Category Archives: Uncategorized

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Worked on campaign finances

1:00 PM- 2:30 PM: Interviewed by Wapaiahu Elementary School student for Olelo’ Capitol Commentary at my capitol office.

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Meeting with representative of the ironworkers union at my office.

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Attended Outrigger Hotels Hawaii PAC Annual Gathering at Outrigger Reef on the Beach.

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Hawaii Dental Association Legislators Breakfast at the Pacific Club.

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Meeting with anti-smoking in public place advocate at my capitol office.

10:00 AM- 10:30 AM: Meeting with 2 lobbyists and an owner of a court reporter company at my capitol office. 

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Hawaii Chapter, American Physical Therapy Association (HAPTA) reception at the Hawaii State Capitol.

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Meeting with Senator Carol Fukunaga.

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Meeting with University of Hawaii West Oahu Chancellor Gene Awakuni regarding the development of the new campus in Kapolei.

 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Meeting with Rep. Roland Sagum of Kauai at my office.

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Meeting with the executive director for Citizens for Fair Valuation at my office.

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM: I attended the Pacific Resource Partnership Annual Reception at Oahu Country Club.

8:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Exercised with Jen at 24-Hour Fitness on Kapiolani Blvd.

I greeted about 1,000 people at the Japanese Cultural Center’s Ohana Day on Sunday, January 10, 2010 from 10 AM – 4 PM. I have greeted about 23,500 people since June 1, 2009 based on the amount of campaign materials I passed out.

On Sunday, January 10, 2010 from 10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M., I campaigned at the Japanese Cultural Center’s Ohana Day. I greeted about 1,000 people there. 

I attended my friend Alec’s belated birthday dinner at his house in Kapolei from 7:00 P.M. – 11:30 P.M.

On Saturday, January 9, 2010, I went to the Elton John concert with my parents and sister Lara at Neil S. Blaisdell Center from 8:30 P.M. – 11:30 P.M.

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: I, along with House leadership, met with county clerks and state Office of Elections at Speaker Calvin K.Y. Say’s office.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: I met with leaders of the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum at the Hawaii State Captiol.

1:30 PM – 3:00 PM: I discussed pending bills and my bills with my four attorneys and assistant committee clerk.

 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Speaker Calvin K.Y. Say, House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro, and I met with Honolulu Star Bulletin and Honolulu Advertiser reporters at Speaker’s office.

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM: I met with attorneys from the attorney general’s office at my capitol office.

4:30 PM- 5:00 PM: I met with my business friend in the travel industry catering to the Chinese visitors.

5:00 PM – 8:30 PM: I attended Chris Pablo’s funeral St. Andrew’s Cathedral.

I exercised from 7:20 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.  Strength training for abs and shoulders. Ran on the treadmill for cardio.

I had a meeting with the administration team for Ohana Health Plan in Waipahu from 10:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M.

I attended the Ho’okako’o Corporation  Legislative Roundtable on the Charter Schools and State Schools “Expanded Learning Time” program at the state capitol, room 229 from 12:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.

I attended the Finance Budget Workshop for all House committee chairs at Rep. Marcus Oshiro’s conference room.

I met with Board of Education (BOE) Member Donna Ikeda and the Hawaii State Student Council at my office from 3:00 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.  They want the student BOE member to be able to vote.

I met with Rep. Dennis Coffman of Kona to discuss a couple of his bills at my office from 3:30 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.

I met with my friend Tracy Okubo to discuss legislative ideas.

I ended the evening with watching a little of the BCS Championship Bowl game between Texas and Alabama and went with my friends to eat shabu shabu, which I haven’t eaten in a couple of years or more.

Starbulletin article on Senator Nadao “Najo” Yoshinaga on December 31, 2009: http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20091231_ex_senator_played_key_role_in_social_legislation.html

Honolulu Advertiser article on Senator Nadao “Najo” Yoshinaga on January 1, 2010: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20101010372

I was quoted in a January 6, 2010 Honolulu Advertiser article regarding Lt. Governor Duke Aiona’s proposal for an elected Secretary of State to run Hawaii’s Office of Elections: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100106/NEWS03/1060360/Aiona+wants+secretary+of+state

I got my truck’s oil changed and tires rotated, mailed “thank you” letters to donors to my campaign, worked on my next campaign event, made phone calls for my campaign, and worked on my business inventory at our Waipahu warehouse.

On Tuesday, January 5, 2010, I exercised from 5:30 A.M. – 7:30 A.M., attended the House leadership meeting at Speaker Calvin K.Y. Say’s office from 9:00 A.M.- 10:30 A.M., hosted a meeting with Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi, his administration, and the executive director of the Honolulu Ethics Commission, attended a get-together with political friends of the late Senator Nadao “Najo” Yoshinaga at HGEA from 12:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M., and attended the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce 65th Annual Shinnen Enkai at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii.

On January 2, 2010, from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., I attended a meeting with a group of community leaders from across the state in Makakilo and presented to them some of my legislative proposals.

