JON RIKI KARAMATSU

On Wednesday, November 4, 2009, I had meetings with an attorney I befriended while campaigning at Izuma Taisha at my office from 2:00 P.M., Senator “Najo” Yoshinaga at my office from 2:30 P.M., a friend supporting at-risk youth at Starbucks on Alakea Street from 3:00 P.M., and attended the Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association General Membership Meeting at Plaza Club from 5:30 P.M.

I attended the Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association general membership meeting at the Plaza Club tonight, Wednesday, November 4, 2009 from 5:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

I visited the Waianae Comprehensive Health Center on Monday, November 2, 2009 from 10:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

I attended “A Tribute to Saint Damien” on the grounds of Iolani Palace from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

I attended the  Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s Halloween Masquerade Ball at Pacific Beach Hotel on Saturday, October 31, 2009 from 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.

I cooked oden with fellow members of the Honolulu Yamaguchi Kenjinkai at Palolo Hongwanji on October 31, 2009 from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

In past journal entries, I have alluded to someday sharing my ghost or unexplainable experiences.  For many years, I have avoided it.  I finally decided to share a few of my experiences.  I am too nervous to share the more intense or scarier stories.  I remember how ghost story writer Glen Grant said how U.S. Senator Spark M. Matsunaga had hoped to share his ghost stories with him but never had the opportunity because he had passed away before he had a chance.  I tell a lot about my life now as far as my politics, philosophy, and personal life just in case I don’t have a chance to put it into formal writing.  With Halloween, this fits right in.

I don’t have much unusual experiences as a child.  I don’t remember this, but my mom did say that when I was really young, I told her there was a man in my room.  When she asked me where, I would point and she would tell me that she didn’t see anything.  My sister who is two and a half years younger would say the same thing later as well.

When I was young, I would hear whispering in my mom and dad’s bathroom.  I told my mom but she said it was probably because I needed to clean my ears.

I would not have anymore experiences until 1997.  At this time, I was a student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa majoring in political science and a student government leader as Vice President of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii or ASUH.  It was during this time that I experienced many unusual things and met a number of people who shared their supernatural gifts with me.

To be continued…

“Young Forever” – Jay-Z featuring Mr. Hudson

My prayers go out to all my friends who are facing health, financial, legal, and career challenges.  Money and power is an energy for good and bad.  When you are on top, everyone wants to be around you.  Negative people and “negativity” in general will constantly try to take you down.  When you fall, people bail out on you.  Then when you are back on top, everyone wants to be with you again.  In the end, you only have a handful of true friends.  Keep your true friends close because when you die, your spirit lives on with them.

Even in death, we will be friends forever.

I attended the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Annual Meeting at Hilton Hawaiian Village today, Friday, October 30, 2009 from 6:00 P.M.

I attended the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation 62nd Annual Convention at Kauai Marriot Resort from Wednesday, October 28 to Thursday, October 29, 2009.

I am attending the Poi Dog, Popoki & the 19th Puka golf tournament for the Oahu Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals (Oahu SPCA) at Hoakalei Country Club in Ewa Beach on Monday, October 26, 2009 from 12:00 P.M.

I attended Ryan and Jodie’s wedding on Saturday, October 24, 2009 from 5:30 P.M. at Waialae Country Club. I went early to help set up their Kahala Hilton reception suite and led the invocation at their wedding reception.

My invocation:

I am honored to do the invocation for this wonderful evening.  Could you kindly join me in prayer.

To our lord, our teachers of compassion, Ryan and Jodie’s loved ones who passed away, and all of Ryan and Jodie’s ancestors, thank you for the love and friendship between Ryan and Jodie.  Thank you for this wonderful couple’s family and friends who care so much for them.  Also, thank you for watching over Ryan and Jodie throughout their lives and sending them so much positive energy.  We truly appreciate the happiness we all share with each other.

Finally, thank you for the food we are about to partake in tonight.  Itadakimasu.  Please enjoy your meals.  Mahalo.

I cancelled my attendance to a subcontractors event on Friday, October 23, 2009.  I needed a litle break from the campaign for my family.  I am took my mom and aunty Jamie to see a Japanese movie, “Cobalt Blue”, a love story.  Speaking of love story, I have to continue working on my ultimate love story, which I have postponed my internal deadline to 2011 because of my Lt. Governor race.

I attended the Waipahu Neighborhood Board meeting at the Filipino Community Center on Thursday, October 22, 2009 from 7:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.  I talked to a couple of board members until midnight in the parking lot.

“All the Right Moves” – One Republic

In a competitive field such as politics, there are many battles, some you will win and some you will lose, but the goal is to win the war.  To win, one has to work extremely hard, present good ideas, and raise money.  But among all this is the psychological warfare of name dropping, flashing one’s financial warchest, and releasing information favoring one’s team.

Winning political battles are great, but when you lose a battle, take it, brush it off, and keep working relentlessly.  The song “All the Right Moves”  by One Republic seems to describe the political game.

