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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Friday, November 8, 2002

Graceful defeat may help Mazie

By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

It was the one speech of the entire campaign she certainly didn't want to make, but Mazie Hirono (who has herself admitted she's not the best public speaker) gave her concession speech on election night with grace and dignity.

As she emerged to address her supporters, Hirono looked disappointed, to be sure, but there was something else that registered in her demeanor. She seemed relaxed somehow, like an Olympic skater taking to the ice knowing there's no medal at stake.

Instead of speaking in a forced, pep-rally sounding clip, Hirono spoke naturally, as if sitting comfortably with old friends. During her primary election victory speech, there were cue cards for her to follow. Her concession speech was more extemporaneous and it was one of the best speeches of her campaign.

"My heart is full of gratitude to each and every one of you," Hirono said. "I know how disappointed you are. But I know that you have a resolve to continue to do your very best wherever you are to give back to our community, because that was what this campaign was all about. And that does not end because of this one election, and it's not going to stop for me. It's not going to stop for any of you. There's a lot to do, folks. And tomorrow is another day."

In speaking of her opponent, Hirono had no sharp words, no rueful challenges, no sign of animosity. In her day-after press conference, she had more of an edge as she spoke of negative campaigning and promises that need to be kept, but in her concession speech, there was nothing of the sort.

"I congratulate Linda Lingle," Hirono said. "Linda, I know that you're gonna do your very best for the people of this state, because you now represent all of us, and you need to put your best foot forward and I know you're going to do your very best because if I were in your shoes, I would do the same thing."

The speech was reminiscent of another concession speech made eight years ago, when JoAnn Yukimura lost her bid for re-election for mayor of Kaua'i.

"We know how to win with grace," Yukimura told her stunned supporters in 1994, "And tonight, we will learn how to lose with grace."

On the night Mazie Hirono lost her bid for governor, JoAnn Yukimura won in her first attempt to re-enter politics. Yukimura not only won, she was the top vote-getter in the race for the Kaua'i county council. Yukimura began her career in elected office on the Kaua'i county council in 1976. She has come full circle.

Sometimes defeat can be the best thing to build the heart of a winner.

If Hirono looks to her loss for the lessons it contains, if she lives up to her own words of continuing to give back to the community, the opportunity will no doubt come around again for her to lead and to serve.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.