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| Linda Lingle, the only speaker at the forum for U.S. Senate candidates yesterday, introduced by Sherry Bracken Photo by Andy Smith |
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| Sherry Bracken, at right, moderated the candidate forum in Kona yesterday, sponsored by Rotary. Photo by Andy Smith |
Hirono, however, has met with constituents on the Big Island, including a talk story at Kilauea Lodge and numerous other venues.
Bracken yesterday facilitated Lingle answering 20 questions from the audience and talking story with attendees at Kealakehe High School. The forum was sponsored by Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, Kohala Coast Resort Association, Hawai`i Island Board of Realtors, West Hawai`i Today, Mahalo Broadcasting, LAVA 105.3fm, Hawai`i 247.com, Rotary of Kona and Kealakehe High School.
According to Carolyn Lucas’ report in West Hawai`i Today and bigislandnewscenter.com, “The hour-and-a-half-long event featured a variety of topics, including how Lingle would deal with anti-American sentiments and her thoughts on term limits, furloughs and the calling for a constitutional amendment banning abortion.” Lucas writes that a “top priority for Lingle is getting a subcommittee on tourism created in the U.S. Senate. She called not having such a subcommittee on an important industry that employs millions of people ‘a gross oversight.’ She envisions chairing the subcommittee, helping streamlining the visa process and supporting measures that attract and keep businesses strong,” writes Lucas.
According to Carolyn Lucas’ report in West Hawai`i Today and bigislandnewscenter.com, “The hour-and-a-half-long event featured a variety of topics, including how Lingle would deal with anti-American sentiments and her thoughts on term limits, furloughs and the calling for a constitutional amendment banning abortion.” Lucas writes that a “top priority for Lingle is getting a subcommittee on tourism created in the U.S. Senate. She called not having such a subcommittee on an important industry that employs millions of people ‘a gross oversight.’ She envisions chairing the subcommittee, helping streamlining the visa process and supporting measures that attract and keep businesses strong,” writes Lucas.
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| Linda Lingle |
Lucas reports that “other priorities included making sure the U.S. Pacific Command is well funded and staffed strongly, eliminating tax loopholes and special tax treatment that resulted in $1.1 trillion a year in revenue loss to the federal government and simplifying the tax code.
“Lingle favors bringing down the corporate tax rate from 39 percent to something more reasonable, such as 20 to 25 percent. However, she would still retain deductions, such as the mortgage interest and charitable contributions. Lingle also said she would cut the regulations that ‘strangle’ the business community, as well as require a jobs impact statement that would accompany every new federal rule and regulation. The jobs impact statement would allegedly provide the public greater understanding of the risk the proposed rule would present for jobs and the overall economy, she added.”
Lucas writes in West Hawai`i Today that “When it comes to Medicare, Lingle shared her support and enthusiasm for an idea recommended by the Bipartisan Policy Center, a national policy and advocacy think tank. She revealed she’s one of six founding members of the center’s governors’ council, and she favors preserving traditional Medicare but also offering seniors in Medicare a premium-support payment they could use to purchase private insurance as an option. Lingle said private health plans would be chosen from those who meet the minimum requirements and be from regulated exchanges. She also stressed there would be regulations preventing cherry picking of the healthiest seniors. She thinks this private option would increase competition, lower costs and best contain Medicare’s growth,” Lucas reports.
Lucas also observes that “Lingle repeatedly focused on her bipartisan approach to national problems and ending the gridlock in Washington, D.C., her commitment to putting Hawai`i’s people first and possessing an understanding of the important issues facing neighbor island communities and her ability to make tough decisions. She said she can best articulate Hawai`i’s needs, including why money spent on the Big Island is in the country’s best interests. She pledged to not be held to the Republican Party and not go to work for the next president. Instead, she expressed her duty to propose and support legislation that’s good for Hawai`i. She said she wants to be more like Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, ‘who votes 62 percent with the party,’ and ‘doesn’t vote based on whose idea it was, but who benefits.”’
Lucas writes that “Lingle claimed the skills she gained as Hawai`i governor from 2002 to 2010, including confronting and managing the state’s economic crisis by closing an almost $3 billion deficit in 18 months without increasing taxes and while maintaining a “AA” bond rating. She also touted her win of the majority of votes in all of Hawai`i’s 51 House Districts during her 2006 re-election campaign — something that she believes shows a trust and proves her ability to work across party lines.”
“Lingle favors bringing down the corporate tax rate from 39 percent to something more reasonable, such as 20 to 25 percent. However, she would still retain deductions, such as the mortgage interest and charitable contributions. Lingle also said she would cut the regulations that ‘strangle’ the business community, as well as require a jobs impact statement that would accompany every new federal rule and regulation. The jobs impact statement would allegedly provide the public greater understanding of the risk the proposed rule would present for jobs and the overall economy, she added.”
Lucas writes in West Hawai`i Today that “When it comes to Medicare, Lingle shared her support and enthusiasm for an idea recommended by the Bipartisan Policy Center, a national policy and advocacy think tank. She revealed she’s one of six founding members of the center’s governors’ council, and she favors preserving traditional Medicare but also offering seniors in Medicare a premium-support payment they could use to purchase private insurance as an option. Lingle said private health plans would be chosen from those who meet the minimum requirements and be from regulated exchanges. She also stressed there would be regulations preventing cherry picking of the healthiest seniors. She thinks this private option would increase competition, lower costs and best contain Medicare’s growth,” Lucas reports.
