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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, July 15, 2003

'Time will tell' if trip succeeded, Lingle says

 •  Lingle pans news media

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Gov. Linda Lingle said her week-long visit to Japan in an attempt to draw visitors back to the Islands was "a terrific trip and a neat experience" but then questioned whether she needs to go in the future.

Lingle spokesman Lenny Klompus said the trip involved about 44 people and cost about $236,000.

The governor said the objectives of the trip were to attract Japanese media coverage about Hawai'i; to meet with airlines and travel agencies that do business here; to "make other business contacts and talk with people who are either investing or thinking of investing in Hawai'i," and to meet with government leaders.

She said "time will tell" if her visit was successful.

"I don't know if anybody's done an accounting afterward on whether or not a trip actually succeeded, and that will be a part of what my office will be looking at, because it does take us away for a week from the office," Lingle said, "And we want to make certain that the expenditure of time and money yields the kinds of results that we expect, which is more visitors, increased spending, and therefore job security for the people working in the visitor industry here at home."

Yesterday was the first opportunity Lingle had to meet with Honolulu reporters since the Legislature overrode a record six bills in special session last Tuesday.

The governor reiterated that the overrides were purely political moves on the part of Democratic leadership in the House and Senate.

"Based on the votes that were taken relative to previous votes the Democrats had taken, it was very irrational lawmaking," Lingle said.

The classic example, she said, was the Legislature's override of a bill involving the auditor's office. A similar bill vetoed by former Gov. Ben Cayetano last year was not subject to an override, Lingle said.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.