District 21/23/25 Newsletter

Since the 4th Wednesday of this month is the day before Thanksgiving, the regular monthly meeting will instead be held the following Wednesday, November 30, at the usual 6 pm, Hawaii Republican Headquarters, 725 Kapiolani Blvd. Bob Kessler is back from his busy schedule of cruising the world, and so has been freshly inspired to invite all the known candidates to replace Galen Fox, as the 23rd District's representative, to speak.

Hopefully, Galen will be continuing his active leadership with the Party, although nobody could blame him if he decided to drop out of the political scene for a while, as he's put in a lifetime of public service already. As everybody realizes, it is the most stressful positions to hold these days -- unless one is pretty much born a natural politician. But that's true of whatever field one enters these days -- and why it is so important to find out what it is, each individual loves to do and was meant for. Not to realize that in these times, is the major source of unhappiness in a world of affluence and prosperity.

A few weeks ago, Bob and I had an opportunity to meet with several other district chairs and meet some of the candidates and other people who will be playing major roles in the coming election cycle. What was particularly encouraging to see, were so many young people -- who will undoubtedly be the generation to which the torch of the Republican Party is passed onto. Kristi Sue-Ako was one of the youngest -- and is an applicant for the 23rd District representative. She was an aide for Senator Gordon Trimble during the legislative session but is better known now as the treasurer for the lieutenant governor's campaign of James Aiona. She graduated fairly recently from Wellesley College.

The Republican Party more than the Democrats, is the party of opportunity for young people -- so if you know someone young in spirit and interested, the world is wide open to them. Public office undoubtedly appeals most to those who like being in a highly visible position -- and well-known. Surely there must be a few American Idol types -- who could shift their focus to a forum that offers a much greater possibility for lifelong meaningful involvement, limited only by their own creativity and dedication.

Another candidate showing a lot of creativity in making himself well-known is Nolan Kido, out in District 18 (Aina Haina). He's another refreshingly young -looking person who then reveals he is a legislative aide for Councilman Charles Djou, a business professor at Chaminade, and has already met most of the residents in his district. People who already have this public spirit and involvement, are leaders and representatives -- whether they run for public office or not. Voluntary public service is as important and necessary as holding an elective office -- if that is the role one is made to play, and is the most fulfilling. Some people don't have the time and patience -- and so contributing to the Party or campaigns is their own calling and service.

In a former time, every educated and ambitious person thought their mission in life, like everybody else's, was to be the President of the United States, and if one wasn't, one was an obvious failure, and many thus became resentful, bitter and envious of whoever was. I think that largely explains the animosity many people who should know better, seem to have an irrational inclination to criticize and undermine every effort of the current president (or governor), who quite probably, will go down in history of one of the great leaders of all-time. One would never know that from reading the newspapers or seeing talking heads on television convincing us that their thoughts and opinions -- are the only things that matter. And invariably, what concerns them is some petty distraction.

While it is good to have opinions, they are no substitute for having facts -- or being able to distinguish opinions from facts. Facts are what each individual can verify for themselves -- independent of any influence or coercion from anyone else. Opinions are facts planted in one's head by others -- who don't believe one ought to find out the truth of anything for themselves. The mass media will try to convince us the opposite is true -- that the truth one finds out for himself, is only an opinion -- and what they tell us, are the facts. I trust most of you know the difference and so I encourage you in this election cycle, to get as much information as you can, directly from the principals, rather than what people tell you about others -- which these days, is likely to be the exact opposite of what is real and true.

For those who haven't attended a political or campaign function recently, I think you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that some real authentic people are asking to represent us as elected officials. Not being one of these political types myself, I think every role played is representative of who we are as a people. So whether you show up at the district monthly meeting, attend a city sponsored forum on transportation, or whatever community concern interests you, that's also being representative of the thinking people in Hawaii -- that shapes public policy and creates the moral and intellectual context of society. Everything we do makes the difference.

Notes from Headquarters:

Eliza Talbot wants those who wish to attend the annual Voter Registration Training on Wednesday, Dec.7, 12 noon to contact her by Dec. 5 at eliza@gophawaii.com or 593-8180. Food provided.

Joanne Bretschneider/Sam Aiona want to remind us the big events for the Party are the district caucus in January, the county caucus in April, and state convention May 26-28. At the January meeting, we elect new district officers for the year -- which we hope will be the next generation of leaders in Hawaii getting their start. If you know people who would make great citizen-leaders, please have them join us.