11/14/09 Robbie Dingeman - Honolulu Advertiser
President Obama's announcement last night that Honolulu will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation annual meeting in 2011 put his hometown at the center of one of his most important international initiatives.
Hawaii has been vying for months to host the gathering of 21 heads of government from the Asia-Pacific region who discuss the economy, trade and investments.
And last night, leaders from Washington, D.C., to Downtown Honolulu praised Hawai'i's selection as a way to put the state on the map as a serious international business meeting place where East meets West year-round.
East-West Center President Charles Morrison said the summit is expected to bring 19 heads of state, many Cabinet ministers and other high-ranking officials, and more than 10,000 participants.
Holding the leaders meeting in Hawai'i "attracts attention and excitement no amount of money can buy," said Morrison, who is attending this year's APEC meeting in Singapore.
"Hawai'i has never had anything remotely approaching an international meeting where the president of the U.S., president of China, prime minister of Japan, and many other heads of state come at the same time, not to mention something like 75 Cabinet officials, the heads of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and World Trade Organization, and leading regional and global business people," Morrison said.
He added, "This may be arguably the biggest and most open international meeting of 2011, and it's in Hawai'i."
The 2011 event will be held from Nov. 12 to 20.
The president made the Hawai'i announcement to APEC leaders gathered in Singapore.
"When America hosts APEC in a few years, I look forward to seeing you all decked out in flowered shirts and grass skirts, because today I'm announcing that we are bringing this forum to my home state of Hawai'i in 2011," he said.
In comments to the APEC leaders, Obama stressed the critical importance of the region.
"Perhaps no connection between Asia-Pacific and the United States runs stronger or deeper than the economic ties we share," he said.
In his first major trip to Asia as president, Obama has called himself the "first Pacific president." He was born in Honolulu and lived here — except for four years in Indonesia — until he went to the Mainland for college.
"America's four top trading partners are now APEC members, with the countries that form the Association of Southeast Asian nations collectively making up the fifth," Obama said.
He noted that 60 percent of the goods and services the United States exports go to APEC nations — exports that support millions and millions of American jobs.
"The United States is also the largest export market for Asia, which has led to more affordable goods and services for American consumers," he added.
Obama earlier indicated that the United States will also be engaging with the four Trans-Pacific Partnership countries (Brunei, Chile, Singapore, New Zealand) with the goal of shaping a regional agreement that will have broad-based membership and the high standards worthy of a 21st century trade agreement.
"We also believe that continued integration of the economies of this region will benefit workers, consumers, and businesses in all of our nations," he said. "Together, with our South Korean friends, we will work through the issues necessary to move forward on a trade agreement with them."
The APEC meeting rotates among members and was first held in the United States near Seattle in 1993. That's where then-President Bill Clinton came up with the tradition of having the leaders wear outfits chosen by the host. The 2010 meeting will be held in Japan.
The meeting here is seen as a coup for the state's visitor industry as it underscores Hawai'i as a good site for international business gatherings, especially for the Asia-Pacific region.
Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann last night said he was "ecstatic" that Honolulu had been selected to host the 2011 APEC Summit.
In addition to collaborating with the East-West Center and Hawai'i Tourism Authority on the proposal to host the conference, Hannemann said he lobbied for the effort in meetings with White House and State Department officials in June.
"When President Charles Morrison of the East-West Center first approached the city about collaborating on a proposal to host APEC, the key component was security," Hannemann said, and Honolulu beat out the two California cities there.
"Honolulu, and all of Hawai'i for that matter, will be on the world stage come 2011, and it will be our opportunity to show that we're more than sun, sand, sea, surf and the spirit of aloha," Hannemann said.
Aside from the immediate economic impact, Morrison said it opens a new line of business over the longer term for the state as "a truly world-class international center."
Gov. Linda Lingle said the selection of Hawai'i to host the APEC Leaders Meeting is "an affirmation of Hawai'i's strategic role as a leader in the Asia-Pacific region, and will help build a stronger economic foundation for Hawai'i's future."
"We appreciate President Obama selecting Hawai'i for this important meeting and recognizing the significant role Hawai'i plays as America's most diverse and strategically located state," she said.
U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye also praised the selection.
"The spotlight that will shine on Hawai'i during the APEC meetings will remind the world that our culture and strategic location is the ideal site to gather global leaders and debate the needs of a diverse society," he said.
Inouye said the state serves as a bridge between the East and the West, and "will help show our Asia-Pacific neighbors that the United States remains committed to collaborating on economic policy as the world emerges from international recession."
HTA president and chief executive officer Mike McCartney said the leaders meeting will help to combat the state's image as more of a place to play than work, often dubbed "the boondoggle effect."
"The APEC meetings will dispel that misconception and position Hawai'i as a global business destination," McCartney said. "The world will see that Hawai'i is an ideal place to conduct business due to our strategic location in the Pacific and our multi-cultural diversity."
State tourism liaison Marsha Wienert earlier said she does not yet have an estimate of what the economic value of having the international meeting here would be, but it is significant.
The last high-level international gathering for Honolulu was the Asian Development Bank meeting in 2001.
