LIHU‘E — Several hundred Democrats filled Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School cafeteria Saturday for the Kaua‘i Democratic Party Grand Rally. The event featured speeches from more than 20 different Democrats, including local candidates for county council, the office of the prosecuting
LIHU‘E — Several hundred Democrats filled Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School cafeteria Saturday for the Kaua‘i Democratic Party Grand Rally.
The event featured speeches from more than 20 different Democrats, including local candidates for county council, the office of the prosecuting attorney and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Among others, President Obama’s sister Maya Soetoro-Ng, Sen. Daniel Inouye and Gov. Neil Abercrombie were in attendance, each one taking a turn to address the crowd.
Soetoro-Ng said she was thrilled to be back on Kaua‘i, a place she described as special, healing and beautiful.
“We have 17 days to reach out,” she said. “It is exceedingly important that we remember how much is at stake, and that if we lose the elections on Nov. 6, that we could begin to see a country that is much narrower, that is not embraced and beloved by everyone and that does not embrace everyone and love everyone wholeheartedly.”
She added it is important for voters to get out, raise their voices and tell their stories.
“It’s not just important that he (Obama) win, but that he win big. And it’s important that all the other Democrats win, too, because there is a distinct difference,” she said. “We want to send a very strong signal about who we are, what we believe in and the kind of country we live in.”
Before introducing Sen. Inouye, Gov. Abercrombie said that if anyone can be proud of being Democratic, it’s the people of Kaua‘i.
“You have made the difference all your lives,” he said.
On the verge of tears, Gov. Abercrombie added that he gets “so upset” when he sees the Republican Party using the death of Americans serving overseas as a political agenda. Democracy, he said, is about standing up for values and freedom.
After the introduction, Gov. Abercrombie handed the microphone to Sen. Inouye, who he said has lived up to those values all of his life.
“I’m home,” Sen. Inouye told the crowd. “I’ve been involved in political campaigns since 1954 as a candidate. Twenty-nine campaigns. And I must tell you, I return to my beginnings here with much nostalgia.”
Sen. Inouye said he turned on the television three weeks ago to hear Gov. Mitt Romney talking about the 47 percent of Americans who are financially dependent on the country, in one capacity or another. Gov. Romney went on to say how he would not represent that 47 percent, according to Inouye, who added that he himself is a part of, receiving a pension from the Army since 1945.
“It was insulting to hear a statement of that nature,” he said. “How could any person seek the presidency and say that they are not going to waste his time with that 47 percent? … Well let’s show him. Let’s show him what Kaua‘i can do.”
Sen. Inouye said he would do everything in his power to see that President Obama is reelected.
Following Sen. Inouye’s concluding speech, protesters seated in the back of the room began chanting to repeal Act 55, which was signed by Gov. Abercrombie. It created the Public Land Development Corporation, which gave its five board members broad powers to allow commercial development on public lands — including 1.8 million acres of ceded lands — while circumventing county zoning laws.
Additional speakers during the rally included Sen. Ron Kouchi, Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz — who was celebrating his 40th birthday during the event — Rep. Jimmy Tokioka, Rep. Derek Kawakami, Rep. Dee Morikawa, Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. and Senate candidate Mazie Hirono, who Soetoro-Ng introduced as “a champion of women, a binder of communities.”
“Kaua‘i has always come through for the Democrats in the strongest, strongest way, but we’re not going to rest,” Hirono said. “I stand before you to tell you that in all my years of public service … this is the race that is going to set the course for our country.”
Carvalho told the audience it is important for Democrats to stand together and understand the need to connect, and keep connected.
“It’s all about doing the right thing, getting out there, getting people to vote, vote, vote,” he said. “That is the biggest, biggest part.”
Lt. Gov. Schatz said that Kaua‘i is “Obama country” because the president “represents Kaua‘i’s values on the world stage.” He added that he is pushing for Kaua‘i to deliver the biggest margin for the Democratic Party during the Nov. 6 election.
“I encourage you to get on the phone and leave no stone unturned,” he said. “We really have to deliver. We have to run up the score and we are counting on the people of Kaua‘i to do that.”
Local Democrats up for election who spoke at Saturday’s rally included county council candidates Tim Bynum, Kipukai Kuali‘i, Gary Hooser, Jay Furfaro, Dickie Chang, Nadine Nakamura and JoAnn Yukimura; Office of Hawaiian Affairs candidates Kanani Kagawa-Fu, Liberta Albao and Keola Alalem Worthington; and Justin Kollar, candidate for prosecuting attorney.
• Chris D’Angelo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 241) or lifestyle@thegardenisland.com.