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| The candidate forum at Kealakehe High School gave Linda Lingle an uncontested opportunity to talk to the public. Photo by Andy Smith |
Lucas writes that “Lingle claimed the skills she gained as Hawai`i governor from 2002 to 2010, including confronting and managing the state’s economic crisis by closing an almost $3 billion deficit in 18 months without increasing taxes and while maintaining a “AA” bond rating. She also touted her win of the majority of votes in all of Hawai`i’s 51 House Districts during her 2006 re-election campaign — something that she believes shows a trust and proves her ability to work across party lines.”
See more on the elections and the candidates at www.westhawaiitoday.com and www.bigislandnewscenter.com.
HAWAI`I’S BIG ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL is taking entries for the 2013 event set for May 23-27 at the Fairmont Orchid.
“A celebration of narrative filmmaking in inspiring Hawai`i Island settings, BIFF includes screenings, social events and networking opportunities, celebrity receptions, screenwriting workshops and more,” says a statement from organizers.
A Golden Honu will be awarded to the Best Feature and Best Short in Family, Student, Animated, Foreign, Hawai`i and Audience Choice. Numerous films shown over the last seven years of the festival have won awards at prestigious film festivals around the world and achieved commercial success in the industry.
Among them are the made-in-Hawai`i comedy Get A Job, which was screened in Spain during the Marbella Film Festival and numerous other festivals around the world. It is currently shown in Hawai`i theaters, prior to mainstream DVD release this fall. 2012 films Searching for Sonny, Qwerty, The Italian Key and numerous others have enjoyed success on film festival circuits, as have 2011’s The Dead Inside and Uncle Melvin’s Apartment. The Drummond Will has been acquired by House Lights Media Partners for Theatrical and Non-Theatrical North American distribution.
Deadlines to submit films are Nov. 1 for discounted entry fees; Jan. 1, 2013 for regular entry fee; and Feb. 1 with late, higher entry fees.
Film Festival executive director Leo Sears said that, thanks to “our wonderful audiences, filmmaker family and supporters, we’re able to bring a little bit of the ‘Sundance’ experience to Hawai`i. For more, call 883-0394. See bigislandfilmfestivalcom.
TOMORROW IS THE DEADLINE for Ka`u fifth-grade girls to sign up for GEMS, the American Association of University Women’s Girls Exploring Math & Science event on Thursday, Nov. 15 at Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay. At the event, women from the community introduce their occupations and show how they use math and science in their daily work. The program is designed to stimulate interest and bolster confidence of girls in traditionally male-dominated fields. For more, contact GEMS chairperson Cindy Armer at cbarmer@hotmail.com.
WRITING A BUSINESS PLAN is the topic of a workshop Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Hazel Beck, of Hawai`i Small Business Development Center, teaches what it takes to get a business started. Pre-registration is recommended. Contact Jackie Muller at 327-3680 or jacqueline.muller@hisbdc.org.
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| Big Island Film Festival is now accepting entries for its 2013 event. Photo from bigislandfilmfestival.com |
Among them are the made-in-Hawai`i comedy Get A Job, which was screened in Spain during the Marbella Film Festival and numerous other festivals around the world. It is currently shown in Hawai`i theaters, prior to mainstream DVD release this fall. 2012 films Searching for Sonny, Qwerty, The Italian Key and numerous others have enjoyed success on film festival circuits, as have 2011’s The Dead Inside and Uncle Melvin’s Apartment. The Drummond Will has been acquired by House Lights Media Partners for Theatrical and Non-Theatrical North American distribution.
Deadlines to submit films are Nov. 1 for discounted entry fees; Jan. 1, 2013 for regular entry fee; and Feb. 1 with late, higher entry fees.
Film Festival executive director Leo Sears said that, thanks to “our wonderful audiences, filmmaker family and supporters, we’re able to bring a little bit of the ‘Sundance’ experience to Hawai`i. For more, call 883-0394. See bigislandfilmfestivalcom.
WRITING A BUSINESS PLAN is the topic of a workshop Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Hazel Beck, of Hawai`i Small Business Development Center, teaches what it takes to get a business started. Pre-registration is recommended. Contact Jackie Muller at 327-3680 or jacqueline.muller@hisbdc.org.
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| A vessel by Tim Freeman. Photos from Volcano Art Center |
VOLCANO ART CENTER has two group exhibits opening on Saturday. At the new Rainforest Gallery at Ni`aulani in Volcano Village, works made of clay, wood, metal and canvas depict the elements of earth, fire, air and water through representational or impressionistic means.
This group exhibit, entitled The Elemental: Setting Forth Various Elements Through Transfigurement Into Shining, features artists Clayton Amemiya, Henry Bianchini, Kevin Diminyatz, Stephen Freedman, Tim Freeman, Stephen Lang, Chiu Leong, Monika Mann, Michael Marshall, William McKnight, Elizabeth Miller, Jerilee Negrillo, Alan Ohara, Susumu Sakaguchi, Randy Shiroma, Randy Takaki, Kaori Ukaji and Glenn Yamanoha.
Rainforest Gallery hours are 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For showings outside of gallery hours, call for an appointment at 967-8222.
Rainforest Gallery hours are 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For showings outside of gallery hours, call for an appointment at 967-8222.
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| A work by Amy Flanders in Tiny Treasures. |
Tiny Treasures, an invitational jewelry exhibition at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, features works of fine art, craft and jewelry designs from a diverse collection of Hawai`i artists including J. Bennett, Danielle Bolton, Brenda May Ching, Daniel E. Rokovitz, Amy Flanders, Patricia Larsen-Goodin, Wayne Keeth, Jessica Landau, Stone O’Daugherty, Pat Pearlman, Tad Sewell, Stacey Siegel, Jamie Stokes and Candice Wakumoto. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information, visit volcanoartcenter.org, call 967-7565 or email gallery@volcanoartcenter.org.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS NOW OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS NOW OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.