Lara Karamatsu, Richard Karamatsu, Laraine Karamatsu, and Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu on the early morning of New Year's Day 2010 in Kapahulu.

I spent New Year’s Eve with my family and relatives in Kapahulu from 7:30 P.M. to 1:30 A.M. on December 31, 2009.

On New Year’s Day, January 1, 2010, my parents, sister Lara and I attended the Jodo Shu New Year’s service at 10:00 A.M.  We prayed to my Karamatsu grandparents and ancestors.  We bought omomori for ourselves, cars, homes, and office.  Then we went to Diamond Head Memorial and prayed to my Sakai grandparents and ancestors.  About 12:30 P.M., we went to Izuma Taishyakyo to be blessed by the reverends along with thousands of other people.  We bought more omomori there as well.  We had dim sum for lunch at the Chinese Cultural Center.

Tonight I will spend more time with my parents and sister Lara at my parents’ house in Pearl City.

I have a slight cold, the first in several years.  I have never been sick more than one day since the Spring of 2002.  I hope my health stays strong like this for 2010 and beyond.

I had meetings at my capitol office with a representative for a company that can help process tickets and towing fees electronically (11:00 A.M.) and leadership of the Campaign Spending Commission (12:00 P.M.).   I attended the House leadership meeting at Speaker Calvin K.Y. Say’s office from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.

My parents, sister Lara and her boyfriend, and I participated in the mochi pounding and kadomatsu making at the Pearl City Urban Garden where my dad is a volunteer from 10:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. on December 27, 2009.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu with the kadomatsu he made at Pearl City Urban Garden on December 27, 2009.

I went to Regina Toguchi’s surprise farewell party at Coconut Club in Aston Hotel from 5:00 P.M. to 6:20 P.M. on December 27, 2009.  She is leaving her family’s company, Highway Inn to pursue other interests.

Regina Toguchi and Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu at Regina's surprise farewell party at Coconut Club on December 27, 2009.

I attended the Adult Foster Homecare Association of Hawaii (AFHA) 11th Annual Holiday Banquet & Coronation of Ms. AFHA 2010-2011 at Pacific Beach Hotel from 6:30 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. on December 27, 2009.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu at the Adult Foster Homecare Association of Hawaii (AFHA) 11th Annual Holiday Banquet & Coronation of Ms. AFHA 2010-2011 at Pacific Beach Hotel on December 27, 2009.

On December 26, 2009, I went to a Christmas Party put together by my friend Randy for all our friends at his grandma’s house in Aiea.

I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas with my parents and sister Lara at my parents’ house in Pearl City.  A lot of my family visited California to meet up with relatives there including my sister Mia who lives in Loma Linda, California.

I spent some time on Christmas night with my childhood friends Spencer and Ryan in Pearl City.  I also hung out with my frind Mike and his family in Pearl City.

 Rimi Natsukawa – “Furusato” or My Home Town. 

This song describes the feeling of missing your hometown.  Senator Nadao “Najo” Yoshinaga loved Hawaii and her people so much he devoted every waking moment to see that Hawaii is okay.  He also cared about his family and friends.  Even though Senator passed away, I believe he will find a way to return when we need him.  The following are some of the lyrics:

“How are my friends I lost touch with somehow?

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu and Sen. Nadao "Najo" Yoshinaga, honored by the joint House and Senate in their joint legislative session on the House floor honoring state elected officials of 1959 in conjunction with honoring Hawaii's 50th anniversary of statehood on March 18, 2009.

A Tribute to Senator Nadao “Najo” Yoshinaga

Thursday, December 31, 2009

It is New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2009.  I am thinking of my friend and mentor Senator Nadao “Najo” Yoshinaga who passed away on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 29, 2009.  As I look towards the future, it is hard for me to believe I am without the Senator to talk to about my campaign, issues, or life in general. 

Senator Nadao “Najo” Yoshinaga graduated from Maui High School and the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he attained his Bachelor of Arts degree.  He volunteered for the United States Army and served in the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team.  After the war, Senator Yoshinaga decided to apply his GI Bill benefits to study law at DePaul University where he attained his Juris Doctorate degree.  He returned to work for the law firm of Bouslog and Symonds in Honolulu, and then in Maui, which was known for its defense of the ILWU or International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

Senator Yoshinaga was elected into the House of Representatives of the Territory of Hawaii in the historic 1954 Democratic revolution.  In 1959, he was elected into the Senate of the State of Hawaii where he served until retiring in 1974.  Senator Yoshinaga was the chairman of the influential Senate Labor Committee and the Ways & Means Committee.

Senator Nadao “Najo” Yoshinaga played a key role in eliminating the discriminatory laws in Hawaii, ahead of the rest of the United States; creating the Prepaid Health program, which resulted in Hawaii having the best health insurance coverage in the nation; establishing the local art in public places program that supports our local artists; starting the Commission on the Status of Women that advocates on issues important to women; and numerous capital improvement projects to name a few. 

