I will be making my farewell speech to the Hawaii House of Representatives on Thursday, April 29, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. in the Hawaii House of Representatives Chambers.
I consider the House a great political institution in the State of Hawaii because one can master his or her skills. It is in the House where one must understand the issues quickly, especially controversial issues because one is up for election every other year. We are tested on our votes constantly. It is in the House where one masters the art of campaigning, especially grassroots campaigning because one is so close to the community. I have walked my district ten times in my eight-year career, which is about 65,000 homes.
Members come and go in the Hawaii House of Representatives. Political insiders say the average time a member stays in the House is eight years. Some are voted out, others retire, many go on to better paying jobs, and there are those who leave to run for higher office. I am running for Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii this year, 2010, the Year of the Tiger. I had planned on running for statewide office since 1996, thus in 2002, when I was elected into the House, I knew I would only be serving for eight years.
I feel happy that I was able to achieve many of my goals for the State of Hawaii. Then there are some issues which I pushed that fell short, but rocked Hawaii as people all over the state discussed them. A few laws I opposed slipped through here and there, but I always gave it my best fight.
I traveled to various states in our country for meetings and foreign countries for trade missions.
I got to meet thousands of people from all walks of life as I attended hundreds of meetings and events a year and campaigned the communities.
I got to meet royalty, politicians, entertainers, and celebrities.
Most important is all the friends I have made; some have passed away. They are all in my heart.
I will miss the Hawaii House of Representatives, the greatest institution in the State of Hawaii.
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 