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Lingle moves into
Capitol’s new-look
governor’s office

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In a state bureaucracy version of The Learning Channel television show, "While You Were Out," Gov. Linda Lingle's private Capitol office was redecorated during her three-day trip to the mainland earlier last month.

Of course, on the TV show, everything appears to happen spontaneously and is a big surprise to the homeowners. In the state bureaucracy, the new rug, sofa, chairs and koa table and desk were all put through a formal request for proposals.

And Lingle, who admits to watching the home makeover show "while I am flipping the channels," was involved in the redecorating.

"We wanted koa, Hawaiian wood and I wanted the desk changed," she said.

Total cost for the refurbishing was $25,409, Lingle said.

Saying that the previous design and layout was "too dark," Lingle kept the credenza that was behind the desk of former Gov. Ben Cayetano. But she didn't like the desk, which was a copy of one reportedly used by King Kalakaua. That desk was given to the Washington Place museum.

"I enjoy a clean look, uncluttered and light; I don't like darkness or dark heavy wood.

"When I walked in, everything in the office was dark, dark wood, dark fabric. Now when I walk in I feel so much better," she said.

True to her taste, Lingle's new desk is a clean, simple rectangle which, along with three smaller end tables, were all made from the same koa tree.

A new set of aquamarine cloth sofas and several chairs replace the sofa set that was used during Cayetano's eight years in office. Lingle had to caution visitors about sitting in the old sofa because some of the springs were poking up.

"I have so many foreign dignitaries as guests and it was embarrassing," Lingle said of the look of the old office.

Now that the private office is redecorated, Lingle admitted that she has some concerns about the governor's public office.

"Have you seen those sofas? They look like something out of a fraternity house," she said.

Dean supports Akaka bill

Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean said he supports federal recognition for native Hawaiians and would work for passage of the now-stalled Akaka bill if elected president.

"A clear and fair federal recognition process is important to establishing the relationships that will empower native Hawaiians to improve the lives of themselves and their families," the former Vermont governor said in a letter to U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, who backs Dean's candidacy.

Dean said that if the bill had the support of the Bush administration it would pass Congress easily.

Harris on architect board

Mayor Jeremy Harris has been named to the national board of directors of the American Institute of Architects.

Harris will serve a two-year term as one of two public directors -- or non-architects -- on the board, which sets public policy for 70,000 architects across the country. Others who have sat on the board in that capacity have been polio vaccine developer Jonas Salk and futurist John Naisbitt, the city said.

Harris' first meeting as a director will be in December in Washington, D.C.

While Honolulu architects have previously sat on the national board, Harris is the first public director from Honolulu, said AIA Honolulu President John Fullmer, who nominated Harris for the directorship along with support from other local AIA members, including honorary affiliate U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.

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