Journalist Tanonaka to run for lieutenant governor

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

CNN International News anchorman Dalton Tanonaka announced yesterday that he will run for lieutenant governor as a Republican.

TV news anchor Dalton Tanonaka is returning to Hawai'i to run for lieutenant governor as a Republican. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

He also served as executive director of the city's Office of Economic Development in 1999.

"I joined CNN at a time when its operations and influence in Asia were growing and I had the opportunity to be part of that," Tanonaka said. "I now want to put my experience and contacts to work for Hawai'i."

He said he would tap into his knowledge of international business as well as his relationships with local and global leaders to revitalize and diversify the economy.

"Hawai'i cannot be dependent solely on tourism any longer," he said. "I will work to make real links to business leaders and countries who want to do business with us. Asia-Pacific wants to do business with us, but they need to know how to do it and the proper routing to it. I will pursue mainly in the high technology sector to develop industries and opportunities that are available. I have talked to leaders throughout Asia already and they want to establish new relationships.

"My other goals are to champion the renewed mission of the University of Hawai'i, which is essential to economic development, and to address the needs of all islands."

Tanonaka, 47, is married and has a 3-year-old daughter. He was born in Kohala and raised in Honolulu. He graduated from Kalani High school, attended Kapi'olani Community College, received an associate-in-arts degree from Mesa State College and a bachelor-of-science degree from Northern Illinois University.

He started his career as a newspaper and TV reporter in Honolulu and worked as a reporter for The Advertiser in the 1970s.