Calling her supporters "women warriors," Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono yesterday held her first major campaign rally since filing for governor last week. Hirono vows to uphold ethics
Star-Bulletin staff
Hirono had 600 supporters at a lunch at the Sheraton-Waikiki hotel. Among those attending the luncheon was Jadine Nielsen, the former deputy major of Los Angeles and a Democratic party political worker.
Hirono told the crowd that the recent political scandals involving the conviction of several major local Democratic figures has "deeply saddened" her because she knew many of those who had been convicted. She promised to run an administration "with the highest ethics and integrity."
"It has only firmed my resolve to stay in the fray, to stay in the game and to be a woman warrior," Hirono said.
Campaign supporter Kate Stanley said Hirono had asked supporters to buy tables of 10 seats at $3,500 a table, to support the campaign. She said 60 tables' worth of campaign tickets were sold.
Hirono has been lieutenant governor under Gov. Ben Cayetano for the past eight years and previously served seven two-year terms in the state House.