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| President Barack Obama receives a lei from Hawai`i. Photo courtesy of Democratic Party of Hawai`i |
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| Former Big Island Mayor Dante Carpenter |
FORMER BIG ISLAND MAYOR DANTE CARPENTER is one of several Hawai`i residents with Big Island roots attending the National Democratic Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina today, where President Barack Obama will be nominated to run for re-election. Carpenter was Hawai`i County mayor from 1984 to 1988 and chairs the Democratic Party of Hawai`i. Other delegates from the Big Island are Sen. Gil Kahele and Dolly Salazar. Also on hand are Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Sen. Dan Inouye, outgoing Sen. Daniel Akaka, U.S. Senate candidate Mazie Hirono and U.S. Senate candidate Colleen Hanabusa. Thirty-eight delegates from Hawai`i are attending the convention.
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| Tulsi Gabbard |
CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE TULSI GABBARD is slated to talk around 1 p.m. today on the Democratic Convention stage in Charlotte, North Carolina, focusing on the sacrifice and importance of members of the U.S. military. The appearance, led by House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, is part of a presentation by six women members of Congress and two new candidates for Congress on the Democratic ticket.
Gabbard is also making headlines in the international press today with her background in the Hindu religion. If elected in November, Gabbard would become the first Hindu-American elected to Congress, according to Global Post. The story refers to an earlier interview in Press Trust of India. Gabbard said she “had the opportunity to study both Lord Krishna’s Bhagavad Gita and also the New Testament. And like Mahatma Gandhi, who also studied both the Gita and the teachings of Jesus Christ, I saw that the central message of both is that we can only be truly happy if we are using our life in the loving service of God and humanity. That is what I am trying to do in my life – to actually apply the universal spiritual teaching of Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga,” the Press Trust of India reported.
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| Hula from Hawai`i at Democratic National Convention. Photo courtesy of Democratic Party of Hawai`i |
Another first, according to advertising by Gabbard, is that she would be the first woman combat veteran elected to Congress. According to reports at civilbeat.com this morning, Gabbard could be among several combat veterans, including Tammy Duckworth, to be elected to the House in the general election. If the others win, Gabbard may not be first, as Hawai`i is often the last state to announce winners since polls close later here because of the time difference.
Gabbard was born in American Samoa, and her family moved to O`ahu when she was the age of two. After growing up on O`ahu and earning an International Business degree from Hawai`i Pacific University, she was elected to the Hawai`i state Legislature. A member of the Hawai`i Army National Guard, she was deployed to Iraq twice. She came home and won a seat on the Honolulu City Council. She defeated former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann in the Democratic primary for Congress in August for the seat being abandoned by Mazie Hirono, who seeks the U.S. Senate seat left open by the retiring Dan Akaka. After defeating Ed Case in the primary, Hirono faces the Republican, former Hawai`i Gov. Linda Lingle, in the Nov. 6 election.
Gabbard was born in American Samoa, and her family moved to O`ahu when she was the age of two. After growing up on O`ahu and earning an International Business degree from Hawai`i Pacific University, she was elected to the Hawai`i state Legislature. A member of the Hawai`i Army National Guard, she was deployed to Iraq twice. She came home and won a seat on the Honolulu City Council. She defeated former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann in the Democratic primary for Congress in August for the seat being abandoned by Mazie Hirono, who seeks the U.S. Senate seat left open by the retiring Dan Akaka. After defeating Ed Case in the primary, Hirono faces the Republican, former Hawai`i Gov. Linda Lingle, in the Nov. 6 election.
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| Dylan Nonaka and Mitt Romney Photo from Dylan Nonaka |
DYLAN NONAKA is also making the national stage at political conventions. Introduced by House Speaker John Boehner, Nonaka led the Republican Convention last Thursday in the Pledge of Allegiance, wearing a maile lei. Nonaka, a combat veteran of U.S. marines in Iraq and a reservist with the Army in Hilo, is a graduate of University of Hawai`i-Hilo. In past years, he came to Ka`u to march in parades to support campaigns for former County Council member Guy Enriques. Now 31, Nonaka has been a leader of the Republican Party both locally and statewide and was a delegate to the 2012 Republican National Convention last week in Tampa, Florida.
KA`U `OHANA BAND is looking for flute & clarinet players. The band rehearses tomorrow and every Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30 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, Thursday, Sept. 6 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.
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| Maile Yamanaka |
MAILE YAMANAKA presents her monthly First Friday program at Volcano Art Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on Sept. 7. Kona in Myth, Chant, Dance & Song is the topic from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Hula, the Art of Hawaiian Dance, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and Keiki Hula from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Events are free, and park entrance fees apply. Call 937-4249 for more information.
KA`U’S KULEANA LANDOWNERS are invited to learn how the Office of Hawaiian Affairs can help them apply for property tax exemption at a meeting next Tuesday, Sept. 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center.
Handed down through Hawaiian families for generations, kuleana lands are usually small parcels surrounded by larger tracts of property and sometimes are landlocked. Call 808-594-1967 for more information.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.