to the awardees and made a short speech: “There is one phrase that summarizes everything.  It is a a Japanese phrase, okage sama de.  We are who we are because of the leaders before us and the leaders before them.  Okage sama de, domo arigatou gozaimashita.”

I spent three days at the Hawaii Seniors’ Fair, The Good Life Expo at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center on Friday, September 25, Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, 2009 from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. with a couple of breaks in between.  It was good to see so many people.