Senator Yoshinaga was close friends with Governor John A. Burns and helped to get him elected as governor in 1962.  He later played a role in getting Governor John Waihee elected as governor in 1986.  He also helped a number of legislators in their careers.  Senator Yoshinaga has mentored a number of great leaders such as state administrator and businessman, the late Pundy Yokouchi, former State Senate President Norman Mizuguchi, State Senator Carol Fukunaga, former State Representative David Hagino, attorney Jim Stone, attorney Kerry Komatsubara, and the list goes on.  These protégés of his have helped to shape Hawaii as well.  I may well be the last and youngest of his protégés with an age range that spans three generations.

Senator Yoshinaga is the greatest politician I know.  He has good policy ideas, analytical thinking, social skills, and political strategy.  Most importantly is his love for Hawaii and you can feel his sincerity by the amount of positive energy that radiates from him when he talks about politics.

I met Senator Yoshinaga when I worked for Senator Carol Fukunaga in January of 2002.  I returned to Hawaii from law school and was ready to launch my state political career.  On one of his many visits to Senator Fukunaga, I showed him a picture of him with his company within the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team, which I printed from the Internet.  He was surprised and impressed that I researched him.  We quickly became friends.  I told him my political platform and my campaign strategy that I created in 1996, and how I was going to run for the State House in the 2002 elections.  I also found out my grandfather Maurice Karamatsu was friends with him when my grandfather was Vice President of Duty Free Shoppers.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu and Sen. Nadao "Najo" Yoshinaga in May of 2002 while Karamatsu was a staffer for Sen. Carol Fukunaga

I launched my campaign for the State House seat in Waipahu in April of 2002 walking door-to-door, which I would eventually walk the entire district three times or over 18,000 homes by Primary Election Day on September 21, 2002.  I had my first fundraiser at Alan Wong’s Pineapple Room.  Senator Yoshinaga and his wife were the first ones there.  They must have arrived a half an hour early.  I won the election.

As soon as I got into my capitol office, Senator Yoshinaga would visit me regularly.  My office manager at the time Baron Gushiken also became very close to the senator and would be a friend of his until his passing.  After my DUI incident, I resigned as Vice Speaker of the House and lost one full time position, and Baron volunteered to sacrifice his job, but continued on with two other House leadership legislators.  He would continue to bring Senator Yoshinaga to my office often.

As a politician, I must have had thousands of meetings in my office.  Senator would be in my main office and people would constantly come in and out.  As each person or group entered, I would introduce them to Senator Yoshinaga.  I remember having Senator sit in a meeting with an advocate.  He would quietly listen and the advocate would talk and then look at me and then look at him, waiting for a reaction.  It was funny to see the advocate’s face.  Hey, once a politician, always a politician; for a true politician never dies and never fades away, and Senator Yoshinaga was one of them.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu and Sen. Nadao "Najo" Yoshinaga in February of 2006.

In April of 2006, I was chairing a donation drive for the Sex Abuse Treatment Center at the Hawaii State Capitol.  Senator came by and I took one of my favorite pictures with him.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu and Sen. Nadao "Najo" Yoshinaga at the Hawaii State Capitol in April of 2006.

I have many memories of Senator Yoshinaga, but one of my favorites is when he brought the CEO of Enterprise Honolulu, Mike Fitzgerald, to my office to strategize on ways to strengthen Hawaii’s economy on May 28, 2008.  Senator Yoshinaga, Mike, Baron, and I were together in this meeting bouncing ideas back and forth.  We discussed Hawaii’s economic climate of that time, some of the legislation I introduced in the past, and ideas I have for the future to help better Hawaii’s economy.  We talked about renewable energy, technology, film, digital media, long-term care, workforce development, education, mass transit, and agriculture.  Senator looked so happy.  At the end, Senator Yoshinaga told me, “This was a good meeting.”  I looked at him and smiled, “Yup, this was a good meeting.”

I enjoyed all the birthday parties planned by a handful of us business, community, and political leaders.  His 89^th birthday was on August, 8, 2008 or 08/08/08.  I remember him telling me, “People tell me this is really good, to have my birthday on 08/08/08.”  We celebrated his birthday a little belated at his senior living facility’s party room.  Every birthday of his is a who’s who of Hawaii.  Someone told me to sit by Senator Yoshinaga.  Governor John Waihe’e, who I admire and became friends with through his children John and Jen, jokingly said, “Whoa Jon Riki.  You have the audacity to sit right next to Najo.”  Everyone laughed as I smiled, a little embarrassed.  Everyone at the party got a dark blue “Najo” baseball cap.  Senator Yoshinaga looked extremely happy.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu and Sen. Nadao "Najo" Yoshinaga in August of 2008. Karamatsu is wearing the "Najo" hat.

In my years knowing him, he never talked about his experience in World War II with the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team at the European front.  I believe those memories were too painful.  Rather, he found joy in doing positive things for Hawaii through politics.  When I got involved with Peace Day Hawaii, he told me something positive that I can’t remember in detail.  I believe he liked that I had peace as one of my long term goals for the human race.

