FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2010

Contact:
Bill Spencer, HVCA President
808-225-3579

HAWAII VENTURE CAPITAL ASSOCIATION ENDORSES NEIL ABERCROMBIE FOR GOVERNOR

(HONOLULU, HAWAII) - The Board of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association (HVCA) today will announce its endorsement of Neil Abercrombie for Governor.

Established in 1988, the HVCA represents the interests of Hawaii’s $3.5 billion technology industry. The association last week sponsored the first forum in which all three major candidates for governor spoke.

“Neil Abercrombie is the best choice if we are to heal from the divisiveness of the last eight years, make a recovery from the recession and diversify Hawaii’s economy,” said HVCA President Bill Spencer. “Neil Abercrombie brings the credibility of a true leader who listens to others while modeling hard work, thoughtfulness and empathy for the diversity that is Hawaii.”

Spencer noted it was the association’s first political endorsement.

“This vote of confidence from the Hawaii Venture Capital Association is a major milestone in our campaign to put Hawaii on a new course,” Abercrombie said. “HVCA is a business organization that is fighting for a new economy in Hawaii—one that relies on the creativity, capabilities, and character of our people—Hawaii’s greatest resource. HVCA’s trust in me, I believe, is a reflection of my trust in them and our ability to work together to create the high paying jobs that will keep our children and their children here at home in the islands.”

The announcement will be made at the downtown offices of prominent technology executive Henk Rogers, who studied computer science at the University of Hawaii and is perhaps best known for introducing the video game Tetris to the Western Hemisphere. Rogers founded a number of local technology firms, and the Blue Planet Foundation, an organization devoted to making Hawaii less dependent on imported oil.

"Neil Abercrombie shares a common, deep desire to move Hawaii towards a brighter future for our children," Rogers said. "Not only has he made a strong commitment to move Hawai'i towards energy independence, which will save us all billions of dollars spent yearly on buying fossil fuel, but Neil Abercrombie will help forge a brand new economic future that sustains our environment while creating a home grown alternative energy industry and creates local high paying high tech jobs for our high tech graduates today and for the generations to come."

Spencer said Abercrombie represents a solid balance of long-term and short-term solutions, with education being a top focus.

“His detailed education plan is simple and on target empowering school principals and encouraging public/private partnerships that will prepare our youth for a tech driven future,” Spencer said. “Neil Abercrombie has the ability to make Hawaii's technology and clean energy sectors a part of the global marketplace. He has proven he has solid understanding of the strength technology can bring to our economy.”

“We learned some hard lessons over the last eight years about taking a candidate’s word, which is why we have taken the time to study the candidates, their plans, and make an endorsement, the first we have ever made,” Spencer said.

###

The Road to Energy Independence

By Neil Abercrombie

In 2008, as gas prices in Hawaii and across the nation passed $4 a gallon, I was in Congress seeking ways to move our country toward energy independence. My work to form a bipartisan agreement in Congress is now being distorted by Mufi Hannemann’s campaign in a desperate attempt to tie my Congressional efforts to the BP oil spill (“Gubernatorial hopefuls differ on oil drilling,” July 1). I’m not surprised by the clumsy attack on my record, but I do think it is important to know the facts.

In September 2008, a 40-year-old federal ban on offshore drilling was set to expire and then-President Bush had promised to veto any attempt to renew the ban. I believed we needed strict offshore drilling regulations to protect the environment within our policy to develop our own energy resources and use the revenues to make significant investments in alternative energy. This was reflected in an energy plan I put forward with a bipartisan group of House members. The plan included specific environmental protections and would have only allowed drilling beyond 25 to 50 miles offshore.

The goal for that plan was to wean the U.S. off of foreign oil and raise money to fund the transition to clean energy for our country. Parts of the plan became part of the energy bill that passed the House of Representatives.

In 1977, State Sen. T.C. Yim introduced a plan for Hawaii to be energy independent by 2010. Now here we are, and the annual cost of our oil imports has gone from $500 million to over $5 billion. We have always had good intentions and made some good progress. But now is the time for bold action.

In June, I unveiled my energy plan as part of my commitment to building a sustainable economy for Hawaii.

The plan includes several key initiatives:


• Converting the State Energy Office into an independent Hawaii Energy Authority to drive energy policy and speed up government processes


• Implementing a system that allows independent power producers to sell directly to end users


• Providing incentives and access, such as passing Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) bond financing, for everyday people to make their homes more energy efficient


• Aligning the electric utility’s financial success with Hawaii’s clean energy goals


• Increasing the Public Benefits Fund for more aggressive efficiency programs for residents and businesses


• Making government green with a Clean Energy Stimulus program


• Expanding workforce development for good, green jobs


• Researching, expanding and deploying projects in wind, solar, geothermal, ocean, waste-to-energy and biofuels with clear community benefits


• Reducing our independence on fossil fuels for transportation

The way to get to energy independence is by expanding economic activity, entrepreneurship and full participation by everyone. We need appropriate oversight, but it cannot come at the expense of innovation and action. We must make this goal our collective mission, pass and implement innovative policies, enhance our unique island grids, have open dialogues with communities, and train our workforce to build and operate a clean energy economy. The benefits could not be greater. Clean energy will be the cornerstone of Hawaii’s economy for generations.

When we are successful, we will create good “green” jobs and grow local businesses. We will retain a major portion of the billions of dollars that we now spend on imported oil so we can reinvest it here at home. We will turn Hawaii into a global model for clean energy that will attract people to experience our success. We will become more resilient in confronting outside economic forces. Most importantly, we will restore confidence in ourselves.

• Neil Abercrombie supports the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell


• Neil Abercrombie rejected changes in Ryan White CARE Act that would reduce HIV/AIDS funding to Hawaii and other regions;


• Neil Abercrombie supported funding for programs such as Gregory House and was one of the first public officials to see HIV/AIDS as a major human crisis;


• Neil Abercrombie supported changing the Medicaid eligibility requirement so that those with an HIV-positive diagnosis became eligible for treatment, rather than the previous standard of a full-blown AIDS diagnosis;


• Neil Abercrombie supported equal treatment of federal employees by insisting that the federal government treat domestic partners as if they were spouses;


• Neil Abercrombie continuously supported legislation that would provide the legal protections of marriage to all couples, regardless of gender.

“Governor Lingle has made her choice and the Legislature has said it will not go back into a special session for any veto overrides. HB 444 was not a same-sex marriage bill. The State Legislature has already defined marriage as between a man and a woman. Civil unions respect our diversity, protect people’s privacy and reinforce our core values of equality and aloha.
 
