Be happy?
Lawmakers to focus
on responsibility

By Bruce Dunford
Associated Press

Is there a way to be a politician and still be happy?

That's what Hawaii's 76 state lawmakers are being invited to find out later this month.

House and Senate leaders have arranged a one-day workshop at Windward Community College on Sept. 17 with Dr. Gerald Jampolsky, a psychiatrist, and his wife, Diane Cirincione, a clinical psychologist.

The Kailua couple lectures and consults on the power of an individual's attitude in relationships, how peace of mind is accomplished through forgiveness and how love conquers fear and guilt.

"We hope it'll bring the House and Senate closer together," said House Speaker Calvin Say, D-Palolo Valley-Kaimuki.

Jampolsky and Cirincione are not charging for their appearance, Say said.

Next year's legislative session -- which will face such tough issues as civil service reform and implementing educational programs for special-education students -- "will be far from easy and will take the commitment and will of all of us to work with each other," according to a memorandum sent to lawmakers by Say and Senate President Norman Mizuguchi, D-Moanalua Valley-Aiea-Pearlridge.

The workshop is "designed to help us more effectively do our jobs as legislators by reflecting on our roles and responsibilities as elected officials," the memo says.

"We will be asked to look beyond being senators and representatives, Republicans and Democrats -- to contemplate the very essence of public service and reflect on how our actions and interactions help or hinder our being good public servants," it reads.

Sen. Carol Fukunaga, co-chairwoman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said she intends to attend the workshop, which is titled "How to Be in Politics and Still Be Happy."

"Anything we can do with the House and Senate that can improve the relationship, it's a plus," said Fukunaga, D-Ala Moana-Makiki-Tantalus.

Sen. Robert Bunda, D-Wahiawa-Haleiwa-North Shore, is already reading well into "A Course in Miracles," a book used by Jampolsky as a premise for his lectures.

Sen. Calvin Kawamoto, D-Pearl City-Waipahu, wasn't sure whether he'd attend.

"I'm pretty happy already," he said.