Web offers candidates’
bios

Just who are all those people alongside the road morning and night, smiling broadly, trying to make eye contact and waving campaign signs with the help of their family and friends?

Part of the answer is provided on the state Office of Elections' Web site, where voters can find dozens of profiles, campaign pitches and, in most cases, pictures of the candidates vying for seats in Congress, the Legislature and state and county governments in the Sept. 18 primary and the Nov. 2 general election.

While the likelihood of anyone upsetting longtime incumbent U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye is described by one candidate as "like hitting the jackpot in Vegas," that did not keep that candidate, Eddie Yoon, a Korean-born human rights lawyer and former prosecutor in Tacoma, Wash., from challenging Inouye in the Democratic primary.

"Understandably, Hawaiians have difficult time dealing with change, but with Patsy Mink incident, it is my firm belief that no position of leadership can nor should last forever. It is time for change," Yoon writes in his profile.

In the nonpartisan race for Honolulu mayor, Oahu residents are being bombarded daily by the leading contenders, former Council members Duke Bainum and Mufi Hannemann.

But there are eight other candidates, including former Mayor Frank Fasi, the best known of the group.

Because of her weekly television show on a community access channel, Lillian Hong might have some fans.

"Hong is my last name, Lillian, my first name, Lai-Lam, my middle name, and Wang, is my maiden name," she writes in her profile. "I am running for Honolulu mayor. I am not accepting any campaign contributions. I do not have a campaign headquarters. I will donate all my salaries ... to educational projects in this community."

Terrence Koichi said he is concerned about the city's deteriorating infrastructure.

"Water main break here, sewage spill there, poorly maintained streets. I'm tired of political dreams that promise to make our city great, only to be 'business as usual' and the taxpayer to bear the brunt of the added costs," Koichi writes.

Mayoral candidate Daniel Cunningham is an advocate of using nuclear power to generate cheap electricity.

"If electricity becomes free the inequality of power no longer exists so we may be self governing under God's Law while making man's law obsolete," he says.

Challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie in Hawaii's 1st District this year is Libertarian Elyssa Young, who also gives her name as Erin O'Bryn.

"My background is in the adult entertainment and sex industry," she writes. "So for once, you will get an honest person in office."

As for politics, Young writes: "My position on key issues includes opposition to our continued involvement in the Middle East. I support a return to a Federal government with a vastly reduced role."

In the 2nd District, incumbent U.S. Rep. Ed Case faces John Gentile of Hilo in the Democratic primary.

"Our democracy depends on the voice of the people taking precedence over money from lobbyists," Gentile says. "The only special interests worthy of representation are the hopes and needs of individual citizens."