ASSOCIATED PRESS A VIP boat tour of Pearl Harbor yesterday included President Bush; first lady Laura Bush; Gov. Linda Lingle; National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, fourth from left; and Adm. Thomas Fargo, right, who directed the tour.

Political talk left behind
at tea with Laura Bush

---

By Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.com

THE PRESIDENT'S HAWAII VISIT  Bush 'impressed'  Some are impromptu guests  Bush honors vets' sacrifices  2nd-grader puts Bush on spot  Politics left behind at tea  Isle volunteer greets president  Bush bypasses protesters  Some brave security for glimpse  Stop fits Bush travel pattern

When Vivian Aiona sat next to first lady Laura Bush, they talked about what they have in common: Both have children in college, and both have politician husbands who pay attention to physical fitness.

Aiona, the wife of Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, co-hosted a tea yesterday on the deck of the USS Missouri for Bush, Gov. Linda Lingle and a dozen wives of high-ranking military officers and businessmen.

Although the tea lasted just 40 minutes, the women discussed a range of topics, though nothing political. "Just a bunch of moms," Aiona said.

Lt. Gov. Aiona was the only man in the group. "I think he got drowned out," his wife said.

Aiona sat to the left of the first lady, while co-hostess Sarah Fargo, wife of Adm. Thomas Fargo, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, sat to her right.

Guests were served island-chicken tea sandwiches with mango chutney and Kona coffee.

Bush mentioned a previous trip to Hawaii, a reunion on Maui some years ago with a close group of the president's Yale buddies.

Sipping tea with Bush was a highlight of Aiona's first year as the wife of a lieutenant governor.

"She is very lovely," Aiona said. "She's very attractive. The cameras don't do her justice. She has the most beautiful blue eyes."

She added: "I can't wait to call my sisters. I kept the menu. It's very exciting for me."