The governor is scheduled to leave today on a two-week tour of six cities to promote tourism, business, renewable energy projects and sister-city relationships in the world’s most populous country.

That’s all well and good, Schatz says, “but there are many leaders in Hawaii who would represent us proudly and well in China.  There is only one governor and we need her here.”

He adds: “There’s just way too much work to be done, including an $800 million budget shortfall and two pending collective bargaining negotiations.  On top of that our schools are shut down every other Friday, a condition the Governor herself said never should have happened.  This moment calls for the governor to do whatever it takes to work with the legislature and other leaders in finding solutions to the school crisis, to balance the budget and to be here when we need her most.”

Lingle says she plans to keep in touch with her staff in Hawaii to stay on top of issues happening at home while she is away.

^^KGMB weather guy Ben. Gutierrez (center, with flag) portrays the altitudinous Honoluolu mayor pitching his rail plan to the masses in last year’s Gridiron show.

-=-=-

If it’s October that can only mean one thing. Well, several things, actually.

We know many state workers are on the verge of losing their jobs, while others are staring furloughs in the face. And yes, we know public school kids are about to get extended weekends and three of our TV stations are about to be consolidated.

There is a way to fight the dreariness!

It’s Gridiron 2009: Doing Less With Less.

Gridiron is the annual show put on by the Hawaii Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

The show itself is a fundraiser for the SPJ’s journalism internship program, but more than that it’s just a raucous romp spoofing the news and newsmakers of the past year (think Superferry, the swine flu and the last island-wide blackout … again!)

Gridiron features the talent of more than three dozen members of Hawaii’s media outlets with artistic direction from award-winning members of the island’s performing arts community.

For ticket information, go to Ticketmaster.

Shows are at Diamond Head Theatre:

7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 22: Dress rehearsal. ($25 general admission tickets sold at the door; Doors open at 7 p.m.)

8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23: Opening night (only single seats avaialble)

3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24: Matinee performance

8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24: Closing night

For more on Gridiron, follow the show on Facebook and MySpace.

(Yours truly is in the cast and will be taking the week off to concentrate on dance steps and song lyrics rather than ratification votes and rail transit.)

OBAMA: 'SURPRISED AND DEEPLY HUMBLED'...
WINS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE...
MIXED REVIEWS; 'EMBARRASSING JOKE'...
PAPER: This makes mockery of peace prize...
White House Aide: 'It's Not April 1st, Is It?'...
Carter: 'Bold statement'...
Lech Walesa: 'Too early. He has no contribution so far'...
Michael Moore: 'Congratulations President Obama -- Now Please Earn It!'
Sen. Inhofe: Obama received Nobel Peace Prize for 'de-emphasizing defense'...

From the AP story:

Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee said their choice could be seen as an early vote of confidence in Obama intended to build global support for his policies. They lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama’s calls for peace and cooperation, and praised his pledges to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms, ease American conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthen the U.S. role in combating climate change.

Local political leaders didn’t miss a chance to weigh in either.

From state Democratic Party Chairman Brian Schatz:

The Nobel Committee’s choice of President Obama for the 2009 Peace Prize is an honor for the President and for our country.  For those of us in Hawaii, who know that Barack Obama’s roots are what led to his dreams and vision, we can be doubly proud.  We all know there is so much work ahead in a world filled with peril, but let us pause for a moment and reflect on what is possible and commit ourselves to a global community in which peace prevails.

Hawaii Republican Party Chairman Jonah Ka’auwai had a bit more to say on the matter:

President Obama’s star power continues to earn him praise without merit.  What significant shift has taken place on the international front since he has taken office?

North Korea and Iran continue to demonstrate their unwillingness to disclose nuclear capabilities or negotiate real disarmament. American troops are still risking their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq to protect the country from those who wish to do us harm.

American leaders such as President Ronald Reagan, who ushered America to the end of the Cold War, were not honored for their actual achievements, while President Obama, nominated after only two weeks in office, was recognized for his rhetoric by a committee of star-struck Norwegians.

Following on the heels of a similar Hollywood-fueled Nobel win by Al Gore, one can only hope that the Prize will someday regain its credibility.

-=-=-=-=-

UPDATE: 2:20 p.m.