“Now, it will be up to the next Governor and Legislature to ensure that all people of Hawaii receive equal treatment. Protecting people’s civil rights cannot be compromised. I am committed to that most essential of constitutional imperatives.”

“The Hannemann campaign made a serious admission yesterday. A high-level city employee was running a website that ‘savagely mocked’ Neil Abercrombie.  The Campaign Chairman and high-level city employees helped promote the website through Facebook, Twitter, and online ads.
 
“This is typical of a Mufi Hannemann campaign. The Mayor’s campaign is launching into distortions, attacks, and denials.  When he’s caught, it’s never his fault; he even blames his supporters.  Voters can expect more of this from the Hannemann campaign in the months ahead.
 
“The Mayor’s tactics aren’t going to work this time. Neil Abercrombie and his campaign will stand up to him, because the people of Hawaii are sick of personal attacks.  The people need leadership they can trust.”
 
- Laurie Au, campaign spokeswoman

• Dean Okimoto, campaign chairman


• Gordon Bruce, city Director of Information Technology


• Keith Rollman, senior advisor in city Department of Information Technology


• Jeff Coelho, former city cabinet member and currently with Salem Media of Hawaii


• Harvey Harlowe Hukari, political consultant who worked on Hannemann’s 2004 and 2008 campaigns


• Shellie Garrett, consultant with Voter Contact Services, an electronic voter file service

• Background and response from Bob Wiesel.

1. The leader of the Hannemann campaign, Dean Okimoto, was one of the first to join as a fan of the website when it appeared in March (see screenshot above).


2. The Hannemann campaign’s recent attention on offshore drilling repeats an attack that first appeared on the anonymous website on May 1, 2010.

1. Tax incentives for investments and support for capital formation


2. Build tech development and commercialization centers


3. Appoint Chief Information Officer to redesign government systems


4. Establish Innovation Labs in public schools


5. Integrate University of Hawaii technology transfer initiatives with private businesses


6. Establish Technology Council to design and monitor technology policy


7. Improve government process to support businesses

Immigrants have historically contributed to the rich and complex fabric of Hawai'i. Over the span of 100 years, Hawai'i’s immigrants have established flourishing businesses, secured positions of leadership in a broad array of elected offices, and contributed to our community and culture in numerous ways. Despite these successes, however, each successive wave of Hawai'i’s new immigrants meets a measure of resistance (and hostility) as they transition into the community and workplace. And across the country, in the wake of the recession and a new political climate, immigrants are under siege.  

This discussion will explore contemporary issues confronting Hawai'i’s immigrant communities including access to employment, social services, and education. Panelists will also examine Hawai'i’s compliance with federal and state language access laws and Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act, and explore the State’s response to human trafficking.

• Monisha Das Gupta, Associate Professor, Ethnic Studies and Women’s Studies, University of Hawaii


• Pat McManaman, Director, Na Loio


• Jennifer Rose, Faculty, Gender Equity Office at UH Manoa

“The people of Hawaii are tired of politics-as-usual. Mayor Hannemann’s fundraiser in Pittsburgh is typical of the politics that will be rejected this September by the voters. It was not a meet and greet session. It was a fundraiser organized and run by a rail transit consultant. But why would money collected be returned if it were a legitimate event as the mayor claimed?

“The people deserve answers to many questions including: Was the trip to D.C. necessary or was it designed just to get to Pittsburgh while piggybacking on official city business? Why was there no proper notice to the Campaign Spending Commission? Why was the wrong date listed in the fundraiser’s filing? Why did an official city release say the mayor was meeting in D.C. when he was actually campaigning in Pittsburgh?

“Having talked to people across Hawaii for over a year, I can tell you that this fundraising scheme is exactly the kind of politics they want to change. People want leadership that puts the public interest first.”

1. Full review and refinement of regulation and permitting processes. A review and revision of all processes must be conducted with small business participation and the goal of supporting entrepreneurs. Government agencies that lack capacity or sufficient IT infrastructure will be upgraded.


2. Governor’s clearinghouse for federal opportunities. Building on strong relationships with the federal government and collaborating with local banks and businesses, the Governor’s office will have a one-stop clearinghouse for local businesses to get help in securing grants, loans and other federal funds, and will also actively seek out new opportunities.


3. Coordinated “Buy Local” effort. Government needs to take the lead in coalescing independent efforts to encourage people to support local businesses and measuring results. State and local government will lead by example by making every effort to buy local and keep dollars here in Hawaii.


4. Protecting and marketing Hawaii’s brand. The Attorney General’s office will clamp down on protecting Hawaii’s unique brands so that local businesses can benefit from all their efforts to ensure the high quality and reputation of local products and services. Government will partner with businesses to coordinate “Hawaii Channels” that aggressively market products and services via the Internet, television and other media for global export.


5. Teach business skills. Financial education must be a standard facet of everyone’s education with more opportunities to learn business skills, including management, finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship in our high schools, community colleges and universities. Government will partner with local businesses to provide hands on learning experiences and more opportunities by expanding internships.


6. Procurement reform. We must have a government procurement system that is fair, based on merit, and free from political pressuring. A well-run and managed procurement system should follow the highest standards of conduct of the various trades, professions and industries to ensure quality and ethical behavior where the contractor and the general public mutually benefit. An Abercrombie Administration will create a level playing field for all.

"Of all the political rhetoric I've heard early in this campaign season, what's resonated the most is Democratic gubernatorial candidate Neil Abercrombie's call for the 're-establishment of a public conscience.'"

"Instead of coming together as a community, sharing the sacrifice and making sure our children and neediest were taken care of first, it's been everyone for themselves as we've played politics, pointed fingers, refused to compromise and fought like feral cats over every table scrap."

Ensuring that our rapidly growing senior population can live productive and dignified lives has become one of the most important public challenges of our time.  Too many seniors and their families are without the support and resources they need forcing them to turn to more expensive and less desirable living situations.  Many lack the respect and opportunities that they deserve.  It is a crisis that has been neglected in Hawaii for too long.  

In an Abercrombie administration, retirement and aging will be seen in a whole new light. Seniors will be treasured community assets who are fully integrated into the whole of society, and the challenges of aging will be seen as a social issue, not just one for families to deal with on their own.  We will redefine social attitudes about aging toward one of opportunities and possibilities.

