Republican gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle is getting some big -- really big -- support in her campaign. Lingle gets boost
from sumo championKonishiki is throwing his weight
By B.J. Reyes
behind Lingle and Aiona
Associated PressA campaign official confirmed that Konishiki, one of the first foreign stars in Japanese sumo wrestling, is endorsing the GOP ticket of Lingle and James "Duke" Aiona.
The 600-pound Konishiki, born Salevaa "Sale" Atisanoe, met with Lingle last week and filmed footage that likely will be used for an endorsement ad, campaign spokesman Lenny Klompus said.
Since his retirement from sumo in 1997, Konishiki has become one of Japan's most recognizable television personalities. He also has a fledgling music career and in July was in Honolulu to release a CD, "Simply Sale."
"We're starting to put together some ways to get out the word about his endorsement," Klompus said, adding that final details are expected to be worked out soon.
"Knowing that he was back here, there was a meeting arranged for them to talk about it," Klompus said. "We did have photo camera, we did have a film crew available during that meeting, so as we get closer (to the election) we'll see what we can do with that."
The Nanakuli-born Konishiki, who retired after having become the first foreigner to reach the sport's second-highest rank of ozeki, or champion, has supported Lingle since her failed gubernatorial bid in 1998, Klompus said.
He took Japanese citizenship in 1994, though Klompus said that because the wrestler was born in Hawaii he still can vote in the election.
"The way we understood it, he certainly can vote and intends to for Linda Lingle and Duke Aiona," Klompus said.
In other campaign news yesterday, a group of Filipino doctors voiced its support for Lingle and Aiona. The coalition consists of 32 doctors with a patient base of about 60,000.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mazie Hirono visited other islands over the weekend with a whistle-stop tour of Hilo on yesterday and a mass rally scheduled tomorrow in Maui.