That meeting had stirred worries of violent protests that had erupted in other cities but the meeting went smoothly with only small non-violent demonstrations.
San Francisco, the Los Angeles-Orange County area, New York and Miami were being considered as possible venues for the conference. Earlier, Hawaii Convention Center's SMG general manager Joe Davis said the decision was narrowed to between Honolulu and the two California destinations weeks ago.
The 21 members of APEC are: Australia; Brunei; Canada; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; New Zealand; Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; the United States; Chinese Taipei; Hong Kong, China; People's Republic of China; Mexico; Papua New Guinea; Chile; Peru; Russia; and Vietnam.
8/21/09 Whitehouse.gov
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _______________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release August 21, 2009 FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF HAWAII STATEHOOD - - - - - - - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION
It is with great pride that our Nation commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of Statehood for Hawaii. On August 21, 1959, we welcomed Hawaii into the United States ohana, or family. Unified under the rule of King Kamehameha the Great, it was Queen Lili'uokalani who witnessed the transition to a Provisional Government controlled by the United States. As a Nation, we honor the extensive and rich contributions of Native Hawaiian culture to our national character. Borne out of volcanic activity in the Pacific Ocean, a chain of islands emerged that would bear witness to some of the most extraordinary events in world history. From Pu'ukohola Heiau and the royal residence at the 'Iolani Palace, to the USS ARIZONA Memorial and luaus that pay tribute to Hawaiian traditions, Americans honor the islands' collective legacy and admire their natural beauty. Home to unique and endangered species, active volcanoes, and abundant reefs, the Hawaiian islands actively conserve their distinctive ecosystems with responsible development and a deep-rooted appreciation for the land and surrounding ocean.
The Aloha Spirit of Hawaii offers hope and opportunity for all Americans. Growing up in Hawaii, I learned from its diversity how different cultures blend together into one population -- proud of their personal heritage and made stronger by their shared sense of community. Our youngest State, Hawaii faces many of the same challenges other States face throughout our country, and it represents the opportunity we all have to grow and learn from each other. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by the virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim August 21, 2009, as the Fiftieth Anniversary of Hawaii Statehood. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
The Great Seal of the State of Hawaiʻi & Ka Hae Hawaiʻi or the Flag of the State of Hawai'i
Hawaii plans quiet, sobering 50th statehood anniversary (out of respect)
8/16/09 MARK NIESSE - AP
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii turns 50 years old as the 50th state Friday, but there will be no grand parades, no dazzling fireworks, no lavish displays of native culture.
Organizers of the observation are not even willing to call it a party. It is simply a "commemoration," one that is sensitive to a painful history of the Hawaiian monarchy's overthrow and unresolved claims of Native Hawaiians.
The main event is a low-key daylong conference reflecting on Hawaii's place in the world. Behind the tourist-friendly tropical images of beaches and sunshine, many remain uncomfortable with the U.S. takeover of the islands and the idea that businesses have exploited Hawaiians' culture.
"Instead of state government having huge parties and fireworks, we're having a convention," said Manu Boyd, cultural director for the Royal Hawaiian Center, a shopping and entertainment area in Waikiki. "That shows the strength and spiritual power of the Hawaiian people, whose shattered world has not yet been addressed."
When statehood came calling in 1959, it ushered in an era of economic prosperity through tourism and the side effects that came with it: resort high rises, more than 500,000 monthly tourists and an emphasis on hokey luaus rather than the authentic host culture.
Sovereignty groups advocating independence from the United States make up a minority, but many residents recognize the long-standing issues associated with the 1893 overthrow of the monarchy, the islands' annexation and past harms to the Native Hawaiian people.
Dodie Brown was a smiling 6-year-old when her father took a picture of her holding a newspaper proclaiming "Statehood!" — an image that traveled around the world.
"It's good that the commemoration is quiet," said Brown, who now works for the city of Honolulu. "Something like this should be done with taste and finesse, in respect to everyone's feelings."
Dodie Brown, 56, a resident of Honolulu looks over at picture taken by her father George Bacon when she was 6-years-old Saturday 8/15/09. Brown is holding a copy of the 3/12/59 special Hawaii statehood edition of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Brown said she remembers her mother dressing her in a Hawaiian mumu and brushing her hair before her father took the picture in the family's front yard. (AP Photo/ Eugene Tanner)
Besides the statehood conference, the Hawaii Statehood Commission has been airing TV and radio ads with "50 Voices of Statehood" interviews, inviting schools to place commemorative items in time capsules, displaying artwork on the meaning of statehood in the Hawaii Convention Center and showing exhibits in state airports. State lawmakers allocated $600,000 for statehood events.
"Out of respect, we decided not to do the parade and the big party," said Kippen de Alba Chu, chairman of the Statehoood Commission. Those kinds of events "would have been a waste of state funds, especially given the economy."
Alaska, by contrast, which joined the union in January, 1959, embraced the 50th anniversary of statehood with concerts, fireworks displays, a prize-winning float in California's Rose Parade and observances throughout the state during the past 12 months. Among the festivities celebrated in a downtown Anchorage festival was the re-enactment of placing the 49th star on the American flag.
