The Quest
for Governor
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Mazie Hirono
“I am a politician in the best sense, in that I seek to do the public's work. I seek to do the right thing for the right reasons. I am a champion for those who otherwise would get screwed.”See also: Linda Lingle interview
Star-Bulletin: Why are you running for governor?"I have this commitment to public service. I am obviously a risk taker. All through my life, people have been telling me 'You can't do this' or 'Why don't you just do this narrow thing?'
"My decisions have always been horizon broadening. When I went to live in Waimanalo one summer, which was a turning point, I could have just spent the summer doing more usual things. But, no, I decided I would go live in Waimanalo with this group of strangers to help create a program there that may be a lot of help to them.
POLITICAL PARTY Democratic ON THE JOB Lt. governor / state representative / deputy attorney general / lawyer
EDUCATION Georgetown University / University of Hawaii / Kaimuki High
AGE 54 / Nov. 3, 1947
BIRTH PLACE Fukushima, Japan
"I want to be governor because my commitment to public service is so strong that on this journey that I am on (being a legislator) being lieutenant governor, I am not going to stop here; I am going to continue.
"It is not easy, it is a huge challenge, but here I am."
Star-Bulletin: How did you learn public speaking?
"By doing it. I never regarded myself as a public speaker. I still don't. I just speak from my heart and sometimes that makes me hesitant because I am thinking.
"I just don't spout out things. I am not a Toastmaster. I am really interested in things that I consider to be substantive. And for me, substance is doing. It is not about talking. I really live that.
"I became a much better speaker by having to do it. I had to push myself in politics, going into areas where I might not be comfortable. I would be happy being able to do a good job on getting things done and I am very good at that because I am focused. Not just in the Legislature, but in the advocacy roles I play. I am very good at that."
Star-Bulletin: What was your grandmother like?
"My grandmother helped to raise me in Japan and was a very important part of my life. Basically from age 3 to 8, she raised me, because my mother was living apart. My family life in Japan was not what you would call normal. At one point my mother left me with my grandmother to raise me, so I could have food and stability in my life.
"I thrived. My grandmother is very close to me.
"My grandmother lived with us until she was 98. She never spoke any English. Both of my grandparents never spoke English. I really have an empathy and sympathy for older people. I have a rapport with them. A large part of that is my own grandparents and the love they gave me."
Star-Bulletin: What was your family life like?
"My family basically started life three times. My grandfather came here to work in the plantations when he was only 16 years old. My grandmother came as a picture bride and my mother was born in Hawaii. Before World War II, the whole family went back to Japan. They started off life anew in Japan. They started off -- it was hard here on the plantations -- they go back -- life was hard again.
"Then, of course, after World War II, Japan was devastated. After I was born, most of my time was spent on my grandparents rice farm where there wasn't much money, but a lot of hard work. Then we came back here to start life anew."
Star-Bulletin: Why did your mother decide to come back?
"She intended to start life without my father. She had to get away from him. It wasn't good enough to move to another part of Japan, she wanted to completely break and start life for us and decided Hawaii would be the place.
"We came and we had very little."
Star-Bulletin: What was the trip like? Were you scared?
"At 8 years old, the saddest part was leaving my grandmother. My grandmother came to Yokohama, where we departed. I remember crying. I cried for days on the ship because I missed my grandmother so much. Then we had to leave my younger brother, because he was not old enough to start school here. He was only 3.
"It was very wrenching for my mother to have to leave my younger brother, but she determined that if we were to start a new life ... it would have been too hard for us ... but that is what happens to immigrants. You start over."
(Hirono's mother eventually brought her younger son to Hawaii, and the family was reunited).
Star-Bulletin: Have you ever acted or performed on stage?
"I was a very introspective person. When you have responsibilities early in life, when you relate more to adults, I think it makes you pretty introspective.
"Being in a play, being out there -- no, it is not something that held any appeal to me, which is ironic considering now I am in a very public arena.
"I push myself. It has been a challenge. We all have these abilities, but most of us operate in a very narrow band that doesn't take us out of the comfort zone. In politics, I have had to push myself out of this narrow band. Every day is like that for someone reserved like me. I am very introspective. I think a lot about things.