“All the Right Moves” – One Republic

All the right friends in all the wrong places
So yeah, we’re going down
They’ve got all the right moves and all the right faces
So yeah, we’re going down

Just paint the picture of a perfect place
They’ve got it better than what anyone’s told you
They’ll be the King of Hearts, and you’re the Queen of Spades
And we’ll fight for you like we were your soldiers

I know we’ve got it good
But they’ve got it made
And the grass is getting greener each day
I know things are looking up
But soon they’ll take us down
before anybody’s knowing our name.

They’ve got all the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we’re going down
We’ve got all the right moves and all the wrong faces
So yeah, we’re going down

They said, everybody knows, everybody knows where we’re going
Yeah, we’re going down
They said, everybody knows, everybody knows where we’re going
Yeah, we’re going down

Do you think I’m special?
Do you think I’m nice?
Am I bright enough to shine in your spaces?
Between the noise you hear
And the sound you like
Are we just sinking in an ocean of faces?

It can be possible that rain can fall,
Only when it’s over our heads
The sun is shining everyday, but it’s far away
All the world is dead.

They’ve got,
They’ve got all the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we’re going down
We’ve got all the right moves and all the wrong faces
So yeah, we’re going down

They said, everybody knows, everybody knows where we’re going
Yeah, we’re going down
They said, everybody knows, everybody knows where we’re going
Yeah, we’re going down

It don’t matter what you see.
I know I could never be
Someone that looks like you.
It don’t matter what you say
I know I could never face
someone that could sound like you.

All the right friends in all the wrong places
So yeah, we’re going down
We’ve got all the right moves and all the wrong faces
So yeah, we’re going down

All the right friends in all the wrong places
So yeah, we’re going down
We’ve got all the right moves and all the wrong faces
So yeah, we’re going down

They said, everybody knows everybody knows where we’re going
Yeah we’re going down
They said, everybody knows everybody knows where we’re going
Yeah we’re going down

Yeah we’re going down
Yeah we’re going down

All the right moves, hey
Yeah, we’re going down
All the right moves, hey
Yeah, we’re going down

I attended an Evening with FACE (Faith Action for Community Equity) at Empress Restaurant in the Chinese Cultural Center on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 from 4:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.

I attended the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center Open House on 94-340 Kunia Road today, October 20, 2009 from 3:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.

I attended the 11th Annual “It’s Not Your Fault” Benefit Luncheon for the Sex Abuse Treatment Center at Oahu Country Club from 12:00 P.M., Tuesday, October 20, 2009.

Senator Clayton Hee and I have a meeting with farmers at an Ewa farm today, October 20, 2009 from 10:00 A.M.

Today, October 19, 2009, I had a lunch meeting with friends in the realty industry, meeting with a person entering the government relations business, and meeting with leaders in the Hawaii State Department of Public Safety.

My campaign team and I will volunteered at Jodo Mission of Hawaii’s Bazaar at Jodo Mission of Hawaii on Sunday, October 18, 2009 from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

I attended the Ola Pono Ike Medical Gala 2009, Presented by Hawaii Medical Association and Honolulu Medical Society at Hyatt Regency Waikiki on Saturday, October 17, 2009 from 5:30 P.M. I will be receiving a Legislator of the Year award.

I attended the special showing of the film “An Untold Triumph”, the Story of the 1st and 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiments, U.S. Army at Mission Memorial Auditorium at Honolulu Hale from 5:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.   This event is a part of the Filipino American History Month.

I attended the Chefs Salute to Hawai 4-H with Alan Wong and Roy Yamaguchi at Natsunoya Tea House on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 from 6:30 P.M.

I attended the Waikele Elementary School Community Council & Parent Teacher Student Organization Meeting on Wednesday, October 13, 2009 from 6:00 P.M.

I chaired the joint House Committees Judiciary, Public Safety, and Human Services informational hearing on the The Hawaii Meth Project at the Hawaii State Capitol Room 325 on Wednesday, September 13, 2009 from 2:00 P.M.

On Sunday, October 11, 2009, I attended Izuma Taisha Mission’s Autumn Festival at Izuma Taisha Mission’s temple from 2:00 P.M. to 6:15 P.M.  (From June 1, 2009 to October 11, 2009, I met approximately 20,000 people)

On Sunday, October 11, 2009, I attended the Hawaii Fishing and Seafood Festival at Pier 38 from 9:00 A.M. to 1:15 P.M.

I attended the panel discussion with Governor Ben Cayetano at the Hawaii State Library on Saturday, October 10, 2009 from 1:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. – a program of the Filipino-American History Month.

I attended Children’s Fun Day at Holomua Elementary School from 10:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. on Saturday, October 10, 2009.

As a moderate Democrat, the following is my experience campaigning events throughout the state.  It would probably be different for other candidates.

In my experience campaigning statewide, greeting over 19,000 people, the political awareness is extremely extremely high with the seniors.  At the senior fair, I got the most positive feedback by far than any other event.  Many seniors knew who I was, which made talking to them so much easier.  I love being with seniors.  For me, a senior event is the best.  I enjoy mingling with grandmas and grandpas, partly because I miss my grandparents so much.