Here, even the low-key conference is drawing complaints. Hawaiian sovereignty groups are planning protests outside the convention center Friday, and some say the conference's topics are too focused on tourism, economic development and business opportunities.
One panelist, University of Hawaii Center for Hawaiian Studies professor Jonathan Osorio, said the conference should focus more on Hawaiian culture and history.
"It's a political cop-out because the state doesn't really want to address the legal or political nature of its claim to authority in Hawaii," Osorio said. "It's one of the reasons they have really muted its commemoration."
Nearly 18 years after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor pulled the United States into World War II, Hawaii was admitted into the United States on Aug. 21, 1959.
About 94 percent of island chain's voters supported statehood. Opponents argue that the vote was tainted because the only choice on the ballot was to become a state or remain a territory — independence was not an option.
The Hawaiian kingdom was overthrown in 1893 when a group of white businessmen forced Queen Liliuokalani to abdicate while U.S. Marines came ashore. Hawaii was considered a republic until it became a U.S. territory by a resolution approved by Congress in 1898.
"This newfangled idea of celebrating statehood shows that people don't understand Hawaii's history, or if they do understand, then they're celebrating a lie, a theft, that essentially stole a people's right of self-determination," said Poka Laenui, a Hawaiian and attorney who has worked for independence for more than 30 years.
Along with statehood came striking changes to the islands, as the first commercial jetliner's arrival in Honolulu just a few weeks earlier began the dawn of the tourism era. Today, Hawaii's economy depends on tourism as its primary industry, with nearly 7 million visiting the islands in 2008.
Hawaii's image as a beach paradise captured the imagination of the rest of the world, aided by sometimes irreverent marketing of hula girls, leis or tiki torch-lit hotels.
In recent years, the tourism industry has made strides in ensuring the Hawaiian culture is respected rather than exploited, said Kelii Wilson, Hawaiian cultural coordinator for the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
For example, businesses should ensure that Tahitian dancers aren't called Hawaiian hula dancers, and that Hawaiian words are pronounced and spelled correctly, Wilson said.
"Growing up as a child here in Hawaii, I did see misrepresentations of the culture," she said. "Now we're getting closer to the right place."
One way Hawaiians are moving toward having a voice in their self-determination is through legislation pending in Congress that would treat them similarly to Native American tribes and Alaskan natives. (See Akaka Bill below)
After a decade of efforts, the measure could pass into law as soon as this year with the support of Hawaii-born President Barack Obama.
**************
In the early 2000s, the Congressional delegation of the State of Hawaiʻi introduced the Native Hawaiian Federal Recognition Bill named after U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI). The Akaka Bill would establish the process of recognizing and forming a native Hawaiian government entity to negotiate with state and federal governments. The significance of the bill is that it would establish, for the first time in the history of the islands, a new political and legal relationship between a native Hawaiian entity and the federal government. This native Hawaiian entity would be a newly created one without any historical precedent in the islands or direct institutional continuity with previous political entities (unlike many native American Indian groups, for example).
This bill came under significant scrutiny by the Bush Administration's Department of Justice as well as the United States Senate Judiciary Committee. The political context surrounding the Akaka Bill is both controversial and complex. Proponents, who consider the legislation an acknowledgement and (partial) correction of past injustices, include Hawaiʻi's Congressional delegation as well as the current Republican Governor Linda Lingle. Opponents include the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights who question the constitutionality of creating race-based governments, libertarian activists who challenge the historical accuracy of any claims of injustice, and other native Hawaiian sovereignty activists who feel the legislation would thwart their hopes for complete independence from the United States.
A poll commissioned in 2005 by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs asserted that 68 percent of Hawaiʻi residents support the bill, 17 percent do not support it and 15 percent refused to answer or had no opinion. Another poll conducted earlier that year by The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii indicated that 67% of Hawaiʻi residents were against the Akaka bill. It has been speculated that the phrasing of the questions asked in both of the respective polls influenced the results, and so no definitive survey to determine levels of public support has yet been carried out in Hawaiʻi.
Depiction of the Coat of Arms (King Kamehameha III reign) of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi
Moto: "Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono," roughly translated into English as "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."
Twin sisters, Obama on parallel paths for years
BORN AT THE SAME HONOLULU HOSPITAL AS OBAMA
Posted on: 12/22/08 Dan Nakaso -Honolulu Advertiser
Retracing the steps of history, Eleanor Nordyke now realizes that she was in labor with twin daughters while Barack Obama, now the president-elect, was being born at what is now Kapi-'olani Medical Center for Women & Children.
The twins, Susan "Nunu" Bell and Gretchen "Nini" Worthington, were not only born in the same hospital hours after the future president, but also ended up in the same classes with Obama at Noelani Elementary School and later at Punahou School from the seventh grade to graduation in 1979.
"I think it was remarkable that they just so happened to be born within 24 hours of each other and grew up knowing each other," Nordyke said.
She did not know Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, while they were in labor together on Aug. 4, 1961, at the old Kapiolani Maternity and Gynecological Hospital.