"I was more mature than people my age. I didn't want a lot of things. I was never the popular person in class.
"I just had these serious thoughts. Running for office, which is such a public thing to do, is not something I would have thought for myself, even in high school. I never ran for student government.
"What I am focused on is that I know I can get results. For the 22 years, whether I was in power or not, I know I was making a difference. I was considered one of the most effective legislators.
"I can't say it comes easily, being asked questions by reporters, having people write all kinds of things that aren't true or accurate."
Star-Bulletin: How did you wind up playing Tina Turner?
"It was at a (state) House party and I decided to do Tina Turner in a short dress and a purple wig. They didn't recognize me, but they threw money, which was a good sign. I have also done Diana Ross with (former state legislator) Kate Stanley and another legislator ... We did the Supremes.
Star-Bulletin: What about karaoke?
"No, I am a really lousy singer. People tell me, 'What ever you do, don't sing.'"
Star-Bulletin: What are you reading now?
"Right now I am reading (White House political reporter) Helen Thomas' book, which she was nice enough to give me when she came here. I am also reading a book on John Adams. I love mysteries. I read before I go to sleep and I have to admit these days I don't read too many pages before I fall asleep.
"I used to read while eating dinner. I would read while washing dishes. Today when I travel, one of the favorite things to do is find used book stores. I like to find books. Books are my friend. It is very hard for me to get rid of books. My husband is a big reader, but most of the shelves are mine.
"I remember Miss Petrie, our librarian at Koko Head Elementary School.
"I loved reading so much, I self-appointed myself as Miss Petrie's assistant and I would go to school early and help her shelve books. I made a little name card for myself, with my name on it and a little book and a little worm coming up and that was my own little club. I was a weird kid.
"I read everything. I read art books because I love art. I love plays, drama. I read a lot of mysteries, I read biographies. I have eclectic tastes. I have a very inquiring mind.
"I read all the Harry Potter books. The first one, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is my favorite."
Star-Bulletin: Why are your plans for a Cabinet?
"I am going to select a Cabinet that is very competent, made up of good communicators, because I have definitely found that if you don't have administrative and communication skills it is hard to run a department.
"Also, they are going to be team players because I expect my department directors to work across departments, not just in their single department.
"That is one of the ways we are going to cluster departments and that is one of the ways we are going to gain efficiency.
"Putting the Cabinet together is going to be quite a challenge, because the people we pick are going to implement the plans for the first 100 days.
"I know what kind of people I would like to pick. I expect it to be an open process. I want the best and brightest and also ones that reflect the diversity of our people."
Star-Bulletin: Are all the present state jobs up for grabs?
"So far, I have not had conversations about any jobs, so everything is up for grabs.
"They have to share certain values, such as we are going to operate with the highest integrity and ethics and be able to really work as a team.
"They have to share my philosophy of government, which is that we are here to grow the economy, we are here to support existing business. Collaboration is important."
Star-Bulletin: Do you see yourself as a detail or big picture person?
"I am both. I like to make systemic changes. The things I do, like Pre-Plus or workers comp reform, that's a systemic change, when I do the things that focus on teacher training, that's a systemic change.
"I am also detail oriented because I don't like things to fall through the cracks.
"What gets my juices going is making big changes for people.
"The way I accomplish something is by laying out a strategy and then just moving toward it, being very focused and bring a lot of people with me. I have honed that ability. I wasn't always that way.
"When I was first elected to the Legislature, I had some idea that if you knew the most about a subject that would carry the day. Nope. You have to be able to work with a lot of different people who have their own agendas and own views about how things should happen.
"I have honed my skills over the years in terms of working with people and knowing that you just don't hit people over the head with an idea and expect them to be grateful."
Star-Bulletin: Do you think of yourself as a professional politician?
"I am a politician in the best sense, in that I seek to do the public's work.
"I seek to do the right thing for the right reasons. I am a champion for those who otherwise would get screwed.
"I don't view a politician as a one who is a deal-maker, back room dealing and quid pro quo, that has never been my standard of a politician. I view myself first and foremost as a person who can make a difference."
