LT. GOVERNOR AIONA HOSTS NATIONAL LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

For Immediate Release:  July 26, 2005

HONOLULU – Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. will host the 2005 Annual Meeting of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA), which starts tomorrow and runs through Saturday.  The meeting will focus on current issues in state and territorial government including the nation’s war on drugs, the future cost and reliability of energy, developing state international trade and homeland security.

The attendees will hear from National Drug Czar John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, who will outline specific federal-state cooperative efforts.  Lt. Governor Aiona will explain his role on the National Advisory Council of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and describe tools available to all states to meet the growing challenges of mental health and substance abuse.

Commissioner Nora Brownell of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will detail federal work on the reliability of the nation’s electricity grid and will share future energy cost projections.  Experts on Asia-Pacific trade, including Philip Wang, director-general, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, will discuss various alternatives lieutenant governors could utilize in developing international trade for their states. The members also will discuss the opportunities and challenges of the aging population affecting each state. 

The lieutenant governors will also hear from Hawai`i officials who will share expertise in their respective fields, including Dr. Jim Lackey, director, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies; Dr. Charles Morrison, president, East-West Center; Dr. Sumner LaCroix, East-West Center Senior Fellow and University of Hawai`i professor; Ed Teixeira, vice director, State Civil Defense; Dr. John Tantlinger, program manager, Strategic Technology & Industry Development Branch, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; and John Joaquin, vice president, Hawaiian Electric Company.

The conference participants will receive a briefing from Rear Admiral Van Alford when they visit the U.S. Pacific Command Center at Pearl Harbor.  The lieutenant governors will also lay wreaths at the USS Arizona Memorial.

“In state after state, lieutenant governors have been playing larger roles in policymaking,” said NLGA Director Julia Hurst.  “The 2005 NLGA Annual Meeting agenda will provide specific items NLGA members can take home to benefit the residents of their states and territories.”

NLGA members will take time during the conference to listen to issue areas where they may reach bipartisan agreement to affect action throughout the country.  At this meeting, the lieutenant governors will pursue further involvement in Project ChildSafe, a project many NLGA members have engaged in to distribute more than 30-million gun locks nationwide.  Lt. Governor Aiona has joined with officials from Project ChildSafe and state, county and federal law enforcement officials in distributing 60,000 free firearm safety kits, which include gun locks, to Hawai`i firearm owners.  The free gun locks are available by calling Lt. Governor Aiona’s office at (808) 586-0255.

“NLGA is a vital forum where we can exchange ideas and discuss issues important to our states,” said Lt. Governor Aiona.  “Lieutenant governors across the nation are assuming a more influential role in the governance of their individual states.  The issues presented and discussed at this meeting truly reflect the evolution of the office and provide lieutenant governors with a wealth of information that will help them play an increasingly active role in their home state.”

“Holding a national meeting of this caliber here strengthens our ongoing efforts to position Hawai`i as an ideal place to conduct business conferences and conventions,” said Lt. Governor Aiona.  “We are honored to welcome the lieutenant governors, their staffs and families to our state, and we are glad the NLGA sees the benefits of meeting in Hawai`i.”

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For more information, contact:
Celyn Chong Kee  
Public Liaison  
Office of the Lt. Governor  
Phone: (808) 586-0255

Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Office of the Governor/Lt. Governor
Phone: (808) 586-7708

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Office of the Governor/Lt. Governor
Phone: (808) 586-0043