But Nordyke was a population research fellow at the East-West Center while Dunham was there. And Nordyke later met Madelyn Dunham — Ann Dunham's mother and Obama's grandmother — during a cruise to Tahiti in 2002.
"She was placed at our table on the ship," Nordyke said. "She sat with us on that ship for three weeks. She told us that her daughter had passed away and that she had raised her grandson, and he was a social worker in Chicago."
When Obama was making his successful presidential run, Nordyke realized that her daughters were born within hours of him at the same hospital.
The Hawai'i certificate of live birth that Obama displays on his Web site shows he was born at 7:24 p.m. on Aug. 4.
Nordyke was well into labor by then with girls who were three weeks premature. By 2 p.m. the following day, Susan was born at 5 pounds, 12 ounces, and Gretchen weighed in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces.
As toddlers, the girls called each other "Nunu" and "Nini" "and the other children picked it up, and we held onto it all this time," Nordyke said.
With the names Nordyke and Obama, the twins were often pictured near Obama in their class yearbooks, their mother said.
The daughters now live on the Mainland, and neither returned repeated telephone messages seeking comment.
But one or both may return to Honolulu in June when their class celebrates its 30th reunion, Nordyke said.
Eleanor Nordyke sits in her living room in Manoa with her twin daughters' scrapbook. They were born within hours of President-elect Barack Obama; the twins also graduated from Punahou with Obama.
Susan "Nunu" Bell, left, and Gretchen "Nini" Worthington were born at the same Honolulu hospital where Barack Obama was born hours earlier. The twin girls also graduated from Punahou with Obama.
Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Photos by GREGORY YAMAMOTO | Honolulu Advertiser
August 4th is President Obama's birthday (born in Honolulu, Hawaii in Kapiolani Medical Hospital) AND his birthplace will celebrate it's 50th anniversary of statehood on August 21st. I sent him a post card that had a picture of a surfer in a wave tube and wished him a happy birthday and that he ride many more waves.
Today my husband and I will proudly attend The Pacific Islanders' Cultural Association's 15th Annual San Francisco Aloha Festival. This event will have special meaning to us because a native Hawaiian, President Barack Obama, is our president and because Hawaii is celebrating it's 50th anniversary of statehood.
We will wear our buttons proudly that read "Obama Ohana" (Obama Family) and eat the foods, hear the music and see the dances that are native to Hawaii.
Obama on Clinton: A 'Loose Cannon' Who Tells 'Bald-Faced Lies'
Politics Daily More Links
Referring to the link below:
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/06/03/obama-bill-clinton-is-a-bald-faced-liar/?icid=main%7Cmain%7Cdl1%7Clink3%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicsdaily.com%2F2009%2F06%2F03%2Fobama-bill-clinton-is-a-bald-faced-liar%2F
Just IN CASE for y'll out there supposedly SUPPORTERS of Democracy and HOW we got here...AND WHY THIS SITE and we EVEN Exist or have some little INPUTS in our Daily LIVES.
PULL ALL of Ya A..es OUT OF YOUR SleepyHEADS!
SI SE PUEDE!!!
TO OUR BELOVED FAMILY OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD FROM US IN HAWAII, JASON AND LINDA IZUMI WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NOWRUZ WHICH WE JUST NOW LEARNED IS YOUR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION!!!
WE JUST SAW THE VIDEO OF OUR PRESIDENT OBAMA SENDING GREETINGS YOU ALL FOR THIS SPECIAL DAY OF THE YEAR FOR YOU. WE DID NOT REALIZE YOU HAD A DIFFERENT DATE TO START OFF THE CALENDAR YEAR! THIS SHOWS HOW THERE IS JUST SO MUCH WE NEED TO LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER! ANYWAY, WE HOPE THIS WILL ALSO BE THE START OF A NEW ERA OF PEACE AND RENEWED FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN OUR COUNTRIES.
WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS DESCENDED FROM OUR ORIGINAL PARENTS ADAM AND EVE, AND IT IS OUR HOPE WE WILL ALL NOT FORGET THIS, THAT WE ARE ALL ONE FAMILY. WE HOPE YOU WILL PLEASE FORGIVE US FOR THE WRONGS WE AS A NATION HAVE COMMITTED AGAINST YOU OVER THE YEARS. LET US FROM THIS DAY FORWARD PLEASE MAKE AN EFFORT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER AND UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER THAT WE MAY ACHIEVE THE PEACE WE KNOW ALL OF US DESIRE!
SO WE KINDLY AND HUMBLY ASK TO PLEASE GIVE OUR PRESIDENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THIS PEACE REACHING EFFORT. MANY OF US ARE PRAYING FOR HIM AND HIS ADMINISTRATION DAY AND NIGHT, THAT GOD LEADS THEM ON THE RIGHT PATH TO MAKE PEACE WITH ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD. WE ALSO ASK THIS OF OUR OWN PEOPLE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES ESPECIALLY, TO COOPERATE WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA. PLEASE LET US ALL BEGIN A NEW TIME OF FAIRNESS, JUSTICE, UNDERSTANDING, GOODWILL, HOPE, CHANGE AND PEACE. MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU!!!
