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Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Ka`u News Briefs Sept. 5, 2012

Candidate to represent Ka`u and beyond in Congress, Tulsi Gabbard, spoke on the DNC stage.
Photo from Tulsi Gabbard
TULSI GABBARD’S STAR KEPT RISING QUICKLY yesterday as she spoke at the Democratic National Convention. The speech was broadcast nationally. Within hours the Los Angeles Times carried a story about her life. The LA Times story points out: “At 21, she became the youngest person elected to the Hawai`i Legislature. At 23, she was the state's first elected official to voluntarily resign to go to war. At 28, she was the first woman to be presented with an award by the Kuwait Army National Guard. Now, at 31, Gabbard is on her way to becoming the first Hindu elected to Congress.”
 Gabbard is getting rising star press coverage following her DNC speech.
Photo from Tulis Gabbard
      The LA Times quoted Gov. Neil Abercrombie, saying, "She has an equanimity of spirit, a calmness, perhaps engendered by her military service. She's a young person who reflects on the world around her and reflects on her place in it." Reporter Kim Geiger calls Gabbard “an unlikely advocate on social issues, notably same-sex marriage and abortion. It's a compelling evolution for Gabbard, the daughter of state Sen. Mike Gabbard and former state Board of Education member Carol Gabbard, social conservatives known for opposing same-sex marriage and abortion. Gabbard once shared her parents' views but changed her mind after two deployments with the Hawai`i Army National Guard to Iraq and Kuwait,” the LA Times story reports.
      Gabbard is running to take the congressional seat being vacated by Mazie Hirono. Her opponent is Republican David Kawika Crowley.
      Here is the speech Gabbard gave yesterday at the DNC:
“Aloha. I’m Tulsi Gabbard, candidate for Congress in Hawai`i, and a Captain in the Army National Guard. When I stepped down from the State Legislature, where I served, and headed to a war zone, I joined a long, proud, line of Americans who sacrificed to make us the land of the free, and the home of the brave. As a combat veteran, I know the cost of war. The sacrifices made by our troops and military families are immeasurable. These days, it's often women in uniform - moms, wives, even grandmothers - who deploy and leave their families behind.
      “Such heroes and patriots need and deserve leaders who truly understand and care about their hardships, and will fight for them. Leaders like President and Michelle Obama, and Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden…the strongest advocates our military families could ever have. The Democratic women of the House standing here will honor the service and sacrifice of our troops to move America forward. Aloha. Mahalo!” 
Sen. Gil Kahele, Ka`u's state Senator, is a delegate to the
Democratic National Convention in Charlotte,
North Carolina this week. Photo from Gil Kahele
      The Hawai`i delegates, who include Ka`u’s Senator Gil Kahele, have front row seats, as Pres. Barack Obama calls Hawai`i his home state. Kahele said this morning from Charlotte that hope is "in the air. The feeling of Democrats coming together is overwhelming. Being here among Democrats - everything is moving toward the nomination with Bill Clinton taking the stage this evening, leading up to Barack Obama's speech and nomination." Kahele said, "Once again we have to make sure this president is reelected to continue all the good things he has done, including creating jobs, saving the auto industry and dealing with the banks and Osama Bin Laden." Kahale said, "You see the integrity among the Democrats - taking care of your neighbor. This is something that we need to continue, so he can finish the job and all the dream." 
      Kahele said that Charlotte is a different place than when he passed through there as a young marine in 1962. He said he remembers the bus station with "big wire screens separating black and white people waiting for the bus. It is wonderful to see all that has changed and people working together," said Kahele.

COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS are scrapping over alleged inadequacies in handling the Primary Elections. Polling places opening late, lack of supplies, mis-delivered ballots and other complaints were reported to state election officials after the August primary. The discussion escalated this week when the state’s chief elections official said an ethics complaint has filed, saying that County Council Chair Dominic Yagong should not be helping out around the election office since his daughter is running for a council seat. Yagong said he was nowhere near ballots or any other materials that could affect the outcome of the General Election. He said he recently volunteered to help organize supplies so that the General Election could operate more smoothly.
      A story in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald says that County Council Vice Chairman Angel Pilago introduced a resolution asking the state Office of Elections to come up with criteria for it to intervene in county elections management, when problems arise. The state Association of Counties would discuss the proposal and the Legislature could follow up, the Tom Callis story reports. See more at hawaiitribune-herald.com.

A table showing how many DUI arrests, per district, were made
from Aug. 27 to Sept. 4 compared with DUI arrests made
throughout the year. Table from County of Hawai`i Police Dept.
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL records from Aug. 27 through Sept. 4 show that big Island police arrested 35 motorists for drunken driving. Six were involved in traffic accidents. One was under the age of 21.
      This year, there were 947 DUI arrests, compared with 974 during the same period last year, a decrease of 2.8 percent.
      This year, there were 981 major accidents compared with 931 during the same period last year, an increase of 5.4 percent.
      This year there were 25 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 15 during the same period last year, an increase of 60 percent.
      This year, five fatalities were related to drugs, two to alcohol and six more to a combination of both, the Hawai`i Police Department reports.
      DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue islandwide. 

KA`U `OHANA BAND is looking for flute & clarinet players. The band rehearses today and every Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Instruments are provided, and no experience is necessary. For more information, call 929-7544.

MUCK-SUCKING IS ON THE AGENDA at anchialine pool restoration workdays, tomorrow and Mon, Sept. 10, when volunteers help remove sediment from the pool. Sign up with Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

Trojan Girls volleyball - a  home match Saturday.
Photo by Nalani Parlin
KA`U TROJANS SPORTS LINE-UP FOR THIS WEEKEND starts with a football game at Konawaena Friday at 7 p.m. A home volleyball match versus Hilo starts Saturday at 10 a.m. Away Saturday events include a cross-county meet at Kamehameha at 10 a.m., an air riflery match at Waiakea at 10 a.m., and a bowling match at Kona Bowl in the afternoon. For more, call athletic director Kalei Namohala at 928-2012.

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND hosts a beach clean up at Kamilo Saturday, Sept. 15, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All volunteers will meet at Wai`ohinu Park on Hwy 11 near mile marker 65 at 7:45 a.m. and are asked to bring sturdy shoes, bag lunch, sun and wind protection, plenty of drinks and four-wheel-drive vehicles if possible. HWF will supply cleanup materials. Those interested can contact Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

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