• Larry Geller, President, Kokua Council for Senior Citizens of Hawaii


• Cullen Hayashida, Long-term Care Coordinator, Kupuna Education Center


• Jim Shon, former State Legislator, Advocate for creating aging in place system

"Abercrombie, a ten-term U.S. Congressman who resigned in February to run for governor, will face an array of pressing issues if he becomes Hawaii’s seventh chief executive. We discussed some of those issues with him, got his take on the state of national politics and even delved into the philosophy of fear. But first…"

“Last Sunday, in a display of commitment to the people of Hawaii, Ed Case withdrew from the 1st Congressional District race.

“He recognized that the voters that supported him can unite with those who supported Colleen Hanabusa to restore confidence in government and put our values first.  He placed the needs of Hawaii’s people over his own personal, political interests.  

“Ed’s withdrawing from the race will help assure that we do not cancel out our vote in Congress with the election of someone who will work against the policies of President Obama.

“We must remember Hawaii is a small state, far from Washington, D.C. with only four votes in Congress. Partnership in the delegation is essential for Hawaii’s progress.

“I wholeheartedly endorse Colleen in the 1st Congressional District because of her service and leadership in the community. She will be a great partner to Mazie Hirono, our entire Congressional delegation, and President Obama. If given the opportunity, I will work with them as Governor to form a powerful team for Hawaii.”

• Neal Arakaki, President, Menehune Mac


• Brian Nishida, Small Business Advocacy Committee, Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce


• Melissa Pavlicek, Hawaii State Director, National Federation of Independent Business

“Furlough Fridays would have never happened if I were Governor. If I had been Governor, I would have gotten all parties together and met continuously until we reached a solution to ensure that we put the interests of Hawaii’s children first. Instructional days are central to that mission.

“All parties involved in the Furlough Friday situation except the Governor have agreed to this solution. As Governor, I would implement it.

“We need to look beyond Furlough Fridays. Restoring instructional days will get us back to where we started. As Governor, I will take personal responsibility to restore public confidence in the school system. If we expect accountability from the schools, we have to give principals, teachers and staff the authority to meet that responsibility. My education plan does exactly that.”

• Creating a Department of Early Childhood to develop a comprehensive statewide policy to make a significant investment in early childhood. Right now, programs, services, and resources for early childhood are scattered among several state departments. An Abercrombie Administration will include a Cabinet-level director to oversee this new department.



• Expanding the state’s Healthy Start program and other programs to create universal care for young children. Abercrombie will fully reinstate the budget cuts made to the Healthy Start program, which identities and supports Hawaii’s most at-risk children and mothers.



• Establishing public-private partnerships to ensure that every young child in Hawaii has access to high-quality preschool. The Department of Early Childhood will work with schools, nonprofits, foundations, community organizations and employers to ensure that all children, including those from low-income families, can have access to high-quality childcare and preschool services.



• Employing family-friendly employment practices in state government, such as flexible work schedules, telecommuting, job-sharing programs, on-site services for children, to encourage private employers to do the same.



• Developing early childhood workforce to build career paths so early childhood workers can stay in the field.

• Ann Davis, Hawaii Education Matters
  
• Maya Soetoro-Ng, Author & Education Specialist, East-West Center
  
• John Sosa, Principal, Kaiser High School

"Our next governor," by Derrick DePledge, The Notebook blog, honoluluadvertiser.com

"Isles need Abercrombie's passion, Soetoro-Ng says," by Gary T. Kubota, Honolulu Star-Bulletin

4.8.10 - Furlough Fridays Must End
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FURLOUGH FRIDAYS MUST END

Neil Abercrombie released the following statement today on the sit-in at the Governor’s Office protesting Furlough Fridays:

“Now is the time to show compassion to and support for the families who feel so utterly helpless and without recourse about the Furlough Friday situation that they have chosen to occupy the Governor’s Office.

“I understand their frustration completely. My sentiments are expressed clearly in the attached letter to parents of Save Our Schools.

“There has been a collapse of leadership in dealing with Furlough Fridays. The public is fast losing confidence in our school system.

“Parents and children have been totally disregarded in the negotiations while the parties involved defend their positions rather than resolve the issue. There is no excuse for all parties not to meet immediately and continuously until a settlement is concluded.”

We flew this morning to the island of Kauai for the grand opening of Neil Abercrombie for Governor campaign headquarters.  It's been more than a decade since I've been to the Garden Isle and while there are some changes with big box stores, one thing that remains consistent is the genuine spirit of Aloha of the people.

Our entire day was filled with smiles from strangers, hand waves from drivers, and even hugs from three Uncles in Anahola who were steadfast in their efforts for the Kingdom of Hawaii.  But, the perseverance and commitment of the volunteers for the Abercrombie for Governor campaign were unmatched.

They prepared dozens of heads of cabbage to go with the fresh kalua pig, cases of an assortment of fruits and vegetables including juicy mountain apples, and baskets of fish to feed the masses.  Local musicians strummed their instruments and sang familiar songs that the crowd swayed to as they greeted Neil. Construction workers with evidence of the day's hard work gathered under the tent to feast on the buffet with supporters honking their horns in support as they drove down Kuhio Highway.


Neil and Kauai Mayor, Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr.

The celebration was clearly like Abercrombie's message: it's about the people.  As I type this from the new headquarters office, a 3-bedroom home across from Wilcox hospital with a soothing ocean breeze -- the people are still here.  They're breaking down the tents, folding up the benches and chairs, and laughing.  Yes, even after a long night of preparation and celebration, their spirit is hopeful for change in Hawaii.

Abercrombie for Governor Kauai campaign headquarters is located at: 3385 Kuhio Highway, Lihue, HI 96766.

MAHALO
CONGRESSMAN NEIL ABERCROMBIE!

Come celebrate Neil's 20 years of service
in the U.S. Congress and his candidacy for
Governor of Hawaii!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010
5:30 PM TO 7:30 PM

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel
2259 Kalakaua Avenue

$100 per person

Sponsorships available
for 10 tickets

MAILE $10,000 * PIKAKE $6,000 * PLUMERIA $1,500

Purchase tickets or sponsorships by clicking here
(please enter "Mahalo Party" in the description box).

RSVP by April 16, 2010

For information, please call 808-589-2237

FACT: The special election will not cost $1.3 million. According to Scott Nago, State Chief Elections Officer, the special election to fill Neil’s seat in Congress is expected to cost $920,000, not the inflated $1.3 million figure.

FACT: State law requires candidates to "resign to run". Article II, Section 7 of the Hawaii Constitution requires elected officials like Mayor Hannemann to resign from their current office if they are running for a different office to prevent public office holders from receiving a government paycheck and taking advantage of their official position and resources while campaigning for something else. This law did not apply to Neil because he held a federal office, but Neil voluntarily resigned anyway because he felt it was the honest thing to do. The difference between Neil and the Mayor is that Neil has been straightforward with the people about his intentions from the beginning, and Neil does not believe it is right to occupy a public office while being 100% devoted to another full-time endeavor.