SINCERE REGARDS FROM YOUR BROTHER AND SISTER AND FRIENDS JASON AND LINDA IZUMI FROM KONA, HAWAII WHERE WE ALSO SEND OUR "ALOHA" TO YOU WHICH IN HAWAIIAN MEANS LOVE, PEACE, GOODWILL, CHARITY, KINDNESS, BEST WISHES AND MANY OTHER GOOD THINGS!
HOWEVER!!! -- "CHANGE" IS NOT ALWAYS WELCOME ESPECIALLY WHEN IT AFFECTS THE "POWERFUL AND WELL CONNECTED!!!" -- NOT NOW NOT THEN, NOT EVEN DURING JESUS' DAYS, REMEMBER?! -- NOTHING NEW, SAME STORY, WHEN ARE WE EVER GOING TO LEARN TO BREAK OUT OF THIS TRAGIC CYCLE?! UPITY, MYOPIC BISHOPS ON THE EUROPEAN MAINLAND BROUGHT CHARGES AGAINST THIS LATER TO BE VENERATED SAINT AND EVEN GOT SOME OF THE IRISH PEOPLE THEMSELVES TO OPPOSE HIM. (HINT: LET'S NOT MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE AGAIN THIS TIME!)
BUT NEVER FOOL WITH A GIFTED VISIONARY LEADER (ABOUT WHICH ONE OBAMA BLOGGER WROTE EXTENSIVELY AND SUPERBLY RECENTLY) AND ESPECIALLY NOT ONE WITH AN OVERSIZED "SHALLALY OF HOPE" IN HIS HANDS! HE'LL GO PLACES! AND ST. PADDY WENT! THE IRISH CHURCH CAN CREDIT ST. PATRICK FOR MAKING IT THE "GREATEST MISSIONARY CHURCH IN HISTORY" ACCORDING TO SOME SCHOLARS.
SO DEAR PRESIDENT "O'BAMA" WHOSE NAME SOME HAVE ACTUALLY TRACED BACK TO THE EMERALD ISLE, AS YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR OVERSEAS VENTURES SOON, WHILE AMERICANS FORTUNATE ENOUGH SUP ON CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE, AND AS BILLIONS OF EYES THROUGHOUT THE PLANET LOOK UPON YOU FOR HOPE AND CHANGE, REMEMBER THE GREAT LEGACY OF HOPE AND CHANGE BEGAN BY ST. PATRICK AND DON'T FORGET THE MIRACLES WORKING FOR YOU TODAY:
YOUR FIRST NAME BARACK IS A "BLESSING." HUSSEIN IS "GOOD" AND IS A MIRACLE IN ITSELF -- HOW IT SURVIVED AN AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN THIS DAY AND AGE IS BEYOND JASON AND LINDA, AND WHO KNOWS THE POTENTIAL ADVANTAGE THIS NAME WILL AFFORD YOU AS YOU WORK THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST! ALSO YOUR EARTH QUAKING FOOTSTEPS -- THEY'RE GENERATING A TIDAL WAVE OF SUPPORTERS THROUGHOUT THE PLANET WATCHING OUT FOR YOU AND FOR OUR (MAYBE FINAL? WHO KNOWS...) CHANCE FOR HOPE AND PEACE.
"SNAKES" WITH ANY "SHENANIGANS" IN MIND AGAINST YOU HAD BETTER GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THIS GIGANTIC MIRACLE TSUNAMI OF HOPE AND CHANGE COMING THEIR WAY! WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON GETTING "LEFT BEHIND." WE ARE GOING TO GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME!!!
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO YOU AND FAMILY PRESIDENT O'BAMA, AND TO ALL OUR O'BAMA FRIENDS OUT THERE FROM JASON AND LINDA IZUMI FROM KONA, HAWAII WHERE GREEN IS "IN" ALL YEAR 'ROUND!.......LINDA PLEASE PASS THE POTATOES.......JASON GET THAT TABASCO AWAY FROM SUE!.......(JUST KIDDING SUE...WE LOVE YA SWEETHEART.....KEEP POURING ON THAT HOT SAUCE!)
P.S. AND GOD'S LOVE AND BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL! ALOHA!
Aloha beloved fellow Obama friends! Just reminding you that the GREEN DAY is coming up Tuesday and Linda and I would like to suggest some of you start doing some research right away on this AMAZING SAINT -- PATRICK, that is, although President Obama is PRETTY AMAZING HIMSELF!!!
Anyway, Linda and I will post our thoughts soon about what we think about St. Patrick and Obama and the President's overseas trip soon and the world, etc...etc.......
HMMMMMM.....see if we can explain this one.....
Have a WONDERFUL Sunday everyone, God bless! from Jason and Linda Izumi from Kona, Hawaii where ALOHA means love, charity, grace, peace and a lot of other good stuff.......
FLORIDA HERE WE COME!!! No, not to do campaigning as we did last fall, but to show our artwork at OUTDOOR ART FESTIVALS throughout this SUNSHINE AND BATTLEGROUND STATE which, as none of us will ever forget, got a fresh coating of CELESTIAL (blue) for President Obama.
