Cayetano touts state
lawsuits as Fasi joins
him at fund-raiser

By Mike Yuen
Star-Bulletin

Political maverick Frank Fasi and an estimated 3,000 people jammed into the Dole Ballrooms last night for a $100-per-person fund-raiser for Democratic Gov. Ben Cayetano.

Fasi, who was trounced by Maui Mayor Linda Lingle for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, said he'll do anything to help Cayetano beat Lingle.

"That was my kind of crowd," Fasi later told the Star-Bulletin. "Every ethnic group that I can think of was present. Probably every religious group was represented, too. I felt at home with them."

A Republican gathering could not match the diversity of last night's Cayetano event, Fasi said.

Last week, Fasi, still smarting from what he branded as unfair treatment from isle Republican Party Chairwoman Donna Alcantara, endorsed Cayetano's re-election bid. Fasi, the former longtime Honolulu mayor and self-described "Independent," was a Democrat and third-party standard-bearer before rejoining the GOP for his fifth unsuccessful quest for the governorship.

Fasi said Cayetano campaign officials invited him to the fund-raiser. While he was there, he was escorted by Ann Kobayashi, Cayetano's campaign co-chairwoman, who is also a former Republican.

Cayetano asked the crowd to "help us win this campaign" by touting him to their friends.

"The Republican National Party smells blood. They think they can win this race. So they're pouring money in from the mainland," Cayetano added.

Later, Cayetano insisted that the lawsuit his administration filed yesterday against major gasoline companies for allegedly overcharging isle motorists, as well as the administration's earlier lawsuit against tobacco companies would never have occurred in a Republican administration.

"Republicans don't believe in taking on the tobacco companies or the oil companies or any other big businesspeople when they do something wrong," Cayetano said.

And for Republicans who might be wondering why the gas lawsuit was filed during the stretch run of a gubernatorial campaign, Cayetano said he as governor "has to do the people's work" no matter what the circumstances or the timing.

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Kanahele finds road to
elective office bumpy

By Mike Yuen
Star-Bulletin

Hawaiian sovereignity leader Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele apparently was considering running for elective office this year, but his status as a convicted felon on supervisory release prevented him from doing so.

But he was able to vote. Kanahele cast his ballot in the primary election two weeks ago, since state law allows convicted felons on parole or probation to vote. They're just not allowed to run for or hold office until they've completed all aspects of their sentences.

Kanahele, who was imprisoned for four months after pleading guilty to interfering with U.S. marshals attempting to arrest a federal fugitive, is currently on a yearlong supervisory release -- it's like parole -- which will end in about five months.

Once that's done, Kanahele is free to seek office, Deputy Attorney General Pamela Toguchi said yesterday.

State chief election officer Dwayne Yoshina added: "Bumpy did ask prior to the filing deadline if he could be a candidate. I can't remember if it was for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs or a regular position.

"We did give him word that he could not because he was a convicted felon who had not yet (completed his sentence).

"He asked us very pleasantly and we gave him an answer. As far as I'm concerned, he hasn't been a problem for us."

Kanahele could not be reached yesterday or Wednesday. When he was sentenced in February, he said he was interested in running for a seat on OHA.

The leader of the self-proclaimed Nation of Hawaii, Kanahele was seen as one of the more militant advocates of sovereignity.

But earlier this year, he talked about working within the system and achieving change through the ballot box.

Genny Wong, Honolulu city clerk, said Kanahele was allowed to vote at his polling place after he filled out a registration affidavit. Election officials then issued a "correction order" to remove his "felon" status in the election computer system, Wong said.

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Thronas enlists Asing
in Kauai mayoral race

By Trish Moore
Star-Bulletin

LIHUE -- County Council Chairwoman Mary Thronas is hoping to pack a one-two punch in her bid to unseat Mayor Maryanne Kusaka by teaming up with veteran Council member Kaipo Asing.

Thronas, who edged out Asing by 174 votes in the nonpartisan primary election, said yesterday she will appoint Asing to her top Cabinet post if she wins in November.

At a news conference yesterday, Thronas and Asing said they plan to work together to represent both business and environmental interests on Kauai.

Asing's supporters are seen as a crucial voting block by both Kusaka and Thronas.

Kusaka was not available to comment.

Asing, who spent 18 years on the Council, has always been an attractive candidate to environmentalists and other progressive Democrats, largely because he has never accepted campaign contributions from special-interest groups. His campaigns have mainly consisted of waving home-made signs by himself.

He's also been a self-styled watchdog of county administrations, constantly poking through budgets and asking pointed questions at council meetings.

Heading into the general election, Thronas said she's planning to shift the focus of her campaign.

"Our strategy was to have friends and ask friends to vote for us. But Kaipo was right on my tail. And we gave no reason for the voters to change," she said.

Although Kauai voters in 1996 made local races nonpartisan, Thronas says she's a "lifelong" Democrat. She's been publicly endorsed by state Democratic Party Chair Walter Heen and former Democratic Gov. George Ariyoshi.

Kusaka, finishing her first four-year term as mayor, was elected as a Republican in 1994 and receives polling and other assistance from the Republican Party.

In the primary, Kusaka received 43.6 percent of votes, Thronas 25.2 percent, and Asing 24.3 percent.