Ka’auwai’s statement drew a response from Schatz:

This is a proud day for America, and an especially proud day for all of us in Hawaii, because we have the first Hawaii – affiliated winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. We should be thrilled about this, and it’s sad that the local Republicans can’t get beyond their partisanship for just a moment to realize what a great day this is.

It’s no wonder that the local GOP has been so ineffective in capturing the enthusiasm of Hawaii residents when they focus on nipping at the President’s ankles rather than solving problems.

If this statement in turn draws a response from the GOP, we will post that, too. After that, they will just have to leave a comment like everyone else!

On Thursday night, Oct. 29, HBO, Oceanic Time Warner Cable and the City and County of Honolulu present the Honolulu premiere of “By The People: The Election of Barack Obama.”

The screening is free to the public, although viewers are being asked to bring a donation of canned food to support the Hawaii Foodbank.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with live entertainment by Willie K beginning at 6 p.m. The screening begins at 7 p.m.

From a news release about the event:

“By The People” is a unique exclusive, behind-the-scenes inside story of the Obama campaign, focusing on the candidate, family members, and staffers and voters who helped turn an unlikely American dream into reality. The film includes footage shot in Honolulu and interviews with several Hawaii residents, including, Congressman Neil Abercrombie, Bobby Titcomb and the President’s sister and brother-in-law, Drs. Maya Soetoro-Ng and Konrad Ng.

The documentary is produced by actor Edward Norton’s Class 5 Films and directed by Amy Rice and Alicia Sams.

Norton recently discussed the project on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (skip ahead to about the 5:35 mark):

The Honolulu screening includes a private VIP reception in the pool area of the Shell; reserved seating for Oceanic customers, community groups and sweepstakes winners in the seated section; and free, open seating in the lawn section. Oceanic subscribers may RSVP for preferred seating on a first come, first served basis at www.oceanic.com/obama. Lawn seating is open to the general public; no RSVP is required.

-=-=-

He will be canonized by the Vatican in less than two weeks,  and today, Father Damien de Veuster was recognized on the floor of the U.S. House.

Hawaii Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono introduced a resolution commemorating the canonization of Father Damien to sainthood. Pope Benedict XVI is set to formally canonize Father Damien on the morning of Oct. 11 Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City. The resolution was cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie and 40 other members of the House.

U.S. Sens. Dan Inouye and Dan Akaka are expected to introduce a similar resolution in the U.S. Senate.

“I believe that all people, regardless of their religious beliefs, can recognize truly extraordinary persons who give of themselves, without reserve, for the betterment of their fellow human beings. Father Damien was surely such a person,” Hirono said in a news release.

“No disease was as feared as leprosy in the late 1800s, but Father Damien volunteered to serve at Kalaupapa and requested to stay there in order to serve those who most shunned,” she added. “He recognized the human rights and inherent dignity of all people, especially those he lived alongside at Kalaupapa.”

From one of the numerous reports by Star-Bulletin reporter Mary Adamski following Father Damien’s path to sainthood:

The Belgian missionary priest came to Hawaii in 1864. In 1873, he volunteered to go to the remote Molokai peninsula where the government banished victims of leprosy — which had reached epidemic proportions, mostly among native Hawaiians. He worked there — providing health care and building housing as well as being a spiritual mentor — for 16 years until his death of the disease.

You can follow the canonization and the events leading up to it in the Star-Bulletin, as Mary travels to the Vatican for full coverage online and the the paper.

The Political Radar has gotten to the bottom of something (that we suspected might have been) rotten, right here in Honolulu.

We’re talking, of course, about the (allegedly) lawless group known as the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN.

When news of the ACORN scandal on the mainland broke, we decided to check out the local chapter, just to make sure that there was nobody helping pimps and prostitutes set up shop to evade taxes on our shores. And we certainly wanted to make sure there were no low-level ACORN employees committing unreported murders in Hawaii Nei.

Realizing it was only a matter of time before intrepid filmmakers James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles made their way to Honoluolu, we decided to beat them to the punch.

Guerilla journalism? Maybe.

Sensationalist coverage? Perhaps.

Doing our patriotic duty? Absolutely!

First, we located the state office, via the national ACORN site:

Armed with our own hidden camera, better known as my BlackBerry, we infiltrated the location:

We have them now!

