Welcome Business Hall of Fame Laureates

The State Senate was honored with the presence of the 2012 Junior Achievement of Hawaii Business Hall of Fame Laureate inductees at a floor presentation ceremony held in the senate chamber on Friday, March 9.

Inducted by Junior Achievement of Hawaii into the Hall of Fame for 2012 are: Ric Maiava and Debra Ching Maiava owners of Ken’s House of Pancakes (Hilo), Jay Kadowaki, of J. Kadowaki, Inc. and Daniel B. T. Lau, co-founder of Finance Factors, and and Ric Maiava, as shown in the photo with me above.

Also recognized during the floor session were Junior Achievement of Hawaii’s chair Carolyn Fujioka and JA President Diane Ward in addition to family and colleagues of the laureates. A presentation banquet was also held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel, March 9

Transportation Experts Visit Honolulu

Transportation experts John Charles of the Cascade Policy Institute, Wendell Cox of Demographica, Adrian Moore of the Reason Public Policy Institute and Randal O’Toole of the Cato Institute were in town on Feb. 28 and 29 to participate in 2 forums on transit alternatives. Attending those forums were informed taxpayers who want to find out more about alternatives and how much the current proposal will cost. Meanwhile rail transit supporters staged loud and angry protests, especially at the Kapolei presentation where speakers were shouted at and down. The experts visited my office on February 29.

Chinese Prosecutors Visit Senate

More than 25 officials from the Fujian Province of the Peoples’ Republic of China visited the State Senate chamber last Thursday, February 25. The officials are associated with various prosecutors’ offices in the province. They met with Senator Sam Slom at the Minority Caucus room where they were briefed on the legislative and judicial process and the law. The group was very friendly and asked many questions about the process. The meeting with the Chinese officials was arranged through the City Prosecutor’s office.