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| Hawai'i Volcanoes 40th Annual Cultural Festival Lori Lei Shirakawa Katahara, on 'ukulele, who taught generations of hula in Kaʻū with her Shirakawa hula studio, sings with Dane Sesson on bass and Gene Akamu on guitar at the 40th Annual Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Cultural Festival on Saturday. Staged at the Kahuku Unit, it featured food, song, dance, cultural practices and participation by the public. It was sponsored by Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i Pacific Parks Association and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. See more in upcoming Kaʻū News Briefs. Photos by Sara Espaniola |
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JILL TOKUDA HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT PRES. JOE BIDEN'S DEPARTURE FROM HIS CAMPAIGN AND KAMALA HARRIS RUNNING FOR THE PRESIDENCY. Tokuda, Kaʻū's Congresswoman, said, "President Biden has been a remarkable leader, guiding our nation through some of its most challenging times and making investments that will benefit generations to come. We owe a great deal of gratitude to him for his bold leadership and steadfast commitment to making life better for all Americans."I will never forget when he came to Maui following the devastating fires that destroyed Lahaina. He committed the full weight and force of the federal government behind our recovery efforts, but what really struck me was the way he genuinely connected with our people. He held their hands, he listened, and he gave people hope. Just last week, when I spoke with him, he again asked about Maui and how the administration could help. He has always been there for us and is a true friend to Hawai'i. It took great courage to do what he has done, and it is an example of how Joe Biden always puts country first. I have nothing but the sincerest aloha for him.
"I join President Biden in fully endorsing Kamala Harris to be our Democratic nominee for President of the United States. I was with Vice President Harris when she spoke at our Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote Presidential Town Hall in Philadelphia last week. For our Asian American Native
Hawaiian Pacific Islander community, she made clear that she is one of us, she hears us, and she will empower us. Through her leadership and action, we have seen that she has always been ready and able to step up to lead this country as its commander-in-chief. I am one hundred percent behind her. "We must now come together and fight to defend our democracy and the very basic values of equality, justice, and freedom. The threat of a Trump-Vance presidency and Project 2025 is real. We need Kamala Harris as President to provide the strong leadership necessary in this moment to protect our democracy, restore our rights, and ensure a brighter future for Hawaiʻi and all Americans."
GOV. JOSH GREEN REACTED TO PRES. JOE BIDEN'S EXIT FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ON SUNDAY: “President Biden and his family have made this decision, which I said all along was his and theirs to make. I have no doubt that it was a difficult decision and in this, I thank him again for his selfless leadership.”
“On behalf of the state of Hawaiʻi, especially the residents of Maui, I express our forever-gratitude to President Biden for granting wildfire disaster relief within an unprecedented six hours of our making the request in a time of our people’s deepest need.”
Green had planned to co-host a Biden-Harris fundraiser on Martha's Vineyard this week.
"I join President Biden in fully endorsing Kamala Harris to be our Democratic nominee for President of the United States. I was with Vice President Harris when she spoke at our Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote Presidential Town Hall in Philadelphia last week. For our Asian American Native
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| Kamala Harris at an Asian Pacific Islander American Vote Presidential Town Hall last week with Kaʻū's Congresswoman, Rep. Jill Tokuda. Harris received Tokuda's endorsement for the U.S. presidency on Sunday. Photo from APIA |
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
AS PRES. JOE BIDEN DEPARTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ON SUNDAY, MEMBERS OF HAWAI'I'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION issued statements.
Sen. Mazie Hirono said, “Like millions of Americans, I’m extremely grateful for Joe Biden’s service to our country over the past five decades, and his leadership over the last four years.
“After four years of utter chaos, President Biden led our country back from the pandemic and into the strongest economic recovery in a century. Under his leadership, Democrats passed landmark legislation to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure, support our veterans, combat the climate crisis, and invest billions in communities throughout Hawai'i and across our country.