Jason has been coming to THE LAND-O-GATORS since 1992 to show his mixed media paintings and Linda is his dear "Unpaid Artist's Assistant" as these are unfortunately called (not to worry, we're actually IN LOVE with each other MUCHISSIMO and take care of each other MUY BIEN!)
Anyway, just like to toss an IDEA out to all of you: ART FESTIVALS are soon to be springing up all over the country as they do every year, and are attended by countless thousands. So Linda and I would like to suggest we all take out our favorite OBAMA GEAR to show off our support of our President! -- OBAMA t-shirts, OBAMA pins, OBAMA badges, OBAMA tatooes, OBAMA baseball caps, OBAMA socks, OBAMA coffee mugs anyone? -- anyway you get the idea. This would be a FUN and easy way to OFA -- Organize For America!!!
These ART FESTIVALS are equal opportunity and non-partisan of course, but who said we're PARTISAN? Democrats, Republicans, Independents as well as other Crats, Cans and Dents, All voted for our MAN, so DON'T BE SHY!!! Our guy needs us to OPENLY SUPPORT HIM!!!
We're all in this for LIFE, folks (and for LIfe's SAKE!) Might as well make it ENJOYABLE ...sometimes at least...
FREE ARTWORK to anyone who spies Linda or me WITHOUT something "OBAMA" flashing from our person or our booth at any of these shows!!!...
Come see us, and our ARTWORK of course, in De Land, Jacksonville (Mandarin,) Maitland and Apopka or visit our studio in Altamonte Springs, on Palm Springs Dr. near the mall...
We'll be leaving sunny Hawaii for sunny Florida on the 25th of March. (Very sorry to be spewing all that pollution into the skies over our beloved country, please forgive us)...
Aloha from Jason and Linda Izumi from Hawaii, where our favorite U.S. congressman Neil Abercrombie (D) just announced he SHALL be running for our new governor next year, which is going to be a BIG BATTLE against (Bush kissing and Obama defaming) Linda --"wicked witch of the west" -- Lingle's 2nd in command, Duke Aiona (R) who has already pulled out his knives for the contest. But we'll be rooting for our OBAMA MAN Abercrombie. WE JUST LOVE BEING ON THE WINNING SIDE!!!
Linda and I were working yesterday so did not get to watch President Obama's health care summit conference (except for a few peeks now and then whenever I got a chance to leave grandma Teshima's busy kitchen to sit at her coktail lounge where there is a TV almost forever tuned to CNN.)
Whatever I did get to see, though, must say was rather NICE! People were RESPECTFUL, rather CIVILIZED I should say, even when there was an R by their name, and Mr. President looked so calm and IN CHARGE. Can only hope and pray this trend continues.
Got a hold of our local paper tonight anyway, and was generally pleased with the way this process is starting off. We liked "Every voice has to be heard. Every idea must be considered...The status quo is the one option that is not on the table." As well as, " Those who seek to block any reform at all, any reform at any cost, WILL NOT THIS TIME AROUND." (Emphasis ours.)
But our favorite, and the AP writer Liz Sidoti mentioned the next item just for us we think. Did anyone get to see our President SNEEZE? Twice in fact, according to Sidoti. In jest the President said, "This is a health care forum, so I thought I'd model what happens when you don't get enough sleep." (Emphasis ours.)
Linda and I wonder if this was really JEST? Was this actually planned as he states (he "thought" or was thinking that he would...) albeit jokingly? Likely not. Was this "blurb" sub-conscious, or the little incident a revelation of his sub-conscious mind and perhaps own PHILOSOPHY concerning the whole matter? Or even an unintended but PROHETIC (type of) statement FOR ALL OF US? That there is a CAUSE and an EFFECT ("...what happens when...") to be carefully considered and understood when it comes to taking care of one's own INDIVIDUAL health concerns?
Well, we'll leave this at that because we don't want to get people too worked up or scared and we know our cool calm collected and REASONABLE President does not want to either, that much we are sure. Linda and I are not too crazy "health freaks." Well, maybe Jason is, but not me, Linda, hi! He did say however, that he wanted "every idea...considered." We suspect (and we venture to say) that he is (personally) big on PREVENTION. Who knows?
Let's all try for CONSENSUS, though, let's meet in the middle, find common ground to agree upon, with all our strength. We are so proud of all of you at the summit who carried yourselves with such ADMIRABLE RESPECTFULNESS towards one another and our President. We wish you all out there the best possible health, and we ask the Lord to bless all those working on the health care reforms needed so urgently in this country to be completely successful in their endeavors to bring relief to our people. Thank you o merciful Saviour, in Jesus' name we pray, amen. Love and aloha from Jason and Linda Izumi from Kona, Hawaii.
Linda and I almost completely forgot about all that "SURGE" controversy last fall until our own Hawaii state representative Neil Abercrombie brought that up again a few days ago (please see our last blog below.)
Anyway, we will dare to stick our hands back into that hornets' nest once again and admit we only now realize (I guess we're kinda slow) how MISLEADING the phrase "success of the surge" has been all along, just as deceptive and presumptuous as the phrase "mission accomplished," although the latter has been subsequently quite ridiculed enough and is now generally dismissed.