FACT: The rules of how vacancies are filled are set by law. Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution requires an election when there is a vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Honolulu City Charter allows for the city Managing Director to serve as the acting mayor until there is a special election to elect a new mayor to serve out the rest of the term.

FACT: The cost of the special election will have no impact on schools. Governor Lingle did not tap or raid a “special fund” for education to pay for the special election. For reasons that are not clear, the Governor made a decision to transfer money within the Department of Accounting and General Services that was designated for school repair to pay for the election. However, State Comptroller Russ Saito has stated that this transfer of funds will have no impact on Neighbor Island schools repair and maintenance functions. Click here for more information.

FACT: Neil served ten distinguished terms in the U.S. Congress all the way until his last day in office. For nearly 20 years, Neil has served the people of Hawaii in the U.S. Congress on issues like healthcare, education, environmental protection, and economic development. In his last days in office, he led passage of the Akaka Bill in the House of Representatives for the third time. After President Obama's election, he worked tirelessly with Congressional colleagues to help develop healthcare reform legislation; the final version of which was passed by his former colleagues in the House by a vote of 219-212 on March 21, 2010 and which President Obama signed into law on March 23. Neil's long and distinguished career in the Congress has been widely praised.

* Mark Duda, Hawaii Solar Energy Association
* Robert Harris, Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter
* Sharon Miyashiro, Hawaii Energy Policy Forum

For Immediate Release
March 9, 2010

IBEW ENDORSES NEIL ABERCROMBIE FOR GOVERNOR

Three local unions of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers that represent more than 7,500 of Hawaii’s working men and women have endorsed Neil Abercrombie for governor.

IBEW Local 1186, 1260, and 1357 made the unified endorsement. The three locals represent electricians, utility workers, power plant workers, technicians, telephone workers and television camera people working in Hawaii.


Neil speaking at a press conference Tuesday with IBEW leaders

“Neil Abercrombie has a proven record of supporting causes that benefits Hawaii’s working families,” said Lance Miyake, IBEW Local 1260 Business Manager and Financial Secretary. “Neil is committed to restoring the state’s economy and creating more jobs for the people of Hawaii.”

“Over the years of serving Hawaii, Neil Abercrombie has shown he has the leadership, experience and commitment the people of Hawaii need in their next Governor,” said Damien Kim, Business Manager and Financial Secretary of IBEW Local 1186. “We look forward to doing everything we can to elect him as our next governor to build a brighter future for all of us in Hawaii.”

“We continue our support to elect Neil Abercrombie as our next governor,” said Scot Long, Business Manager and Financial Secretary of Local 1357, which had endorsed Abercrombie last year. “We believe in Neil’s leadership to restore the trust that many of us have lost in our government.”

Aloha Everyone,

Today, on my first day after formally leaving Congress, I filed my nomination papers for Governor.

In my 19 years in the U.S. Congress, I put my entire focus on representing the people of Hawaii. I worked hard to get along with my colleagues, no matter their party affiliation or viewpoint, because I knew these relationships would help my constituents at home.



Now, I am focusing my four decades of experience in public service into becoming the people's Governor. I am more energized, more determined and more committed than ever.

The single biggest issue of our campaign is restoring people's trust in government. In my conversations with people across the state, it is clear that we are losing confidence in our ability to tackle the long-term economic, social, and environmental challenges that face our islands. We're going to turn this around.

Our campaign is going to listen to people and their concerns, respect everyone's opinions, including those with different views, and bring in new voices and talent to change the status quo.

Please join me this Saturday, March 6, at 11 a.m., for the grand opening of our campaign headquarters at Ward Warehouse. The opening was originally planned for this past Saturday, but was postponed due to the tsunami warning. Please RSVP by emailing or calling 589-2237. [learn more].  I hope to meet you soon.

Imua Hawaii,




NEIL ABERCROMBIE

Abercrombie’s departure
By The Hill Editors

Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), who is running for governor, is serving his last week in the House.

Abercrombie is a rare breed in the lower chamber. He is respected and admired by both Democrats and Republicans. And he was never seduced by the Senate; he was always a House guy, through and through.

But unlike many other House members, Abercrombie did not take cheap partisan shots.
In an interview with The Hill on Tuesday, the Hawaiian choked up when discussing his looming departure. “I have such deep regard and affection for the House,” he said, adding that he is getting “waves of emotion” this week.

He was first elected in 1986 in a special election, but the triumph was bittersweet. On that same day, he lost the Democratic primary, so he only served a few months before returning to Hawaii.

Abercrombie noted with pride that he was the last person whom Speaker Tip O’Neill (D-Mass.) swore in to office.

“Tip told me, ‘Whether you’re here three months or 30 years, everyone should remember the privilege of serving in the House.’ ”

In 1990, Abercrombie returned to the House, and this time he was there to stay. The Buffalo, N.Y., native was subsequently appointed to the Armed Services Committee, and after Democrats took control of the House, he chaired the Air and Land Forces subcommittee.

The 71-year-old legislator, an avid weightlifter, is not shy about expressing his views. And he has shown no qualms about bucking his party, sometimes loudly.

He lambasted his leaders for moving an ethics bill he strongly opposed and ripped Democrats on their energy policy in 2008.

Abercrombie is going out on a high note. The House on Tuesday was expected to pass the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, which would extend the federal policy of recognition to Native Hawaiians and provide parity for Hawaii with policies toward Native Alaskans and American Indians. Abercrombie and the Hawaii delegation have been working on the bill for more than a decade.

Needing to campaign back home, Abercrombie will resign from the lower chamber on Feb. 28.

While he was certainly a productive member, Abercrombie’s time in the House will not be remembered for his legislative track record.

Members, aides, lobbyists and reporters will recall his storytelling skills, his rambunctious style and his respect for his colleagues.

He will miss the House. And the House will miss him.

TAXES AND THE PUBLIC TRUST
Crafting tax policies
February 1, 2010

By Neil Abercrombie

Last year, as Congress discussed health care reform, a group of protesters emerged saying they stood for limited government and against taxes. Their opinions on health care are often based on misinformation spread by powerful private interests. I strongly disagree with their methods, which are meant to intimidate people and stifle dialogue. They believe government is the enemy; I believe our government is our responsibility as well as our opportunity.

But in some ways, I understand where they are coming from.