On March 18, 2009, there was a joint House and Senate legislative session on the House floor honoring state elected officials of 1959 in conjunction with honoring our 50^th anniversary of statehood.  Senator Shan Tsutsui of Maui and I made a speech about Senator Yoshinaga.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu and Sen. Nadao "Najo" Yoshinaga on the House floor in honor of state elected officials of 1959 in conjunction with honoring our 50th anniversary of statehood on March 18, 2009.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu and Sen. Nadao "Najo" Yoshinaga on the House floor in honor of state elected officials of 1959 in conjunction with honoring our 50th anniversary of statehood on March 18, 2009.

Sen. Clarence Nishihara, Sen. Nadao "Najo" Yoshinaga, and Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu on the House floor in honor of state elected officials of 1959 in conjunction with honoring our 50th anniversary of statehood on March 18, 2009.

This year, we celebrated Senator Yoshinaga’s 90^th birthday at the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, which is fitting since he always talks about how research is important for Hawaii’s future.

Sen. Nadao "Najo" Yoshinaga and Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu at his birthday at HTDC in August of 2009.

Last Wednesday, December 23, 2009, I had my last talk with Senator Yoshinaga at my capitol office.  My campaign seemed to be on his mind.  He made a suggestion that had also been in my thoughts, and I have avoided it because I am trying to be conservative with our campaign money, but I will follow through on his advice in 2010 the best I can.  In the past, whenever we say goodbye at the State Capitol, Senator would tell me, “I may not see you again,” implying that he could pass away anytime.  However, I don’t recall him saying this at all in the months leading to his passing.

On December 29, 2009, I wore my Najo baseball cap as I did my errands.  I was worried because I knew he had a stroke earlier and was in the hospital.  That afternoon, I got a phone call from Baron that Senator Yoshinaga had passed away.  For some reason, his death didn’t sink in as something that really happened.

Today, December 31, 2009, I talked to Senator Yoshinaga’s daughter.  She told me that the week before I saw Senator Yoshinaga, he had wanted to visit me but Baron’s schedule was busy.  Usually, Senator Yoshinaga doesn’t complain, but this time he told her, “How come?  I want to see Jon Riki Karamatsu.  I can go by myself.”  She told him about the schedule conflict but that he could go to the capitol later.  After hearing this, I was really touched.  I am so glad I got to see him on December 23^rd at my office.  I am sure Baron feels the same way.

Senator Yoshinaga stressed to me that we need to grow our own food and produce our own energy.  He mentioned the importance of technology and science.  Also, with his difficult experience with war, I will do all I can to reduce violence in Hawaii and the world.  These are areas I am commited to achieving.  Senator linked me to the past generations and the leaders of today.  I will link his generation and all the generations before him to future generations, even those who are yet to be born. 

It is New Year’s Eve on the brink of 2010 and the future looks exciting, but it will be different without Senator Yoshinaga in my life.  I feel more lonely now, for in this world, especially in politics, there are only a handful of true friends.  I lost my friend Representative Bob Nakasone last December 7, 2008.  Right now, a number of my friends who are also in my political inner circle are facing life threatening health challenges.  We’ve been through the “joy” and “laughter” and the “struggle” and “sadness”.  Losing Senator Yoshinaga is really difficult for me.  My friendship with him is a dream come true because since I was a young man, I looked up to the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team, members of the 1954 Democratic Revolution, and the entire World War II generation, and he was all three.  I had hoped someone from this great generation would guide me in the world of politics and he has fulfilled my dream.

Note: More pictures to come.

On Wednesday, December 23, 2009, I worked on my business in the morning and had a meeting with Senator Nadao “Najo” Yoshinaga from 1:45 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. as I often did for the past nine years. With his efforts, discriminatory laws against ethnic minorities, women, and workers were removed, leading the nation in civil rights; health coverage was made available for a majority of Hawaii’s population, making our coverage the best in the United States up to this date; and our infrastructure was modernized. He is one of the greatest politicians ever.  As Senator Yoshinaga tells me, “Make Hawaii the best place in the world.”

I ended the evening of Dec. 22, 2009 with my friend Brandon. We had dinner at Utage, then talked at Satura, & finally looked at some books at Borders. We reminisced the last 2 decades of us being involved in Hawaii politics & our 10 years of friendship. I shared my idea for a potential television commercial for the 2010 election that will probably open a lot of peoples’ eyes & ears.

I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!

I worked on my business. I ended the evening with my friend Brandon. We had dinner at Utage, then talked at Satura where I had a guava cake and coffee, and finally looked at some books at Borders. We reminisced the last 2 decades of us being involved in Hawaii politics and our 10 years of friendship. I shared my idea for a potential television commercial for the 2010 election that will probably open a lot of peoples’ eyes and ears.

On Monday, December 21, 2009, I celebrated my birthday with my mom, dad, and sister Lara at Gyu-Kaku from 6:30 P.M. I talked to my sister Mia yesterday and we texted each other today.

Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes! I really appreciate your thoughts. I wish you good health, success, and happiness!

Today, I turned 35 years old.  It is amazing how fast time flies.  I really enjoy life, and I appreciate all my loved ones.  I will continue to go all-out!  Ganbarimas!

On Sunday, December 20, 2009 from 6:00 P.M. to 11:30 P.M., my friends had a gathering at my friend Tracy’s apartment’s pool facility to celebrate my birthday. Some of us went into the Jacuzzi.  It was nice to relax with my friends.

On Saturday, December 19, 2009, I attended my friend’s Christmas party for his farm employees at his farm in Ewa from 5:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. and returned at 8:30 P.M. 

I enjoyed the Waipahu High School Band’s Annual Winter Concert at the school’s cafeteria from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.  I liked the Jazz band with the various female vocalists singing.  All the students were very good!

On Friday, December 18, 2009, I attended the following at the State Capitol: House Majority Caucus (10:30 A.M.) and House members & staff Christmas Holiday Luncheon where I sang carols with my colleagues (12:00 P.M.). I hosted meetings with the following at my office: Seed company representatives at my office (1:00 P.M.), leaders of the Hawaii Association of Health (1:30 P.M.), and a criminal justice advocate (2:30 P.M.). Then I attended the Hawaii Carpenters Christmas Party at their headquarters (4:15 P.M.) , a friend’s grandma’s funeral at Hosoi (5:30 P.M.), and my friend Brandon’s birthday gathering at D&B, Ryan’s, & Millian’s (7:30 P.M.).

I attended the YMCA of Honolulu Board of Directors, Emeritus Board of Directors and Special Friends Holiday Social & Wine Sharing at Kulia Grill in the University of Hawaii John A. Burns  School of Medicine building on Thursday, December 17, 2009 from 6:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

I was happy to see Richard Borreca’s Starbulletin December 6, 2009 article on Senator Nadao “Najo” Yoshinaga, a hero and mentor to me.  His influence on Hawaii is seen all around us in the laws, buildings, and his many proteges active in business, politics, and community organizations.  I may be the last and youngest of his long line of proteges, which spans three generations.  Whenever I see him, I am honored to receive his advice. 

In his twenty years in politics, he played a key role in creating the Hawaii Prepaid Health program, Commission on the Status of Women, equal rights and workers’ rights laws, and numerous capital improvement projects to name a few.  His advice to me in the last seven plus years is mainly in economic development.  He tells me that we must strengthen Hawaii’s technology and science industries and ensure Hawaii grows its own food and develops its own energy.  He even brought Enterprise Honolulu’s CEO to my office a year ago to bounce ideas between the three of us.  The beat of our drums on these important issues are in sync, and I even dedicated  bill to Senator Yoshinaga and mentioned him in one of my speeches on the floor of the House of Representatives in 2006.

Also, Senator Yoshinaga fills a void in my life since I have lost all my grandparents, the last was grandma Bessie Karamatsu in 2006 who’s husband, my grandpa Maurice Karamatsu was a friend to him.

Senator Yoshinaga tells me, “I can’t do much now.  Oh boy, my eyes are bad.  I have a hard time hearing.  I have some pain in my joints.  But I pray for you.”  His words of advice and his energy is all that I need to motivate me to work hard like how he did when he was in politics.  Someday when I am in my senior years, I hope to be like him and guide a young leader hungry to make a difference in the world.  I will tell this young person my experiences in politics, and all the stories of the leaders before me, especially how I got to be friends with Senator “Najo” Yoshinaga.

I’d like to close with a statement Senator Yoshinaga often tells me, “Make Hawaii the best place in the world!”

– Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu –

####

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO

Political mastermind Yoshinaga cheers Obama’s health care plan
By Richard Borreca

 
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 06, 2009

QUESTION: With all the talk about national health care, whatever happened to Nadao Yoshinaga? Wasn’t he the one who pushed Hawaii’s health care plans through the state Legislature?

ANSWER: Called a “cultural icon” and one of the state Legislature’s “most skilled backroom operators,” former Sen. Nadao “Najo” Yoshinaga steered health care and environmental protection legislation into law during his 20 years as a legislator.

He still visits the state Capitol once a week, although he retired from the Senate in 1974. 

Yoshinaga is best known for the work done in 1967 to push a series of studies on temporary disability insurance and a universal employer-based health care system.  The studies formed the basis for the 1974 Prepaid Health Care. 

“The act was largely the product of Nadao Yoshinaga, a powerful state senator from Oahu and a primary spokesperson for a Hawaiian style of social welfare liberalism,” said University of Hawaii political scientist Deane Neubauer in a study of Hawaii health care. 

Today, Yoshinaga is cheering the efforts by President Barack Obama to push legislation for a national health care plan. 

“Now is the time that we have come the closest to convincing the American people we should have a stronger plan,” Yoshinaga says. 

Yoshinaga, who helped bring labor, especially the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, to support former Gov. John Waihee in his first gubernatorial election, had been an ally of Hawaii’s first Democratic governor, John Burns. 

