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Inouye’s isle staff moves
The staff of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye's Honolulu office is returning to Room 7-212 of the Prince Kuhio Federal Building following a 14-month relocation to the fifth floor for a mold infestation cleanup.
The office is closed today but will be open tomorrow.
Inouye's staff moved out in October 2002 after mold was found in the seventh-floor office in August. The move was supposed to be for a month, but the cleanup and replacement of the air-conditioning system, pipes and ducts in the ceiling, as well as installation of new carpeting, took longer than anticipated.
The mailing address, telephone and fax numbers will remain the same.
Blair back in Legislature
Former Honolulu District Court Judge Russell Blair is returning to the state Legislature.
Blair retired from the bench in 2001 and had previously served in the Legislature as a representative and senator.
Rep. Ken Hiraki (D, Kakaako-Downtown), chairman of the House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee, hired Blair as the committee's staff attorney. The job is for the four months of the legislative session beginning next month.
Hirono backs Edwards
Former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono is returning to politics, endorsing U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., for president.
Hirono, who has been a prominent member of national Asian and Pacific Islander organizations, is featured prominently in a new organization for Edwards, Asian Pacific Americans for John Edwards.
"Initially, I was inspired by Sen. Edwards' background. He learned the same lessons working in the mill with his father that I learned delivering newspapers as a fifth-grader to help my family, so he understands the importance of hard work, education and opportunity for everyone," Hirono said.
Also supporting Edwards is Jill Tokuda, former executive director of the Hawaii Democratic Party and an executive assistant to Hirono.
But former Gov. Ben Cayetano has thrown his support behind Democratic former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.
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