GOVERNOR LINGLE TRAVELS TO WASHINGTON TO PROMOTE HAWAI`I

For Immediate Release:  February 19, 2004

HONOLULU — Governor Linda Lingle and seven of her cabinet directors will travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with various officials from the Bush Administration as well as members of Congress on issues of importance to Hawai`i, including health and human services, transportation, native Hawaiian issues, agricultural development, crime and drug prevention, and military and homeland security issues. 

During the trip, Governor Lingle will promote the state’s improving economy as well as her administration’s success in creating a business-friendly environment.  The Governor has scheduled media interviews with various national electronic and print media outlets to discuss Hawai`i’s ongoing efforts to reverse the anti-business reputation the state has endured in the past. Backed by statistics on the state’s strengthening economic indicators including the second highest job growth in the nation, one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, the lowest business and personal bankruptcy filings in seven years, rising tourism figures, and a booming construction industry, the Governor will position Hawai`i as one of the top locations for businesses.

Governor Lingle will also join the nation’s governors in Washington, D.C., for the National Governors Association’s (NGA) winter meeting.  Among the major topics to be addressed during the NGA conference, many of which complement the Lingle Administration’s top priorities are:  education, health and human services, long-term care and aging, natural resources, and economic development and commerce. 

In addition, the governors will meet with President George W. Bush and members of his cabinet for discussions on welfare reform, homeland security and transportation.  They will also hold a dialogue with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to address state-federal legislative priorities, including education, homeland security, welfare reform, highway reauthorization, and Internet taxes.  Governor Lingle will also participate in meetings of the Republican Governors Association and Western Governors Association.

Members of the Lingle Administration who will accompany the Governor or meet her in Washington are:  Mark Bennett, attorney general; Micah Kane, director, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Rod Haraga, director, Department of Transportation; Lillian Koller, director, Department of Human Services; Sandra Kunimoto, director, Department of Agriculture; Dr. Chiyome Fukino, state health director, Department of Health; Bob Awana, chief of staff; Linda Smith, senior advisor-policy; and Lenny Klompus, senior advisor-communications.  In addition, following the NGA meeting Major General Robert Lee, the state adjutant general, will join his counterparts from around the nation in meetings with Lt. General H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau.

“This is an important opportunity for us to ensure that key Hawai`i issues continue to be positioned at the national level where we can gain the appropriate support and resources from the Bush Administration and Congress, as well as share best practices with other states,” said Governor Lingle, who will be participating in her second NGA winter meeting.  “Over the past 14 months our Administration has maintained an active presence in Washington, and this trip will further advance many of the initiatives we are pursuing that will benefit the people of Hawai`i.”

Governor Lingle will also travel to New York City where she will meet with New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) executives and ring the closing bell on Feb. 27th.  Three of the four Hawai`i companies listed on the NYSE will join the Governor:  Bank of Hawai`i Corporation, Central Pacific Financial Corp., and Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.

The Governor will leave for Washington this evening, Feb. 19th, and will return to Honolulu on Feb. 28th.

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For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus 
Senior Advisor – Communications 
Cell: 386-5186 (while in Washington, which is 5 hours ahead of Hawai`i)

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: 586-0043