Burns, Yoshinaga says, still rates as Hawaii’s best governor. 

“We should continue the idea that no matter how small a state or how poor or far away, we can still be the greatest place to work and live and retire and visit,” Yoshinaga says. 

Yoshinaga’s daughter, Susan, says her father, who celebrated his 90th birthday in August, is “doing quite well.” 

“He keeps a full schedule, exercises daily and goes to the Capitol. He will always be very interested in politics,” she said.

Harold Masumoto, who worked for Yoshinaga while the former labor lawyer was in the Legislature, says Yoshinaga was one of Hawaii’s liberal leaders.

“He was a thinker and visionary. He never got full credit because he was the guy behind the scenes, but he was the one who pushed the new Hawaii,” Masumoto said.

I was saddened to hear the passing of former State Senator Stanley Hara who died on December 1, 2009.  He was elected as a representative to the Hawai’i Territorial Legislature in 1954 and served in the state Senate until 1980.  I talked to Senator Hara at my friends’ wedding in the early years of my political career.  Thereafter, he contributed funds to my campaign.  I would see him in events up to this year’s joint House and Senate legislative floor session commemorating the 50th Year Anniversary of Hawaii’s statehood.  We honored him and other 1959 state elected officials on the floor of the House chambers.  He was a part of the historic 1954 Democratic Revolution class.  In his private side, he worked in real estate and real estate development on the Island of Hawaii.  Senator Hara played a key role in the Hawaii we see today.

I am proud of my friends who truly represent loyalty, honor, and compassion.  Even my friends who are very tough, have a compassionate side to them.  Although, every now and then, some of them would like to retaliate against those who have done wrong to us.  Instead, we stay positive and do our best to not feed the fire of negativity.

I have one particular friend who is extremely loyal to me.  He is so positive and caring for others.  But like me, once in awhile a negative person can throw him off and he gets very disappointed, and at times upset.  When he is disturbed, I try to bring him back to a positive balance.  Likewise, he does the same for me.

My advice I gave to my good friend in regards to negative actions by people:

Whenever people physically attack me, threaten me, swear at me, or do a negative act towards me, I try my best to look deeper at the situation despite how upsetting or painful it is.  There are different levels of negative people, and they are all suffering souls, suffering at different levels.  We must try to understand the cause to their suffering.  There are certain events in their lives that have led to their suffering that developed their negativity.  We must positively counter these negative “causes”.

We have to be positive as best as we can and share that energy with others to overcome negativity.  Even if someone kills us, our positive energy will live on and help others.  Let’s strive to understand the meaning of our existence and the existence of all beings and non-beings so we can end our suffering and the suffering of those around us.

Note: Negative “causes” – i.e. Negative behavior is a learned behavior whether it be anger, violence, rudness, impatience, selfishness, etc.  We can continue this cycle of learned behavior or end it.  Our actions today will not only affect the people around us now, but many generations to come.  One negative person can negatively impact many people.  In contrast, one positive person can positively impact many people.

I attended the Hawaii State Teachers Association Leeward Chapter “Legislative Talk Story” at Villages of Kapolei Recreation Center on Tuesday, December 15, 2009.  I gave a short speech on how I see teachers like my mom always working, even late hour and on weekends and holidays, including this past Sunday after she picked me up from the 2009 Honolulu Marathon. Some in the general public and some media personalities will never understand this unless they follow a teacher 24-7.

I attended a briefing by Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald T. Y. Moon and staff regarding JIMS technology that is to help the courts with bench warrants, fine collections, and other important functions of the Judiciary branch. Other legislators and legislative staff attended, including my lead attorney/House Judiciary Committee Clerk.

On Sunday, December 13, 2009, I ran my second Honolulu Marathon. This year, I was struggling with knee problems and they really hurt during the marathon. I had lunch and dinner at my parents’ house and my sister Lara came by in the evening as well.

On Saturday, December 12, 2009, my campaign team consisting of my mom, sister Lara, Tracy, Brandon L., Brandon U., and Kenji decorated my truck with Chrstmas ornaments and “Jon Riki Karamatsu” magnets for the Waipahu Christmas Parade, which was from 2:00 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. that started at the Waipahu Recreation Center to the Waipahu Town Center.  During the parade, we threw candies to everyone.  I bought my friends frozen yogurt at the event at the end of the parade.

This evening, I had dinner with my mom and dad at Paesano in Aiea.  I needed to get more carbs for my run tomorrow.

Friday December 11, 2009

I attended the Hawaii Farm Bureau Luncheon at Kai Market in Sheraton Waikiki from 12:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M.

I interviewed an attorney from 2:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. at my capitol office.

I had dinner with my friends Shin and Neil Ho of Ho farms and a represenative of a national association for food security at Alan Wong’s Restaurant from 6:00 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.  The assoc. rep. left at 8:00 P.M. and the rest of us continued to talk.

