Daily Archives: January 2, 2013

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jon Riki Karamatsu & Prosecuting Attorney Keith M. Kaneshiro at the inauguration ceremonies on January 2, 2013 from 12 P.M. at Ali’i Place in Honolulu.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jon Riki Karamatsu & Prosecuting Attorney Keith M. Kaneshiro at the inauguration ceremonies on January 2, 2013 from 12 P.M. at Ali’i Place in Honolulu.

As I reflect on 2012, my thoughts and prayers are on my friends who passed away this past year. I also reflect on all my family and friends who passed away in the years prior. Although time tries to blur my memories, I will hold on to them with all my might.

I want to thank Governor Neil Abercrombie and the Hawaii State Legislature for all the support they have given the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu in the 2011-2012 biennium.

Thank you to the following legislators who oversaw many of our bills and other bills we had an interest in: House Speaker Calvin Say, House Finance Chair Marcus Oshiro, House Judiciary Chair Gilbert Keith-Agaran, House Public Safety Chair Henry Aquino, House Human Services Chair John Mizuno, House Health Chair Ryan Yamane, House Transportation Chair Joe Souki, Senate President Shan Tsutsui, Senate Ways and Means Chair David Ige, Senate Judiciary Chair Clayton Hee, Senate Public Safety Chair Will Espero, Senate Human Services Chair Suzanne Chun Oakland, Senate Health Chair Josh Green, Senate Transportation Chair Kalani English, Senate Economic Development and Technology Chair Carol Fukunaga. I apologize if I missed anyone.

To all the Vice Chairs and the rest of the members of the legislature, thank you for your support in the committees and on the House and Senate Floor votes.

I appreciate the friendship and memories I have made with many of you over the years. I know how challenging it is to campaign, work with various people and organizations, and to make a decision on tough issues, thus, I sincerely thank all of you for your service for the State of Hawaii. I am excited to work with you again in 2013!

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your support of Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith M. Kaneshiro in 2012. At the inauguration ceremony for Prosecuting Attorney Kaneshiro and all of his Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys on January 2, 2013, he spoke about some of his goals such as opening the Family Justice Center to help protect our women from their abusers, ensuring drug users get proper treatment, creating a unit of Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys that will focus on protecting the environment, and he emphasized that he will continue to work on protecting people and animals from violence.

As I mentioned in the past, Prosecuting Attorney Kaneshiro is one of the most honest elected officials I know. Moreover, he is very passionate and concerned for the safety of all people in our State. I am also very impressed with his visionary and proactive approach in creating policy on public safety.

In 2016, Prosecuting Attorney Kaneshiro intends to run for re-election in order to ensure all laws and programs necessary for public safety are up and running. I will let you know of upcoming Kaneshiro events and fundraisers. Again, mahalo for all your support. I wish you a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2013!

With Warmest Aloha,
Jon Riki Karamatsu

Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith M. Kaneshiro speaking at the inauguration ceremony for him and all deputy prosecuting attorneys at Ali’i Place, Suite 150, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 from 11:45 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Keith spoke about creating an environment protection unit, opening the Family Justice Center, and continuing to protect the people and animals from violence, among other things.

Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith M. Kaneshiro speaking at the inauguration ceremony for him and all deputy prosecuting attorneys at Ali’i Place, Suite 150, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 from 11:45 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Keith spoke about creating an environment protection unit, opening the Family Justice Center, and continuing to protect the people and animals from violence, among other things.

Dear Friends,

One of my goals since I became involved in Hawaii politics in 1996 was to support positive people into leadership positions. The Judiciary Branch is an area in government that needs improvement. Talk to any attorney who litigates in the courts, especially prosecuting attorneys, and they will tell you horror stories of judges with anger problems, temperament, and impatience, which is a bad example for everyone in the court: attorneys, clerks, bailiffs, witnesses, and defendants. Ironically, we as prosecuting attorneys are trying to teach people not to threaten people, make tantrums in public, and other types of negative conduct, yet some of our judges reinforce the belief that it is okay to “lose it” if you have a valid reason. A number of Defendants believe they had a valid reason to threaten or assault another and when they see a judge acting disorderly it doesn’t help our goal of trying to teach Defendants that there’s no excuse for abuse. Personally, I believe the terms of judges should be shortened to ensure better accountability because the 6-year terms for district court judges and 10-year terms for higher court judges makes it too easy for judges to vest in their benefits (10 years for a judge to vest in their benefits). Further, attorneys and others who work with judges must be active in the judicial appointment process. A number of positive attorneys don’t participate because they fear that the judges may find out, which would result in repurcussions.

I will do my best to continue working with Governor Neil Abercrombie who I have worked with since he was a Congressman, Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald who I worked with since he was Director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and the Judicial Selection Commission in which I have worked with 5 of the 9 commissioners in my career, as well as attorneys and other citizens to ensure we have knowledgeable and positive judges.

In 2012, I supported 3 people who became judges (2 District Court Judges and 1 Circuit Court Judge) with Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith M. Kaneshiro through testimony in the Hawaii State Senate. On my own, I supported a person who was appointed by the Chief Justice to be a Family Court Judge and a District Court Judge who was appointed by the Governor to be Circuit Court Judge – both are subject to confirmation by the State Senate.

I believe and hope the following judges will be role models for all involved in the courts, as well as future judges and leaders for Hawaii and our nation.

With Warmest Aloha,
Jon Riki Karamatsu