All people need to feel confident that their government is working and their tax dollars are well spent. It’s not a partisan idea. When my friend and colleague, U.S. Representative Ron Paul, introduced a bill to audit the Federal Reserve System, I joined a bipartisan group of eleven original co-sponsors of the bill.

But here at the state level, I’m sorry to say that public confidence has steadily eroded. People are seeing Hawai‘i’s government as an impediment in their lives rather than a partner. The stories of frustration I hear from Kaua‘i residents and across the state have little to do with public employees who are working hard with decreasing support, and everything to do with a lack of leadership. Taxpayers need to know how tax dollars are spent and that state government is competent and cares. This starts with strong leadership in the Governor’s Office.

For example, a strong leader is needed to make smart long-term decisions when times are good. Odd as it sounds today, at this time in 2006, the state had a budget surplus of $574 million. In 2007 the surplus was $732 million. However, instead of prudently investing to make our economy more resilient to the ups and downs of the global economy, the state was too focused on short-term spending measures and tax refunds. When the global economic meltdown occurred at the end of 2008, we could have been more prepared. Gov. Lingle is now proposing that we establish a fiscal stabilization fund that is funded during good times to help ease the bad. It’s a good idea that is better late than never.

Besides being wisely spent, taxes must also be fair. The general excise tax is a broad and easy-to-administer tax, but it is regressive — the less you earn, the higher the percentage of your income goes to taxes. In addition, Hawai‘i continues to be among the worst in the country for taxing the incomes of families living in poverty. Our current tax policy serves as a barrier to people trying to work their way towards family self-sufficiency. We can remedy this with a state Earned Income Tax Credit. This innovative policy will correct these unfair disincentives in the tax code, get more people to work in the economy, and improve the quality of life for all in the process.

I’ve indicated that all people deserve to feel confident in their government. A few months ago, a woman protesting the health care bill confronted me. When I asked her some questions, she broke down. It turned out that she was just frustrated with government because it had failed her when she rightfully needed assistance. We ended up having a heartfelt conversation, and I tried to point her to some places where she could get help.

We all pay taxes so we can have a government that works. That’s not a Democratic or a Republican idea. It is the very basis of democracy. We all pay our share for the benefit of all. When that premise is questioned, we rightly question those entrusted with public office. The duty of the next governor is to restore public confidence that our tax dollars and the public good are once more joined together.

GROWTH THROUGH INVESTMENT
Crafting tax policies
February 1, 2010

By James "Duke" Aiona Jr.

During these challenging economic times, it is critical for our state to encourage reinvestment into our local economy and provide a fair tax system that does not burden our citizens, families and small businesses with tax increases.

Economic hardship has led many families and businesses to tighten their belts to save money. Our Administration has also had to find new ways to cut spending while providing essential services for Hawai‘i residents. Right now, the worst thing the state could do is take more of your money by raising taxes.

However, some see Hawai‘i’s general excise tax — 4.5 percent on O‘ahu and 4 percent on the Neighbor Islands — as small compared to the national average sales tax of about 6 percent.

This is misleading because unlike a sales tax, an excise tax must be paid on goods and services every time they change hands, from the producer to the cargo ship to the retail store. In effect, Hawai‘i’s excise tax is equivalent to about an 11 percent sales tax. By the time a product reaches a consumer, these taxes have accumulated at each step and passed on in the price tag.

This results in high prices for goods that can be a heavy burden on our citizens when they are stretched to pay for basic necessities during these economic times.

We cannot tax our way to prosperity, and increasing the general excise tax, even 1 percent, would lead to job loss, hurt our tourism industry and, ultimately, jeopardize Hawai‘i’s long-term economic recovery.

In order to restore efficiency to Hawai‘i’s general excise tax without increasing the tax rate, we need to make sure that all businesses that enjoy exemption for the excise tax make a timely return for their taxes, as well as expressly claim their entitlement.

Over time, the general excise tax’s efficiency has been downplayed due to additions of exemptions from the tax for particular businesses. Many of these exemptions allow for businesses to avoid paying the general excise tax altogether. And because some businesses pay no tax, they file no tax returns.

We are all in this together. That is why the Administration’s supplemental budget includes the temporary use of the Transient Accommodations Tax from the counties to help balance the state budget until we recover from this national and global economic downturn.

In addition, the Cash Economy Enforcement Act of 2009, which took effect July 1, 2009, provides the Department of Taxation with additional resources and tools to investigate suspected violations of tax laws, especially cash-based transactions in order to make sure that all sectors of Hawai‘i’s economy are paying their share of taxes.

It ensures that those who transact business in cash pay the fair amount like others who deal in credit cards, checks and other traceable monetary dealings. This act also provides the department with various enforcement tools, including the authority to issue monetary fines and cease and desist citations.

However, making sure everyone pays their fair share of taxes is only part of an effective tax policy. Simply raising taxes on our residents and small businesses is not a solution. It’s part of the problem.

We must remain committed to enhancing the future prosperity of our great state, which begins with improving public education.

Our state’s number one resource is our people. Government’s job is to provide a fair tax environment that encourages their success and gets out of their way so they can do what Hawai‘i’s businesses do best: work hard, create jobs and invest back in our local economy.

James “Duke” Aiona Jr. is lieutenant governor of Hawai‘i. He is running for governor this fall.

My relationship with Cec Heftel goes back 40 years when I was a University of Hawaii graduate student running for the U.S. Senate, along with environmentalist Tony Hodges during the Vietnam War. Tony and I were against the war and we both stood a very good chance of winning the Democratic nomination when Cec entered the race at the last minute. I remember picketing KGMB-TV, which Cec owned at the time, demanding a debate with him. Although he emerged the winner of that race, a lifelong friendship began for which I am extremely grateful.

It’s poignant to me that he has passed away at this time when we are about to have a special election for the same office he once occupied and I am leaving. In 1986, Cec left his House seat to run for governor, and I won the special election but lost the primary election on the same day in September to fill his seat. My wife, Nancie, and I had to move to Washington, D.C. without much money and no place to live. Cec called, offered his apartment and literally put a roof over our heads. He also asked his staff to stay on to help me participate as fully as possible in the work of the Congress from September until January. He was gracious, friendly, and couldn’t have been more accommodating.

After he lost his bid for the governor’s office in 1986, I often sought his advice and counsel. He was always courteous and generous with his time. Eventually, he ran for the Board of Education, and I supported him. We talked a lot about education during his time there, and he made a tremendous contribution.