 Rimi Natsukawa featuring Hawaii’s own Konishiki and Jake Shimabukuro – “Asadoya Yunta”

In the past few entries of this journal, I have written some really deep thoughts of mine.  To change the pace and liven things up, I made this fun entry!  This is a very lively tune by one of my favorite singers Rimi Natsukawa featuring Hawaii’s own Konishiki and Jake Shimabukuro performing the song “Asadoya Yunta”.

Go out with your family and friends!  Enjoy life!

My Thursday, December 10, 2009 Schedule:

1. Worked on my business;
2. Attended a meeting with Leeward elected officials Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, Rep. Sharon Har, Rep. Henry Aquino, and Councilman Tod Apo;
3. Picked up my Honolulu Marathon packet with my office manager;
4. Lunch with my office manager;
5. Interviewed two attorneys;
6. Worked on state work;
7. Talked with representatives in the health insurance industry; and
8. Watched a political play called “November” with Rep. Clift Tsuji, Tracy, and Lauren.

I attended the Hawaii Plantation Village Annual Christmas Party at the Hawaii Plantation Village in Waipahu on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 from 5:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. I talked to a number of old friends and met some new ones. I met a lady Yoko who worked at Duty Free Shoppers (DFS) Hawaii from 1969 to 2000. One day in 1969, she walked into the DFS store in Waikiki and was looking for a job. She met my grandpa Maurice Karamatsu and he told her, “If you want, you can work here now.” She was surprised that he was hiring her on the spot without a formal appointment or interview. She replied, “Now? I could work tomorrow.” She worked for DFS the very next day.  She spent a year at the DFS Waikiki store and the next thirty years at its airport stores.

“Hana” & “Warabigami” – Rimi Natsukawa and Jake Shimabukuro

My grandparents have all passed away.  As I reflect on them and their generation who faced racism, death, and so much struggle, I feel deep gratitude.  They helped to change the United States to make it better for the unborn generations to come such as mine.  To my grandparents and their generation: “Okage sama de.  Because of your sacrifice and love, I am who I am.  Domo arigatou gozaimashita.” 

Below is a mix of two songs, “Hana” & “Warabigami” sang by Rimi Natuskawa with ukulele music by Hawaii’s own Jake Shimabukuro.  I dedicate this song to my grandparents and their generation for everything they have done for us.  “Hana” means flower and “Warabigami” is about a young child born into this world.  The Issei (first) and Nisei (second)  generations sacrificed for us, the unborn children in their thoughts.  I pray to them. 

Grandma and grandpa Sakai and grandma and grandpa Karamatsu, I miss you.  Until we meet again.

 Frank Mills – “Music Box Dancer”

This song is one of my all-time favorites. 

I remember when my sister Mia danced to this with her first grade class for May Day.

It is one of the few songs that can make me happy and it can also bring so much emotion in me, sometimes even tears.  The tune brings purity and innocence, something many of us adults forget or lose, but the wonderful feelings come back when we hear it.

  Omar Akram – “Free as a Bird”

Above is a song that I have been listening to a lot recently.  When I listen to it, I think of life, especially all that I have gone through, the ups and downs, happiness and sadness. 

I think of all my loved ones and all that they have done for me.

I see my loved ones who passed away and I get another chance to tell them how much I care for them and all that I am doing now.

I entered the world of politics about fourteen years ago as a young man ready to fight the world, upset at the cruelty of humanity for all the suffering inflicted on so many people.  Now, I can look back and see that even in this cruel world, we can find joy.  I encourage many of you who are suffering, to keep trying, and to at least believe there is hope for joy.  I hope you can feel my positive energy.

When I listen to this song, I close my eyes and I can picture a couple dancing together under the cherry blossom trees as the flowers fall gently down with a cool light wind;

on a cliff overlooking the ocean with a soft mist as the sun slowly sets;

under a graceful snow fall, lightly falling from the heavens as if they too were dancing with the beautiful music;

and under a black night with stars sparkling, and a few stars streaking across the night’s sky here and there. 

True love surpasses everything, even when it is goodbye forever.

I attended the “Hawaiian-Style Christmas” party by Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC at the Halekulani Hotel on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.

I attended the Charter School Administration Conference Reception at Waikiki Beach Marriot on Monday, December 7, 2009 from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.

From June 16, 2008 to December 6, 2009, this website received 25,006 hits.  Prior to these dates, no statistics were done from December 21, 2002 to June 15, 2008.

I am happy to have great friends regardless of our part affiliations.  I am a Democrat who runs a business like most Democrats in politics, but I also look out for the everyday person and those who are suffering.  A lot of my staff in the past were my friends and I have hired friends who are Republicans.  I also be-friended Republicans who once tried to defeat me in my political races.  Sometime we agree to disagree on issues but in the end, our friendship supersedes.  To my Republican friends, thank you and let’s make some things purple.

Sure, there is sadness and suffering, but we will overcome any negativity and come back a thousandfold stronger.  I wish you happiness and only the best in your life!