"His foreign policy leadership has been exemplary, helping to restore our country’s image on the world stage, strengthen NATO, and marshal international support for Ukraine. As the only person to have defeated Donald Trump, President Biden understands as well as anybody how high the stakes are this November, and I respect his decision to pass the baton.” Biden has a little under six months left of his
presidency.
Hirono also endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to become the next President of the United States. “Working alongside the President, Vice President Harris has played a critical role in the progress we’ve made, and has shown herself ready to lead our party moving forward. In the Senate, I saw firsthand what a fierce, committed, and effective champion Kamala is for the American people. I’m proud to call Vice President Harris a friend and colleague, and I look forward to doing everything in my power to get her elected to the White House, so we can continue building on the progress of the last four years,” said Hirono
Sen Brian Schatz said, “For over 50 years, Joe Biden has been a selfless patriot and dedicated public servant who’s given everything to the country he so dearly loves. As a senator, vice president, and now president, he has spent most of his life working to make people’s lives better and the world safer. Today, yet again, he has put the country before himself, making the best choice for the American people in this uniquely consequential moment. For that, and for his lifetime of service, we should all be deeply grateful.
“It’s not an overstatement to say Joe Biden has been and is the most consequential president of our lifetime. His legislative accomplishments speak for themselves and will endure for generations to come. He took the biggest climate action in human history. He cut the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and made our communities safer by passing long-overdue gun reform. He’s also revitalized our nation’s infrastructure and strengthened our alliances around the world.”
"There’s no question Americans today are better off because of Joe Biden,” said Schatz.
Sen. Mazie Hirono said, “Like millions of Americans, I’m extremely grateful for Joe Biden’s service to our country over the past five decades, and his leadership over the last four years.
“After four years of utter chaos, President Biden led our country back from the pandemic and into the strongest economic recovery in a century. Under his leadership, Democrats passed landmark legislation to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure, support our veterans, combat the climate crisis, and invest billions in communities throughout Hawai'i and across our country.
"His foreign policy leadership has been exemplary, helping to restore our country’s image on the world stage, strengthen NATO, and marshal international support for Ukraine. As the only person to have defeated Donald Trump, President Biden understands as well as anybody how high the stakes are this November, and I respect his decision to pass the baton.” Biden has a little under six months left of his
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| President and First Lady Joe and Jill Biden with Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz, visit the scene of the Lahaina wildfire devastation last August and promising federal assistance. Photo from CSPAN |
Hirono also endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to become the next President of the United States. “Working alongside the President, Vice President Harris has played a critical role in the progress we’ve made, and has shown herself ready to lead our party moving forward. In the Senate, I saw firsthand what a fierce, committed, and effective champion Kamala is for the American people. I’m proud to call Vice President Harris a friend and colleague, and I look forward to doing everything in my power to get her elected to the White House, so we can continue building on the progress of the last four years,” said Hirono
Sen Brian Schatz said, “For over 50 years, Joe Biden has been a selfless patriot and dedicated public servant who’s given everything to the country he so dearly loves. As a senator, vice president, and now president, he has spent most of his life working to make people’s lives better and the world safer. Today, yet again, he has put the country before himself, making the best choice for the American people in this uniquely consequential moment. For that, and for his lifetime of service, we should all be deeply grateful.
“It’s not an overstatement to say Joe Biden has been and is the most consequential president of our lifetime. His legislative accomplishments speak for themselves and will endure for generations to come. He took the biggest climate action in human history. He cut the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and made our communities safer by passing long-overdue gun reform. He’s also revitalized our nation’s infrastructure and strengthened our alliances around the world.”
"There’s no question Americans today are better off because of Joe Biden,” said Schatz.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
“On behalf of the state of Hawaiʻi, especially the residents of Maui, I express our forever-gratitude to President Biden for granting wildfire disaster relief within an unprecedented six hours of our making the request in a time of our people’s deepest need.”
Green had planned to co-host a Biden-Harris fundraiser on Martha's Vineyard this week.