Cec Heftel had a devotion to Hawaii that was complete. He demonstrated this through his many years as a leader in the broadcasting industry and a distinguished career as a public servant. I will always cherish his warmth, kindness and good counsel.

He didn't need to leave behind impressive buildings or heroic statues or huge parks to be remembered. He left a rich inheritance of public service based on a genuine love of Honolulu and everyone (in) it, from the oldest to the youngest; from the most accomplished to the most unskilled; the most secure to the most vulnerable. And everyone in Honolulu is an heir to that legacy.

For many of us, Frank Fasi seemed like he'd always been our mayor, and always would be. I had the great privilege of working closely with him during my service on the City Council, and I can say without qualification, that people always knew exactly where they stood with him. He was totally without pretense or artifice. He never had a hidden agenda.

His passing leaves me with mixed feelings. On one hand, I am saddened because he is no longer with us, and I will miss him. At the same time, I think we should celebrate such a full life so well lived.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

• Jobs. There are millions of federal dollars we can access to help the private sector create good jobs right now, but we have to step up our efforts one hundred fold. We need to get every single dollar for public-private partnerships that swiftly create green jobs, high-tech jobs, jobs in construction, education, health services, human services, small businesses—some of these jobs will be temporary, but many of these jobs will become catalysts for our future economy. We need to get these dollars circulating in the economy and stimulating the development of new private industries.


• Investing in people. The fundamental driver of economic growth in Hawaii’s past was land. The fundamental driver for our economic future is the individual human being and his or her skills, intelligence, character, health, and happiness. We need to put more time, effort and, yes, money into the education and social welfare of our people. Most importantly, the earlier in life we begin, the bigger the economic and social payoff in the future. Our system of higher education and the private sector must be full partners to foster creativity and innovation.


• Moving rapidly toward self-sufficiency and sustainability. The Governor, legislature, business leaders, and many others deserve praise for developing plans to move Hawaii toward energy independence. They have proven that we can agree to work together if we put our minds to it. Now we must take it to the next level, and fast. We need to produce our own energy, grow our own food, build a clean and green infrastructure, strengthen our locally owned small businesses, keep local talent here at home, and do all of this in a way where we don’t consume resources to the detriment of future generations. When we do this, we will keep billions of dollars, which are now leaving the state, circulating in our own economy to invest in our own people and communities.

• Prioritize. I’ve outlined three economic priorities. When you agree on priorities you have a basis for making tough decisions. Flat, across-the-board cuts do not demonstrate fairness; they demonstrate aimlessness. Especially when times are tight, some things are simply more important than others. We need to say what those things are, and govern accordingly. It isn’t easy, but leadership never is.


• Partner with the federal government. We have a president from Hawaii and a powerful Congressional presence. Our agendas in energy independence, educational reform and other areas are well aligned. We need to be taking full advantage of this at the state and county levels. Instead we have let opportunities pass us by.


• Partner with the people. I have heard too many stories of government being an impediment, whether it is with permitting and regulations or antiquated rules and systems. Our leaders have been unable to articulate clear missions of public service for our government agencies, and as a result, they simply move too slowly or not at all. People need to know that their government is competent and cares, and this starts at the top.


• Work together. I have never seen Hawaii so divided and so incapable of coming together around common goals. The governor and legislature are locked in a stalemate and we are paralyzed by fights over budget cuts, civil unions, rail transit, land, water, and more. We can’t even cooperate to put children back in school. The worst part is our leaders all too often exploit these divisions and end up defending positions rather than resolving issues. Sometimes, we just lack the political courage to confront our conflicts with honesty and respect. This needs to stop now, again, starting at the top.

Small businesses key to a thriving private sector
By Neil Abercrombie

President Obama recently described today’s entrepreneurs as our present day pioneers. They are the ones who are willing to take calculated risks to overcome challenges and create a better future. This spirit is hardwired in the people of Hawai‘i-from the Polynesian voyagers who charted a course to these islands, to laborers who left the plantation to open shops in local towns, to leaders of today’s high-tech startups. Entrepreneurship is an attitude of courage and creativity that is present in small businesses, large companies, nonprofits and government. It is one of Hawai‘i’s greatest strengths.

Today, Hawai‘i is counting on our entrepreneurs to confront our top challenges: creating good jobs, reducing our over-reliance on fossil fuel and imported food, and developing new approaches to creating a 21st century education system. To better understand current challenges, I have been talking with entrepreneurs and small business owners all across our state.

One of the chronic challenges for local small businesses has been accessing the credit they need to start up, buy inventory, make payroll, and survive. Without this flow, Hawai‘i’s small businesses are mired in a constant state of anxiety, especially during this recession. To survive, many entrepreneurs must turn to credit cards to float their businesses, leaving them susceptible to predatory lending practices. Because of this, I introduced and am fighting hard to pass legislation that would make it more difficult for credit card companies to increase fees and raise interest rates on businesses with less than 50 employees.

Also earlier this year, it came to my attention that Hawai‘i was one of only two states that was not taking advantage of America’s Recovery Capital loans for small businesses. These federally backed loans were designed by the Obama administration as an interim solution to help keep small businesses afloat during the worst stretch of the economy. I contacted officials at Hawai‘i’s banks to find out why they were not participating and also why creditworthy businesses are having trouble getting routine business loans and lines of credit. I am confident that increased awareness and dialogue will result in a better working partnership between our banks, small businesses, and government for the benefit of everyone in Hawai‘i.

Finally, small businesses need government to fix our state and county permitting processes. Government employees want to do a good job, but they often lack the tools and support for making improvements — a problem that has been compounded by recent cuts and furloughs. Confusion and delays around permitting can mean life or death to a small business. Trade missions and tax credits can be valuable, but they will not produce long lasting results if basic systems do not work. Furthermore, failure to address these issues creates a vicious cycle where people resent paying taxes, blame is heaped on public service employees, morale deteriorates, and people become even less inclined to contribute to the common welfare.

In Hawai‘i we feel strongly about government’s role in providing services that our private sector cannot provide. Government is critical to keep us safe, educate future generations, create a safety net to support those in need, build the infrastructure to support our communities, and shape a business climate that fosters a healthy economy. To pay for these services, we need a thriving private sector and that means a thriving small business sector.

While our problems can seem overwhelming, we must remember that the history of Hawai‘i has been one of triumph emerging from our challenges. To see this on an everyday level, we only need look at our local entrepreneurs.

For Immediate Release: December 4, 2009

SOVEREIGN COUNCILS of the HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS ASSEMBLY ENDORSES CONGRESSMAN NEIL ABERCROMBIE FOR GOVERNOR

The Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly (SCHHA) at its November Quarterly Meeting unanimously voted to endorse Congressman Neil Abercrombie for Governor, citing his continuing efforts to better the conditions of the beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homelands Trust and the interests of all indigenous peoples of our nation.

