Two of three Republican candidates for lieutenant governor were no-shows at a candidates' forum on native Hawaiian issues last night, prompting at least one Democratic counterpart and organizers to make a point of it. 2 GOP candidates
miss Hawaiian forumRepublican hopefuls attribute
Candidates back senior centers
their absence to scheduling conflicts
Clinton to aid isle DemsBy Crystal Kua
ckua@starbulletin.com
"I'm happy to be here. I'm happy my colleagues are here. I'm happy for Duke Aiona -- he's the only Republican here. That says something about the other two, but they're not here," Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Clayton Hee told the crowd of about three dozen.
[ ELECTION 2002 ] The "other two," Hee was referring to, are Cam Cavasso and Dalton Tanonaka, who didn't attend the forum sponsored by the Oahu Council of Hawaiian Civic Clubs forum at the state Capitol auditorium.
The forum came on the same night Republicans were gathered at Kalani High School cafeteria for the latest "Talk Story" session scheduled months ago, a series of traveling GOP candidate rallies.
Lead GOP gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle had to fend off similar criticism from Democrats after declining to attend a gubernatorial forum organized by the same group earlier this month.
She was also attending another "Talk Story" session that same night but she has said that she will be speaking at another gathering on Sept. 12 to discuss native Hawaiian issues.
"It's unfortunate that there's a conflict because we want to participate and we have very strong feelings about these issues," said Micah Kane, Hawaii Republican Party chairman, who is a native Hawaiian.
Kane said that thousands of people were notified that the candidates would be at the GOP rallies. It's an opportunity for the public to meet and discuss issues directly with the candidates, he said.
"I think for (them) not to be there, it would not be good,"Kane said.
Kane said the Republican Party has a strong track record of supporting issues important to Hawaii's indigenous people.
"We hope to have another opportunity for our candidates to address the native Hawaiian community," Kane said.
Jalna Keala, former council president, said her organization, made up of 23 native Hawaiian Civic Clubs with a combined membership of more than 3,000, didn't know about last night's Republican rally until this past weekend.
Keala said Cavasso arrived at the auditorium but had to leave before the forum started to make it to the Kalani rally.
"He took our ginger lei and left," moderator Annelle Amaral, a former state representative, told the crowd.
Keala said, "I have no great expectations from the Republicans if they're following Linda Lingle's lead. She's avoided us."
Besides Hee, Democrats, including Donna Ikeda, former state senator and former school board member; state Sen. Matt Matsunaga; and entertainment industry manager Marvin Franklin, and Libertarian Ken Vaughan appeared at the forum.
They discussed myriad issues that touch the native Hawaiian community, including education, high technology and social problems.
State Office of Elections