Whether Abercrombie is right in claiming the surge was basically a "'surge' in money," or if there was a combination of extra military force plus any number of other factors contributing to the relative quiet in Iraq at the moment, the fact remains that we STILL are left with a SERIOUS MESS there -- more like a TIME BOMB ticking away.
So our (belated) hats off to Barack Obama who we all remember absolutely refused to give in to the likes of Katy Couric and others who stuck pins and needles in him over and over to try to get him to "admit" that the "surge was a success." It was'nt and he didn't.
So since we could not think of a better description of the surge, would you all give Linda and me permission to be the very last ones please, to use that other "unfortunate" phrase (used in our title and that is known to have gotten users of that phrase into lotsa trouble in the past,) and then we'll toss it into the nearest volcano, thank you.
We thank God, however, for our VISIONARY President Obama who had known from the beginning we have always needed a primarily POLITICAL SOLUTION to our problems in that region, and we are confident he and his team will guide us SUCCESSFULLY through the mess we've made there IF WE LET HIM PLEASE! And may our Almighty, merciful God be with them every moment and every step of the way through the entire process, AMEN!
Much better than "Governor Lingle (R)" to (my wife) Linda's and my ears! We couln't stomach Lingle after her bad mouthing our own beloved native son so much in Minneapolis last summer. Poor form! Shame on you Gov. Lingle! Should have kept those puckers ZIPPED!
Anyhow...We're so thankful this www (wicked witch of the west -- one of 2 by the way, that courted the other "w" -- "Dubya" -- remember that one?) has got to step down because her term expires next year -- Halelujah! Thank you Lord! But we dread to ponder where she's riding off on her broom to next...we'll have to keep an eye on her closely and keep you alerted...
So then, who's going to be our next governor? Linda and I hope and predict it will be Neil Abercrombie who was on CNN the other night according to a HEADLINE (Associated Press) article in our local paper (West Hawaii Today) yesterday. No official word on whether he's going to run, but could going on national TV be a sign he's testing the waters? Anyway, we like to boast that he is one of Barack Obama's earliest and closest supporters, and was a good friend of his parents at the university here.
Besides commenting on the problematic situation with our troops in Iraq and Afganistan at the moment and that our strategy for our future in that region is still being figured out, Abercrombie did have something interesting to say about that SURGE which former President George W. Bush pushed and pushed for towards the end of his term. Remember all the talk about the surge being a success?
Well, Abercrombie flatly DENIED that it was really a success: "What we did is we bribed people. We paid people not to kill us...That's all the surge is. It's a surge in money."
This is obviously a strong statement and we thank Representative Abercrombie for his straightforward candidness which we like about him. Just wonder what the R response will be if any. It would be an important point to consider as President Obama and his team move forward in their strategies.
Thought we should post this nationally since Neil Abercrombie is from our dear President's home state, Hawaii, as if you all didn't already know!?! Aloha, mahalo and God bless -- Jason and Linda Izumi from Kona on the Big Island.
Well, Linda and I will flush our blushes and be the first to confess we used to shun all toilet tissue, oh excuse us, that is, TOILET PAPER, except for the fluffiest and most comfortable of them all: Charmin Ultra Extra Soft. But now that we learned from the recent New York times front page article about how HARMFUL to the environment it is to manufacture TOILET PAPER, we shall announce to all of you that we will sacrifice a bit of comfort and will here on buy TOILET PAPER only made from RECYLED sources, as recommended. And may God please forgive our sins!
NOW THAT WE GOT YOUR ATTENTION: We challenge EVERYONE to BOYCOTT ALL TOILET PAPER MANUFACURING COMPANIES THAT DO NOT PRACTICE RECYCLING!!! Let's clear ALL the shelves of ALL our country's stores, THROUGH BOYCOT, of All TOILET PAPER that is not made from a RECYCLED SOURCE! Please help save our trees, air, water and planet by doing this TOGETHER!
And imagine what a message this would send to just about EVERYONE: companies, corporations, politicians, our BELOVED PRESIDENT HIMSELF, etc. if this boycot is done "en masse," on a large scale -- because everyone would know these are PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PEOPLE out here (who else would make such a fuss over toilet paper except progressives with VISION) and that we know and understand and SUPPORT his agenda, and not only concerning the environment, but the economy, foreign policy, civil rights, etc. etc. -- his ENTIRE AGENDA!
Oh, we forgot, there probably isn't enough recycled toilet paper to go around! Oh well,... just a thought. (And we really thought we were getting somewhere with this idea!) Well maybe we should at least put EXTREME PRESSURE on our stores to stock up on RECYCLED STUFFF in general anyway. And as our President has said, we need to start from the "bottom up." (Please forgive us that pun!) But let's do all think about this a bit: rattling the top from the bottom up...We will all soon have to ratchet up the gears as we go forward with the White House Agenda anyway, and (we Obama people) need to be the first to be willing to make "progressive " CHANGES in OUR OWN WAYS OF THINKING AND IN OUR OWN DAILY LIVES.
Aloha, mahalo and God bless! -- Jason and Linda Izumi from Kona, Hawaii, where we have to admit with regret, we do currently have a serious and shameful waste management problem on this otherwise lovely island.