The SCHHA is a statewide organization consisting of 28 homestead associations which represent over 30,000 beneficiaries living on Hawaiian Homestead lands. Established in 1987, SCHHA provides lessees with a unified way in which to (1) advocate for the protection of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921 as amended and the land trust that the act established and (2) to provide for a voice for the beneficiaries of said Trust when decisions that are being made by federal, state, and county governments impact upon our lives.

Kamaki Kanahele, SCHHA Chairman, stated, "the SCHHA shall press forward in full support of Congressman Neil Abercrombie for Governor knowing full well that his election will bring us a renewed and brighter future for the 23,000 member beneficiary wait-listers to finally come to the lands and be able to live in an affordable 'green-energy' home.”

The SCHHA shall continue to endorse the following great leaders: US Senator Daniel Inouye, US Senator Kaniela Akaka, US Representative Mazie Hirono and State Senator Colleen Hanabusa for the US House of Representatives.

Abercrombie Discusses Issues
Gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Congressman Neil Abercrombie meets with Maui County residents, discussing protection of natural resources. “You can count on me.”

By Sarah Ruppenthal

Nearly 30 years ago, U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie waded into the warm, indigo surf off of the rugged coast of Lihue, Kaua‘i, eager for a relaxing afternoon swim. Weeks later, the congressman was writhing in pain in a hospital bed—he had contracted the encephalitis virus, a common illness associated with swimming in polluted water.
Although he recovered from the illness more than 16 years ago, Rep. Abercrombie now says he knows firsthand the critical importance of protecting Hawai‘i’s precious natural resources.

“My commitment to the environment comes from my own personal experience,” he said. “I am acutely aware of these issues.”

On Saturday, Nov. 28, the gubernatorial contender appeared at the Kaunoa Senior Center in Spreckelsville to address a range of environmental concerns raised by Maui County residents.

The congressman is no stranger to politics—both in the State of Hawai‘i and in Washington, D.C. Rep. Abercrombie began his political career as a member of the Hawai‘i State Legislature in 1974, and since then, he has taken the political arena by storm. Today, he is a senior member of the U.S. House of Representatives and chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, with critical oversight responsibilities for U.S. Army and Air Force operations, budget and equipment and weapons systems procurement. In addition, Rep. Abercrombie is a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and its Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee.

“My experience on this committee has shown me how important it is to conduct human affairs in a way… that it shows respect for the planet and the land,” he said.

At Saturday’s two-hour talk story session, Rep. Abercrombie greeted dozens of residents as they sat down to talk about a variety of contentious issues, including the impacts of the recent “Furlough Fridays,” the state’s energy and food security vulnerabilities, the movement towards fossil fuel independence and the ongoing power struggle over Maui’s water resources.

Acknowledging the current state of Hawai‘i’s educational system, he admitted, “It is very difficult for me to contemplate what has taken place in our state… there has been a collapse of leadership.” Visibly distressed by the thought, the congressman said, “I just visited a group of schoolchildren in Makawao this morning, and they depend on us—the adults—for their education… they are utterly defenseless [and] instructional days should be sacrosanct.”

Reflecting on the past years of state leadership, Rep. Abercrombie said, to a round of applause, “Governorship should be a cornerstone, not a stepping stone.” As a result, no personal agenda, he said, should take precedence over the crucial issues facing Hawai‘i’s residents. “I’m not alone here,” he said, noting that he has the support of many federal government players. “You can count on me… and I know I can count on them.”

With a warm smile, he encouraged audience members to contribute their input. “Tell me what’s important to you, the state and the planet,” he said.

Maui Tomorrow member Lucienne de Naie asked the congressman about the ongoing dispute over the control of water in Maui County. “The control of a public trust resource is still in the hands of corporations,” she said. “What’s the solution?”

While Rep. Abercrombie acknowledged it was indeed a divisive issue, he reminded all in attendance that “we cannot have a clash to see who succeeds or fails,” referring to the contested case over the East Maui streams and the Na Wai Eha waterways. “No matter who wins, everyone loses,” he said. “The best solution is to develop an integrated water policy in the tradition of kuleana—to benefit the whole, not just the few.”

While water is certainly a polarizing issue for many Maui County residents, the congressman said he believes it is possible to find a compromise to accommodate all parties. “I’d like to see reintegration of agriculture with stream renewal,” he said.

Water is a major concern, he agreed, but the underlying issue is the state’s commitment to achieving energy independence. “We need to make a decision to move towards energy independence,” he said. “From there, we can make the hard decisions about issues like water, land and other resources.”

And how do we start moving in the right direction? According to Rep. Abercrombie, “We need to make some bold-hearted, clear-eyed decisions.” If elected governor, he admitted with a chuckle, he has a list of “67 or more first things” to do, which include reprioritizing the state budget, particularly in the areas of water, food, energy and education. Overall, he said, “If I’m elected, my No. 1 goal is to maximize our progress towards sustainability.”

But most important of all, the congressman said, “We need to work together to protect our planet… or someday we may find ourselves without one.”

A story on Assistant Secretary Peter Cunningham's visit posted by Hawaii News Now:

Education official says Hawaii going in wrong direction

By Tim Sakahara

HONOLULU (Hawaii News Now) - One of the highest ranking education officials in the country is touring some of Hawaii's public schools. He is here to listen and learn and also meet with the state and teachers union about the 17 furlough days a year, which reduced Hawaii's school year to the fewest days in the country.

The secretary says Hawaii is going in the totally wrong direction and the state and unions need to put aside their personal agendas and keep kids in school.

Peter Cunningham is the second highest ranking education official in the country and he's sitting in the Niu Valley Middle School library like a student. He liked what he heard from this individual school but not what is happening to the school system as a whole.

"Teachers need to be teachers, kids need to be learning and the adults who are all responsible for this need to work this out in a different way than the way they have," said Peter Cunningham, U.S. Department of Education, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach.

The Assistant Secretary says school days, weeks and years are already too short. Standards are too low and kids are not being challenged enough. So to hear Hawaii shortened the school year even more is unacceptable.

"There are lots of ways to do this the one way you shouldn't do it is by cancelling class time," said Cunningham.

He credits Governor Linda Lingle for looking into using rainy day funds to eliminate furlough Friday's and wants the teachers union to be open to turning planning days into teaching days.

