LIHU‘E — Several of the candidates running for Congressional offices paid a visit to Kaua‘i this weekend. Linda Lingle, former Hawai‘i governor and a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat replacing Sen. Daniel Akaka, opened her tour with a
LIHU‘E — Several of the candidates running for Congressional offices paid a visit to Kaua‘i this weekend.
Linda Lingle, former Hawai‘i governor and a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat replacing Sen. Daniel Akaka, opened her tour with a guest presentation at the Rotary of Kaua‘i meeting Friday at the JJ’s Broiler in Anchor Cove, Nawiliwili.
“The Rotarians were afraid we were going to be in for a political stumping when they found out she was speaking,” said Rotarian Bill Harper, following the meeting. “But she was a really good speaker and was thrilled to learn the club was donating a book to the library in her name for her presentation.”
Following the lunch presentation, Lingle was met by Darlene Miller, an officer on the board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who formally endorsed the former governor’s bid for the U.S. Senate seat.
“Darlene flew in from the Mainland and they’re doing this on each of the islands,” said Goldie Cross, the Kaua‘i manager for the Lingle campaign.
A video taping of a three-minute piece at Ho‘ike Community Television for Ho‘ike’s “Access Democracy” program was followed by the formal opening of Lingle’s Kaua‘i Campaign headquarters on the street front at Anchor Cove, which followed the departure of the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Pride of America.
While that was going on, Tulsi Gabbard, Honolulu councilwoman and a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Congress, started her weekend tour with a series of meet and greets, including a stop at the Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission bon dance, which featured a good-sized audience of community residents. Unfazed by the crowd, Gabbard joined Janice Bond in the bon dance ring, doing several numbers before intermission.
“We’ll be stopping by the farmers’ market at the Kaua‘i Community College before attending the Koloa Plantation Days Rodeo,” said Dennis Esaki, accompanying the candidate. “Following that, she is being hosted to meet the community by Teddy Blake, and then she’s off to Hanapepe.”
Bond said she bought tickets for the Storybook Theatre’s opening of the Spark Matsunaga International Peace Garden and was going to bring Gabbard to view the garden, which was named for the Hanapepe-born Congressman.
Justin Kollar, a candidate for the Kaua‘i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, was also at the bon dance and said Mufi Hannemann, another Democratic candidate for Congress, was mingling with people near the yagura.
Hannemann, who recently resigned from his position with the Hawai‘i Tourism and Lodging Association, was garbed in a happi coat, the traditional Japanese informal jacket, and was in the bon dance ring celebrating the bon season with the Kaua‘i community.
