By B.J. Reyes

This year, with economies crumbling all around the world and the state facing a $1 billion budget deficit, the governor’s office has scaled back on a holiday tradition.

Rather than sending out a traditional holiday greeting card, Gov. Linda Lingle and Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona instead have sent out the above flash-animated e-card.

Last year’s card, featuring Lingle, Aiona and his wife, Vivian, was sent to about 4,000 contacts (including members of the media) at a cost of $4,545 (including printing, art/design, envelopes and bulk-rate postage), governor’s spokesman Russell Pang said.

Pang says the e-card was provided to staff members to send out as they please.

Lingle likely will issue a Christmas Day proclamation tomorrow or Thursday, as she has in the past. She already has issued a proclamation for the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. (Lingle is one of two Jewish governors, the other being Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. Their numbers will increase by one, when Delaware Gov. Jack Markell takes office next year.)

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