"Hopefully they'll work it out and work it out in a better way than that. I am meeting with the union leader later in the week so I will share with him the view of the President and the Secretary have which is the kids need to be in class," said Cunningham.

"The children need to have their instructional days. How you work that out? You can do combinations of vacation days, you can extend the day, there are half a dozen different things," said Rep. Neil Abercrombie, (D) Hawaii's 1st District, who toured the school with Cunningham.

As students sat in class, parents hope the true lesson learned is that education shouldn't be a problem, it should be a priority.

"What I want him to hear is that the students need to come first and they have incredible gifts and talents and the future of our country is dependent on these kids," said Margaret South, Parent and President of Friends of Niu Valley. "I'm hoping we realize as a country that we need to put our investments in children and their education so they can compete on a world stage."

Secretary Cunningham's visit is part of the 'listening and learning tour' which started last May. Education officials will go to all 50 states and Guam and American Samoa in anticipation of revamping the No Child Left Behind Act next year.

As we all struggle with a crisis that is hurting our children’s education, there is also a quiet emergency not getting nearly enough attention. Early education is too often seen as a nice-to-have service — an add-on to the K-12 and university systems. Nothing could be further from the truth.

By age 5, a child’s brain is 85 percent of its adult weight and it is forming 700 neural synapses per second — these are the connections in the brain that allow you to learn. Research shows that by 18 months, disparities in a child’s vocabulary due to the education attainment and income of the parents already appear.

David Brooks, a conservative columnist, summarized the research best: “By 5, it is possible to predict, with depressing accuracy, who will complete high school and college and who won’t.” We cannot with a straight face call ourselves a land of equal opportunity, aware that children are already facing an uphill battle before they reach kindergarten.

We must take more decisive action to improve our public education system in Hawai‘i. But we must also invest significantly more effort into early education. We already know it pays off, not just in educational gains, but also economically. According to the Good Beginnings Alliance, every $1 invested in early education results in $4.20 of state, federal and social benefits. Investing in early education is economic development.

In Congress, I have always fought for increased funding for the Head Start program, which provides early education for over 3,000 low-income children in Hawai‘i. I am also co-sponsoring legislation championed by our own Rep. Mazie Hirono and supported by President Obama that would provide grants to enhance state-funded preschool programs. For the rest of my term in Congress, I will continue this fight. But according to Good Beginnings Alliance, most of Hawai‘i’s resources for early education come from the federal government. If we really put our children first, we need to do more at the state level. This is exactly the kind of situation that inspired me to run for governor.

One of my highest priorities as governor will be to firmly establish the statewide public-private partnerships required to ensure high-quality early education opportunities for all. We also need to fully reinstate early intervention programs like Healthy Start, which focuses on at-risk families and recognizes that kindergarten is too late to try to have a “level playing field.” Kids need to have equal opportunity at birth. Finally, very young children in particular need their parents involved in their educations, which means we need to have public and private supports to ensure that parents can participate while still making ends meet.

We have immediate issues in public education that need a resolution now. At the same time, we cannot take our eye off of the long-term investments that pay off long after headlines have faded away.

One of the top things we can do to improve education in Hawai‘i is give children ages 0 to 5 the full help, support and resources they deserve. Right now we aren’t, but I know we can and will. We have some of the smartest, most able business people, researchers, educators, social workers, philanthropists, and community advocates working on early childhood issues-really some of the best in the country in my opinion. There is no reason we can’t provide for our young children. What we need now is political will.

Posted today by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin:

Leaders see APEC meeting as opportunity for Hawaii
By Rosemarie Bernardo

The 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting in Honolulu will be the largest intergovernmental meeting of world leaders in the state's history, according to the president of the East-West Center, who played a key role in coordinating the bid.

"It brings a lot of publicity and awareness" about what Hawaii has to offer, said Charles Morrison in a phone interview from Jakarta, Indonesia.

Many state leaders are looking forward to showing countries worldwide that Hawaii is a destination spot for serious business and not just sun and surf. The meeting, as announced Sunday by President Barack Obama in Singapore, is to be held in November 2011 at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

"Securing the 2011 APEC Leaders Meeting is a significant accomplishment for the state of Hawaii as we continue to expand our state's role as a leader in the Asia-Pacific region," said Gov. Linda Lingle in a news release.

Meetings are under way among federal, state and city officials, including those at the East-West Center and Hawai'i Convention Center, and the private sector to create a detailed plan for the meeting. Officials also are waiting to hear from Obama on his plans.

"There's no question in anybody's mind that Hawaii will be able to deliver," said state tourism liaison Marsha Wienert.

More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the meeting, including 20 heads of state and their delegations, a welcome boost for the tourism industry.

Isle residents can expect congestion on the roadways and airports during the event, but what it can do for the state outweighs the temporary disruptions, officials contend.

"It could lead to many new advantages for Hawaii as we develop our relationships with Asian countries in the worldwide community," said Wienert.

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann echoed her sentiment, saying the state will reap benefits for years to come.

Sixty percent of U.S. exports go to APEC nations, trade that supports millions of American jobs, Obama said. In turn the U.S. is the largest export market for Asia, providing more affordable goods for consumers in America, he said.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie said, "The president will be able to speak in personal terms as no other president could about America's commitment to the region because of his ties to Hawaii, our people and our diversity that is rooted in the history and culture of Asia and the Pacific. He grew up in the cultural milieu of Hawaii, which will demonstrate to APEC members that when they speak to the president of the United States, they are truly speaking to a world leader and American who shares with them a personal understanding and relationship."

The meeting will be the first in the United States since Washington state hosted APEC leaders in 1993.

Mike McCartney, president of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said the Hawaii-based Pacific Command, Hickam Air Force Base, the Hawai'i Convention Center and its proximity to the hotels, and the multiethnic culture are some of the factors that led to Hawaii's selection as the host site.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said McCartney, adding that host sites rotate among APEC's 21 member economies.

Jerry Gibson, general manager of Hilton Hawaiian Village and Hilton Hawaii's area vice president, said: "It's a world marketing opportunity for Hawaii.

"We'll have the eyes of the world on us here."

Ambassador William Bodde Jr., a former diplomat-in-residence of the East-West Center who served as the first APEC executive director, said Hawaii's selection as the host site makes "perfect symbolic sense" due to its multiethnic culture and the multitude of experts on the Asia-Pacific region at the University of Hawaii and East-West Center.

"There's no doubt that the economic future and political future of the United States is tied to the Asia-Pacific region," said Bodde by telephone, noting that Obama's meeting with his counterparts is important for both American policy and the international climate.