The second best feedback is at the various cultural events.  Culture means so much to people, especially when traditions are at risk of being continued by younger generations.  Also, it is nice to see various demographics practicing each other’s culture.

The third best type of events are family oriented events.  People who attend these events really enjoy spending time with their grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren.  Many care so much for their family that they naturally care about their community and understand the role government can impact them.  Even some of the teenagers have shown interest. 

The fourth type of events that are good to attend are business or union events because the members have a vested interest in government since they understand how it directly affects their industry.

The fifth best type of events are issue related, especially if you are on the right side of the issue.

The sixth type of events I mingle at are social or business mixers made up of young professionals in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.  These individuals want to network, especially the ambitious young professionals.

After the Filipino American veterans’ event on Friday, October 9, 2009, I attended the Alternative Taste Street Festival at the urging of one of my colleagues in the Senate.  I cancelled my exercise time and went to the event.  It can’t hurt to meet more people I thought.  At the event, a few people I knew came up to me.  I approached a number of people I didn’t know as I usually do throughout the state.  A few individuals knew who I was, several had no idea who I was, and after rejections from three individuals I called it quits.  The pattern has been similar for me at events with extreme liberals, a few people keep track of politics, some sort of keep track, but a good number of them don’t care.  Ironically, as House Judiciary Chair, I passed legislation that has never been done before, which benefits this community.  Politically, I am beginning to wonder the true political strength of the so called liberal community in Hawaii.

My grandma Bessie Karamatsu’s baby brother Roy Okubo has been in my thoughts.  Recently, at the reception for the new Consul General of Japan at the consulate I talked to Katsugo Miho, a former family court judge and a veteran of the 522nd Artillery Battery B, 442nd Regimental Combat Team with my great Uncle Roy Okubo.  I mentioned my relation to my uncle.  He responded, “Oh, he was one of my closest friends. We spent months in the trenches, you become really close.”  Tears poured out of his eyes.

I attended Filipino History Month: Hawaii’s Filipino and Filipino-American Soldiers “A Legacy of Valor and Loyalty”, opening reception at Honolulu Hale Courtyard on Friday, October 9, 2009 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.  I was touched especially when my friend Domingo Los Banos (former Department of Education district superintendent & whose wife owns Children’s House School, which I attended preschool) made a prayer for all the Hawaii boys from the plantations who sacrificed for their country, many who passed away and are probably here tonight.  He mentioned how war is ugly and how we should avoid it.  My eyes got watery.  I am honored to have met some of these men or “boys” as they call themselves.  Like the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and 100th Infantry Battalion, I sense so much energy in these brave veterans as they have seen so much.  Domingo told me some history as he glanced at the pictures, some with him in it.  I could feel his stories just by looking at his eyes.  His eyes told me everything.

I attended the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce’s Chopsticks & Wine at Sheraton Waikiki Hotel tonight Wednesday, October 6, 2009 from 5:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.

Finishing my work at the capitol. For a break, I danced by myself to some songs on my Ipod. It reminds me of when I got caught dancing by myself in the 2008 Legislative Session in my old office, Capitol Room 427 when another office staffer of middle age walked in my office wanting a signature for a House certificate and I was in the middle of my dance. That was really funny! Any way to relieve stress right! 😛

I met with the Vice President of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of North America at my capitol office on Monday, October 5, 2009 from 1:00 P.M. to 2:30 P.M.  I also got to meet her nice mother and daughter and show them around the State Capitol including the House chambers and the Governor’s office.

I attended the Children & Youth Day at the State Capitol on Sunday, October 4, 2009 from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

I attended the Japanese Cultural Center’s 2009 Celebration of Leadership and Achievement Dinner at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 5 P.M. to 9:15 P.M.

I attended the Filipino American History Month Opening Reception at the Hawaii State Library courtyard on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 1:45 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.

I attended the Plumbers Local 675 Membership Benefits Conference at Dole Cannery’s Iwilei Ballroom on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 11:00 A.M. to 1:15 P.M.

I attended the HMSA Island Scene Festival at Kaka’ako Gateway Park on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 9 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.

I will attend 4 events tomorrow from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. I hope to meet another 1,000 people tomorrow. I personally met about 19,000 people so far since June 2009 based on campaign materials I handed out.

On Friday, October 2, 2009 from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M., I will be attending the 60th National Day of China & Mid-Autumn Festival Banquet at Empress Restaurant in the China Town Cultural Plaza Shopping Center.

I met with an old time developer for lunch at Hukilau Restaurant on September 28, 2009 from 12:00 P.M.  That day I also met with Chief Justice Moon at the Hawaii Supreme Court from 2:30 P.M.

I attended a Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii health committee on October 1, 2009 from 12:00 P.M.

I attended the Hawaii International Film Festival Film launch & sneak peak screening at Dole Cannery Theatres on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 from 6:30 P.M.

On September 30, 2009, I co-chaired the Joint House Human Services and Judiciary Committee informational hearing on the Office of Youth Services from 11:00 A.M. at the Hawaii State Capitol.