P.S. Remember the BostonTea Party, when those feisty patriots dumped all that tea in the harbour? Well, just a thought...
We're posting this everywhere since this is of importance to all: The President did not need to remind us Tuesday that our health care system is in shambles and that our health care PRACTICES are DEPLORABLE, but we are confident he will put together the best people to eventually come up with a good over all health care plan, and we will certainly support him.
That said, and because prayer requests for a lot of sck people, many without adequate insurance coverage, have been pouring in to our e-mail lately, WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK: Did you all hear that great word that took less than a second to come out of President Obama's mouth: PREVENTION? He has been saying all along that PREVENTATIVE measures will be an important part of this plan.
Well, we can all start RIGHT NOW to help ourselves attain good health and help PREVENT a lot of PAIN, SUFFERING AND ANGUISH for ourselves and our loved ones by LIVING A HEALTHFUL LYFESTYLE -- sensible diet, sensible exercize, adequate sleep, positive thinking, prayer, EDUCATING OURSELVES on this matter and concerning our own ailments, sensible supplementation, etc. etc. As the saying goes, "an ounce of PREVENTION saves a TON of CURE," and a lot of MONEY, too, for you and WE.
We understand that with the current state of our market system, which is totally invaded by greedy chain restaurants, stores, pharmacies and markets which have absolutely no concern for our healthful well being, it is a tough battle to make healthful choices. But we fortunately ARE STILL ABLE TO MAKE CHOICES, and we should try to make HEALTHFUL ONES. That said, we do hope the Obama administration will do something about the proliferation of these chains.
Also, we feel strongly that the CURE FOR CANCER that President Obama touched on will ultimately have a great deal to do with PREVENTION. Of course, not all disease is "preventable," but a lot are. We encourage you all to please consider seriously to make healthful and PERMANENT changes in your lifestyle, and feel better and be a more productive person for it.
Well, just a thought anyway. We pray for the best of health and vitality in mind, body and spirit to all of you as we all endeavor to do the difficult work ahead of us in these most difficult of times. We pray for the good health of our President as well, and for his family and administration, and may God Almighty bless them and guide them to help this country and this planet move in the right direction. In the name of Jesus the Christ we pray, amen. Love from Jason and Linda Izumi from Kona, Hawaii.
Did you all get the instructions from President Obama to be sure to make thank you calls to our Hawaii Senators and Representatives to Congress who worked hard to get the Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ie. the STIMULUS package) passed? Well, we need to ALL get on the phone as soon as possible and call: Representative MAZIE HIRONO 202-225-4906; SENATOR INOUYE 202-224-3934; SENATOR AKAKA 202-224-6361; and Representative ABERCROMBIE (sorry I don't have his number right now, but I'll find out and post it later.) Tell them of your appreciation and support AS WELL AS that you will be carefully watching WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING.
(Linda and I personally want more of the money directed towards EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS; improvements on our EXISTING infrastructure but LESS emphasis on starting any NEW Infrastructure as much as possible; definitely more aid to Hawaiian cultural programs; preservation and protection -- at least on the Big Island -- of Hawaiian cultural historic sites; preservation, restoration, and maintenance of ancient Hawaiian trails; of course more GREEN PROGRAMS. More of this on another post...)
Anyway, you've got a POWERFUL VOICE. Be a "good steward" and make good use of it. Aloha, mahalo and God bless! -- Jason and Linda Izumi from Kona on the Big Island.
Linda and I had a blast and so did the 80 or 90 Obama supporters who attented our celebration of the first anniversary of the historic 2008 Hawaii Democratic caucuses that turned out in record numbers in support of our "local boy," 76% over Hillary Clinton. However, we were all hoping for a much better turn out at this event held at the Old Kona Airport main pavillion. Have you already forgotten how excited we all were last year? Well, we're going to work even harder to get you to come to our 4th of July party! Please don't forget that date -- 4th of July! Don't you understand President Obama wants us to keep engaged in the political process especially at this vastly critical time when the "Great Obama Economic Stimulus of 2009" is on the verge of being disbursed? Don't you all get it that this is "make or break" time for our economic recovery and we've got to watch the money VERY CAREFULLY to prevent it from getting into the wrong pockets again? It has been indicated that there is leeway, "discretion," in other words wiggle room for MANIPULATION as far as allocating all that money. Anyway, we're rambling and to keep it short, we absolutely enjoyed Representative Neil Abercrombie's visit and are too thrilled to keep from you that we learned tonite, from good sources we won't name, that Mr. Abercrombie will probably run for governor of Hawaii in 2010! I know the rumor has been out there, but we are not sure he wants this to be public yet. Linda and I believe he is another rare visionary who understatnds the principles of Malama (deep respect and care of the land and people) and was one of the earliest and closest supporters of Obama. Linda and I are eager to support him! P.S. The chilli and rice, for only a $2 donation was so "ono" (delicious) I ate 3 bowls, and then a 4th that I took home. Aloha, mahalo, and God bless! Jason and Linda Izumi 808-938-9130 jasonizumi@aol.com
