Senate President Colleen Hanabusa’s Opening Day Speech
Wednesday, January 17th, 2007By Hawaii State Senator Colleen Hanabusa
Governor Lingle, Lt. Governor and Mrs. Aiona, Chief Justice Moon, Mayor Baptiste, Mayor and Mrs. Kim, Mayor Tavares, Former Governor and Mrs. Ariyoshi, Former Governor and Mrs. Waihee, Former Governor and Mrs. Cayetano, esteemed colleagues, honored guests, ladies and gentlemen:
Aloha. I am honored…and humbled…to speak to you today.
I stand before you, the fourth generation of a family who has benefited from the support of a community that has had so little…and shared so much. I speak to you about Waianae…our home…and a very special place to my family and me. A place whose name calls forth so many different images for each of you. A place that many of us…despite our community pride…were once ashamed to admit we were from. A place whose generosity and forgiveness has sometimes caused it to be taken advantage of. A place that in too many cases has become a dumping ground for much of this island. (more…)
