Daily Blog

Lt. Governor's Daily Blog

02/18/2009 - Wednesday, February 18, 2009

In his monthly radio call-in show today on Honolulu's KHVH 830 AM, Lt. Governor Aiona discussed with host Rick Hamada such state issues as the local impact of the federal economic bill signed into law yesterday by President Obama. The stimulus package includes more than $670 million for Hawai`i to help pay for infrastructure projects, health care, renewable energy development and conservation, with twin goals of short-term job production and longer-term economic viability.

02/16/2009 - 'Presidential Volunteer Service' award

Lt. Governor Aiona today presents a national award to three Hawai`i residents who are being recognized at the State Capitol for being difference-makers in their respective communities. They bring to 14 the total number of people and companies in Hawai`i to receive the Presidential Volunteer Service Award created by former President Bush.

02/15/2009 - Banquet of Champions

Lt. Governor Aiona today helps honor top-performing athletes from high schools across the state. The Honolulu Quarterback Club for sports enthusiasts is the sponsor of the 62nd Annual Banquet of Champions, which is expected to draw more than 200 people to the New Empress Restaurant at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza for the two-hour event.

02/14/2009 - Japan-Hawai`i Ukulele Picnic

Lt. Governor Aiona today is a featured speaker at the Hawai`i debut of the Ukulele Picnic. Up to 1,000 people are expected at the Kaka`ako Waterfront Park for the popular Japanese cultural event that brings people together to play and listen to ukulele music in a casual picnic setting.

02/12/2009 - Breaking new ground in helping vulnerable people

Lt. Governor Aiona today joins social work leaders as they take a necessary step toward bringing their private network of services together in one location in East Honolulu. Catholic Charities Hawai`i is breaking ground on the much-anticipated project after receiving a $5 million grant from the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation.

02/11/2009 - Examining childhood obesity in Hawai`i

A recent study shows that more than a quarter of all incoming kindergarten students in Hawai`i are overweight, leaving the health and productivity of an entire generation at risk. Lt. Governor Aiona today explores its causes, its impact and possible remedies in a 90-minute roundtable discussion with representatives from the U.S. Surgeon General's Office and the state Department of Health.

02/10/2009 - 'Engineers Week' declared in Hawai`i

Engineers across the state are earning recognition as the Lingle-Aiona Administration continues to actively encourage students in Hawai`i to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math -- fields that are key to the state's economic vitality and competitiveness. On behalf of the Administration, Lt. Governor Aiona today proclaims Feb. 15-21 as "Engineers Week" in Hawai`i during a ceremony at the State Capitol.

02/09/2009 - Curbing childhood obesity

Lt. Governor Aiona on Wednesday will host a roundtable discussion on the rate of childhood obesity in Hawai`i. He will be joined by representatives from the U.S. Office of the Surgeon General and the state Department of Health, where experts have known for years that hauling around extra pounds takes a huge toll on children's health, putting them at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and other health problems.

02/06/2009 - NFL commissioner and Lt. Governor meet

As the National Football League prepares to produce the Pro Bowl this weekend at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Lt. Governor Aiona is focused on the state playing a bigger role as a business partner of the league. The Lt. Governor talked with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell Thursday about not only the Pro Bowl returning to Hawai`i in 2011, but also the state hosting future pre-season games.

02/05/2009 - NFL commissioner visits State Capitol

Lt. Governor Aiona today meets with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell during a courtesy visit at the State Capitol. The meeting at the Office of the Lieutenant Governor comes as the league prepares to produce the Pro Bowl this weekend at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, where the game has an estimated economic impact of more than $28 million.

02/04/2009 - Financial football news conference

Lt. Govenor Aiona today participates in a news conference to launch a statewide financial literacy program that uses an interactive computer football game to teach high school students in Hawai`i about the dangers of debt and the importance of managing their money. The Lt. Governor will be joined by Wes Welker, the Pro Bowl wide receiver for the New England Patriots, and Patrick Willis, the Pro Bowl linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, at the 2 p.m. news conference set for Farrington High School in Honolulu.

02/03/2009 - Lt. Governor testifies before House Committee

In testimony Monday before a House Committee, Lt. Governor Aiona opposed a bill that would require Hawai`i teens found guilty of possession of alcohol to pay a fine instead of lose their drivers' licenses. Lt. Governor Aiona told the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that a fine is not a stronger deterrent to underage drinking than suspending the driving privileges of teens caught with alcohol.

02/02/2009 - Teaching youth the financial playbook

Lt. Governor Aiona today mailed 170 letters with an enclosed DVD to every high school and public library in the state as part of a national effort to help ensure that students receive personal finance education before they graduate. Hawai`i brings to 21 the total number of states participating in the financial literacy campaign led by the National Football League and one of its major corporate sponsors, Visa Inc.

01/31/2009 - 'Talk Story' with Lt. Governor Aiona

In his weekly radio call-in show Monday on Honolulu's KHVH 830 AM, Lt. Governor Aiona will discuss state issues with host Mike Buck. Among the issues likely to be discussed during the show is the Lingle-Aiona Administration's package of 168 legislative bills that was recently submitted to state lawmakers.

01/30/2009 - Moloka`i hospital unveils new look

Lt. Governor Aiona today visits Moloka`i to help usher in a new era for the only hospital for the island's roughly 7,000 residents. The newly renovated Moloka`i General Hospital is now expected to be significantly more equipped to handle heart attacks, broken bones and other traumas that define its core mission.

01/29/2009 - Tax help for families

Hawai`i will be part of a nationwide initiative Friday to encourage more working families to claim the earned income tax credit, an often over-looked benefit that's worth up to $4,824 this year. As part of the awareness effort, Governor Lingle and Lt. Governor Aiona will declare Friday as "Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day" in Hawai`i.

01/28/2009 - Unemployment benefits increase

Despite concerns about the latest unemployment numbers, many jobless residents in Hawai`i have been eligible for 46 weeks to receive state unemployment benefits, according to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. That is because twice, since July 2008, measures have been approved to extend unemployment benefits in Hawai`i beyond the 26-week limit, extensions that allow unemployed individuals and their families with additional financial resources to help pay their bills as they attempt to get back into the job market.

01/28/2009 - 2009 Legislative Initiatives

"Everyone in Hawai`i has been affected in some way by the economic downturn, and we are taking a proactive approach that will lead to economic recovery and long-term prosperity for all of Hawai`i," Lt. Governor Aiona said before attending Governor Linda Lingle's seventh State of the State address to the people of Hawai`i.

01/24/2009 - Traffic Advisory

Lt. Governor Aiona is alerting Hawai`i motorists to construction work that may complicate trips on roadways across the state in the week ahead. Among the trickiest areas to navigate on the Big Island will be the Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway, where a road widening project continues to force intermittent lane closures in both directions between Henry Street and Ke`alakehe Parkway. Starting Monday, that area will be closed for 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.