Alas, just as we are about to spring into action, we come across Suite 106:

Abandoned!

No doubt the likes of Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow have been here already to tip off the scofflaws of our impending sting!

Fortunately, that means the streets of Hawaii — not to mention the halls of Democracy — are safe from such a rogue outfit!

:::

(Actually, we tried the phone number and the e-mail address, both of which were no longer active. A neighbor of the would-be Suite 106 says ACORN hasn’t been in the office for several years, and checks of other local activist types indicate no presence of the group here that anyone can recall.)

Chairman Todd Apo today announced a new lineup that creates a seventh committee.

Kobayashi assumes the chair of the Public Infrastructure Committee, taking over for her predecessor Duke Bainum.

What used to be a single committee under Transportation and Planning, will be split — creating a Transportation Committee headed by Gary Okino and a new Planning Committee headed by Ikaika Anderson.

The other committee chairs remain unchanged:
>> Budget, Nestor Garcia
>> Executive Matters and Legal Affairs, Charles Djou
>> Public Safety and Services, Donovan Dela Cruz
>> Zoning, Rod Tam.

“The goal of the council’s committee structure continues to be — implementing an effective and productive tool to address the issues and legislation before it, while remaining supportive of the public input and participation process,” Apo said in a news release. “In the months ahead, the council is expected to continue its discussions about transit, development plan updates, affordable housing as well as bring on line an additional workgroup to review sustainable building practices and codes.

“The committee line up was expanded from six to seven to support these Council activities thoroughly and efficiently.”

A funny anecdote …

The Hawaii Capitol “Press Corps” was following up on the story (in the other paper) about a federal report that says tax projections for the city’s $5.3 billion rail transit project are expected to be about $500 million short.

Naturally, we wanted to get the governor’s reaction, and see what her thoughts were on whether the state would be able to help the city make up the shortfall. (To translate what she said: Not bloody likely!)

So anyway, we had cornered the governor in the anteroom leading to the Senate chamber. The mayor was in the Senate chamber taking part in a naturalization ceremony for 50 immigrants from 16 countries. To get out of the chamber, he had to walk past the area where the governor was holding her press gaggle with us.

KITV’s Denby Fawcett was asking the governor her thoughts on the rail project, and whether she felt the report may be a signal that maybe we shouldn’t do transit?

Just as she finished the question, the mayor walked by leaving the anteroom, but not before chiming in, “We should!” as he walked by the press gathering.

Whether that was captured by TV cameras we’ll just have to see on the newscasts tonight. (@inthehale may also have captured it on video =)

UPDATE, 11:45 p.m.: KITV did catch it!

Happy Admission Day!

We at the S-B Political Radar blog have done our part to ensure that at least one copy of the paper survives over the next quarter century!

House Chief Clerk Patricia Mau-Shimizu was kind enough to let us include a copy of today’s paper in the time capsule her office is assembling for this week’s 50th Anniversary of Statehood celebration. Other items sealed in the time capsule include a photo of the 2009 freshman class of state representatives, copies of bills (including the state budget), business cards and other memorabilia.

^^ Rep. Chris Lee with some of the items (including the Star-Bulletin) being placed in a time capsule.

^^ Today’s front page (Aug. 17, 2009)

The 50th Anniversary of Statehood Commission is putting together 50 time capsules, including seven which are being made available for the public to contribute items. The rest are being distributed to neighbor islands and schools throughout the state.

Time capsules are schedule to be opened in 2034, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of statehood, according to the Commission.

Governor’s spokesman Lenny Klompus says officials from the state archives will seal the capsules during a ceremony Friday, and the capsules will be buried before the end of the year.

Not that a letter on standard white state stationery made it any easier for employees to accept the news.

An employee in the Department of Accounting and General Services shared her layoff notice with us.

Dated Aug. 4, from state Comptroller Russ Saito, it opens:

It is with sincere regret that I must inform you of a reduction-in-force that will result in abolishment of your position, Janitor II, Position No. ####, at the close of business on Friday, November 13, 2009. This was a very difficult decision made after evaluation of the entire operation of the Department of Accounting and General Services and determination of adjustments that have to be made in the best interests of the Department and the State.

Certainly not news that anyone wants to receive, but perhaps it’s better than being informed by a recorded message. (Story here)