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Oprah thanks governor
for easing pet quarantine

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Television talk show host Oprah Winfrey was among those happy the state eased its animal quarantine laws last month, and she called Gov. Linda Lingle to tell her so.

Lingle said Winfrey told her that she was staying at the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua, Maui, and was wishing that she could stay longer and bring her two cocker spaniels when she saw a TV newscast about Lingle signing the new rules on June 22 to ease the quarantine laws.

"She said, 'Governor, it's a miracle because you had just signed it,'" Lingle said last week. "So she was calling to tell me how great she thought that was and how excited she is that she would be able to come more regularly to Hawaii."

Under the new rules, pet quarantine is reduced to five days or less, from the previous 30 days, if certain conditions are met.

Lingle keeps it light

With a possible special session looming tomorrow to override some of her vetoed bills, Gov. Lingle was still able to joke about it after meeting with Hawaii's all-Democratic congressional delegation Wednesday.

The Republican governor said the delegation's idea for a concerted push for federal recognition of native Hawaiians in the next four weeks was a "great idea."

"It's good to be around Democrats that aren't trying to override me," Lingle said after the meeting. "I kinda enjoy having them here today."

Quipped U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, "Enjoy it while you can."

Inouye mainstay retires

Many Hawaii residents may not know who Beverly MacDonald is, but she has been a cornerstone of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye's staff for more than three decades.

MacDonald, a Virginia resident, retired last week after more than 35 years in Inouye's Washington, D.C., office. She rose from receptionist to officer manager, and was honored with a lunch last week.

"Quietly, effectively and with no fanfare, this woman from the Virginia suburbs has been a valuable member of my Washington team," Inouye said.

MacDonald said it's been exciting working for Inouye and to see history in the making. "Watergate and Iran-Contra were definitely highlights," she said.

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