Ka`u News Briefs Dec. 19, 2010

The Ka`u High School Band will perform on Monday, Dec. 20 from 4 to 6 p.m.
at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo.

CONGRESSOWMAN MAZIE HIRONO and President Barack Obama vowed yesterday to continue working for the DREAM Act, which would provide opportunity for young people brought illegally into the U.S. a chance at residency if they attend college or serve in the military. The House passed the bill last week, but Senate supporters were short five votes to bring it out of debate for a vote. “The DREAM Act is important to our economic competitiveness, military readiness, and law enforcement efforts,” said Obama. Citing the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office report, the President said, “the DREAM Act would cut the deficit by $2.2 billion over the next 10 years” since these young people with college and the military experience would declare their income, pay taxes and be able to openly accept higher paying jobs. 

     Hirono voted for the DREAM Act when it passed the House. She said she knows of many young people in Hawai`i who came here as children with their parents and face the nightmare of deportation. She also stated: “Our nation was founded on the powerful ideals of freedom and tolerance. These values still elude other nations to this day, which is why the American Dream endures in the minds of so many around the world. As an immigrant to this country myself, I know the power of that dream. That I could become a member of the People’s House shows that the dream can come true.” Opponents call it a back door to illegal immigration.

IN OTHER CONGRESSIONAL ACTION, the Senate repealed the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law by a 65 to 31 vote. President Barack Obama praised the outcome, saying that no longer will many thousands of gays and lesbians serving in the military be “asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love.” 

Young Brothers has threatened to leave the Islands.

YOUNG BROTHERS is threatening to reduce its service or leave Hawai`i altogether, according to editors of Pacific Business News who met with Young Brothers CEO Glenn Hong. Young Brothers opposes the Public Utilities Commission allowing the San Diego based shipping company Pasha Hawai`i Transport Lines to make interisland deliveries on its way to and from the mainland. Young Brothers contends that Pasha is not required to play by the same rules, giving it an unfair advantage over Young Brothers, which is forced to serve unprofitable routes. 

Dr. Kauanoe Kamana

ON HAWAI`I ISLAND, Kauanoe Kamana, who along with her husband Pila Wilson has mentored many native Hawaiian children at Punalu`u, was granted a doctorate in Hawaiian and indigenous language and culture revitalization at University of Hawai`i-Hilo. Kamana is the first native Hawaiian to be granted a doctorate in her field and is one of the Mellon fellows who gather at Pahala Plantation House annually to share their research. 

Duke Aiona visited Ka`u during his campaign
for Governor and talked to Kapapala ranchers
Lani Petrie and Jan Cran.

DUKE AIONA, who lost his bid to become governor on November 2, has taken a new job, this one as executive vice president of development and recruitment at St. Louis School. He will also be the spokesman for the all-boys Catholic school. He graduated from St. Louis in 1973 and has been a board member for nearly a decade.

Lynn Finnegan helped put together
The Ka`u Calendar newspaper
during her run for Lt. Governor.

Aiona’s running mate, Lynn Finnegan, who served in the state legislature, has taken the post of executive director of the Hawai`i Charter School Network. 

MUFI HANNEMAN, who lost his bid to become governor in the Democratic Gubernatorial Primary after stepping down as Honolulu mayor, has also accepted a new job. He will be president of the Hawai`i Hotel & Lodging Association starting Jan 1. The trade group represents 170 properties and more than 48,000 rooms.