Aloha,

I find it interesting that there is talk by some in the Internet world about my religious background.  I am influenced by Christianity, Buddhism, Shintoism, and Taoism, and I have incorporated all of these teachings into my fusion that I practice with a strong emphasis on Buddhism, which is my foundation in this great mixture.  I am open-minded to the unknown but I dream of compassion and peace for the human race.  Striving for compassion and peace is not a religion, but rather a way of life, just as it is to live with anger, hatred, and violence.

Buddhism is a way of life where one trains to better oneself with the goal of attaining  limitless compassion, wisdom, and peace when one becomes a Buddha.  Until then, one is a Bodhisattva if he or she is motivated by pure compassion and love.  One pays respect to the teachers of compassion or the many Bodhisattvas and Buddhas that came before.  Buddhism is a training of the human soul, mind, and body.  There is no worship of a god or gods.  There is no threat or pressure on others to be a Buddhist.  Shakyamuni Buddha or the founder of Buddhism believed there were thousands of Buddhas before him and there will be many more after him.  He just put it into writing.  The Buddha nature or that of limitless compassion exists in the human soul; we need to nurture it and make it come to full fruition.

There is a general belief in karma or cause and effect.  If we live a good life, we build good karma and if we live a bad life, we accumulate bad karma.  Our lives and the generations that follow us, even the unborn generations are affected by our actions.  When you do good things, positive things can come back to you and those around you.  Likewise, when you do bad things, negative things can come back to you and those around you.  Positivity attracts positivity and negativity attracts negativity.  When one lives a positive life, many positive people do positive things in return in a natural way with no strings attached.  When one lives a negative life, it comes back to haunt them in many different forms.  However, negativity can still attack positive people, but positive people find a way to overcome it without contributing back to the cycle of negativity or violence.  This upsets “evil” because they would rather see us suffering with sadness or retaliate and take revenge and be a contributing member of “negativity”.  Positive people seem to have a lot of positive friends around them and a number of them can even influence sad and angry people to be more positive.  In contrast, negative people turn off positive people, thus, they are often surrounded by other negative people.  Bodhisattvas like Achala try to help negative people from suffering and get onto the path of positivity.  You see many people who do this such as people helping our at-risk youth from gangs, drugs, and violence.  Thus, we must do positive actions rather than negative actions because with karma, what goes around comes around.  For every cause, there is an effect.

Different Buddhist sects or practitioners have various ideas of what happens after we die such as a pure land (heaven), reincarnation, different realms, or a world similar to the one we live in now.  However, we can only find out the unknown upon our death.  More importantly is how we live.  We can die with love, compassion, and happiness or we can die with anger, sadness, and suffering.  Bodhisattvas and Buddhas reach out to help the suffering of the living and the dead since they are interdependent.  The importance of death is critical because one must strive to live well so when it is time to die, one can pass on knowing he or she did the best in life.  We must try to address our suffering now instead of relying on “death” to end it all.  Many Buddhists believe that if you die suffering, your soul moves on as a suffering soul.  However, a suffering soul can still achieve happiness and even Buddhahood.  But why not make the most of our life now.  Once this life is over, it is over.  There is no turning back.  We can overcome negativity and help others overcome negativity, ecpecially those who are facing tougher challenges.  I only want people to be happy.  It is painul to see the suffering in peoples’ eyes.  It is hard to see the pain of individuals resulting from the actions of people with the mens rea or intent to do violence on others such as  murder, rape, and assault, which is the highest form of negativity.  The other form of negativity results from people with the intent to hurt others verbally, literally, and spiritually.

I am trying my best to overcome my human weaknesses.  In facing negative people, I do my darnest to stay positive.  Sometimes my inner thoughts tell me to just fight negative people back, blow for blow.  Moreover, my wish for more financial security sometimes clouds or delays my ideas for the people of Hawaii and the United States because I am worried about paying my bills so I scramble to work on my business when I find time.  Further, I have so many projects I want to complete, and I pack my schedule with a lot of appointments, thus, I need to improve my time management skills so that I am not chasing time.  Also, I am so driven towards my goals for society, and in order to achieve them, I seek the expertise of many people.  You often need a team to make a big idea come to reality.  As of this date, I have over two thousand individual contacts in my cellular phone alone.  I bonded with so many people through social networking, which often included alcoholic beverages to “break the ice” or lessen the formality or stress.  My DUI incident on October 16, 2007 reflects my error in judgment as I socialized with business leaders at a dinner party and later at another social gathering.  Finally, my personal desires are a threat to my drive to be purely good because a truly good person puts all others before himself or herself for everything.  I know we as politicians often show all our successes, and I have done my share, but I want to show you all my weaknesses that I am determined to overcome.  When I make a mistake or believe I could have done my work for Hawaii and the United States differently with a better outcome, I will tell you. 

We as individuals and collectively can change the world for the better.  Let’s do our best!   We all can live a compassionate and happy life.  Live life to the fullest!  Let’s achieve peace within, peace in our world, and possibly beyond.

With Warmest Aloha,

Jon Riki Karamatsu