Lingle, Aiona travel Islands to 'talk story'

Advertiser Staff

Gov. Linda Lingle and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona will be spending the next few months in a series of 27 "talk story" sessions across the state aimed at gaining community input on a variety of issues.

Lingle's 14 gatherings will focus on key statewide and local issues and offer her a chance to update residents on initiatives related to the state and their specific communities.

"I plan to do a lot of listening during these talk story sessions, then use what I learn to help my administration focus on how we can continue to make life better for the people of Hawai'i through day-to-day government services as well as legislation in the upcoming legislative session," Lingle said in a written statement.

Aiona's 15 sessions will focus on the Hawai'i Drug Control Strategy, which he is heading. The sessions are a lead-in to the Hawai'i Drug Control Strategy: A New Beginning summit, which the lieutenant governor has scheduled for Sept. 15-17.

All 27 of the meetings run from 5:30 to 8 p.m. except where noted:

• Tuesday (Aiona): 'Ewa, Kapolei, Kunia, Makakilo, Barber's Point; Kapolei Middle School.
• July 30 (Aiona): Waimanalo to Kahalu'u; Enchanted Lake Elementary School.
• July 31 (Aiona): Nanakuli to Wai'anae; Nanakuli High School.
• Aug. 5 (Lingle): Waimanalo, Kailua, Kane'ohe, Kualoa; Kailua High School.
• Aug. 5 (Aiona): Hilo; Hilo High School.
• Aug. 7 (Aiona): Pearl City to Waipahu; Pearl City Elementary School.
• Aug. 9, 4-5:30 p.m. (Lingle): West Maui; Royal Lahaina Hotel.
• Aug. 12 (Lingle): Halawa to Kalihi; Farrington High School.
• Aug. 12 (Aiona): Wailuku to Kahului; Maui High School.
• Aug. 14 (Aiona): Waikiki to Hawai'i Kai; Kalani High School.
• Aug. 20 (Lingle): Wahiawa to Kunia to Mililani; Mililani High School.
• Aug. 26 (Aiona): Kona; Kealakehe High School.
• Aug. 27 (Lingle): Waipahu to 'Aiea; Pearl City Elementary School.
• Aug. 28 (Aiona): Halawa to Kalihi; Farrington High School.
• Sept. 2 (Lingle): Wailuku to Kahului; Kahului School.
• Sept. 2 (Aiona): Lihu'e; Kaua'i High School.
• Sept. 4 (Aiona): Downtown to Waikiki; McKinley High School.
• Sept. 9 (Lingle): Hilo; Hilo High School.
• Sept. 9 (Aiona): Kahuku; Brigham Young University auditorium.
• Sept. 10 (Aiona): Mililani; Mililani High School.
• Sept. 16 (Lingle): Kona; Konawaena High School.
• Sept. 23 (Lingle): 'Ewa; Kapolei Middle School.
• Sept. 30 (Lingle): Lihu'e; Kaua'i High School.
• Oct. 7 (Lingle): 'Aina Haina to Hawai'i Kai; Kalani High School.
• Oct. 14 (Lingle): Downtown to Kahala; McKinley High School.
• Oct. 21 (Lingle, Aiona): Moloka'i; Kaunakakai School.
• Oct. 28 (Lingle, Aiona): Lana'i; Hale Kupuna.

Correction: Gov. Linda Lingle's Aug. 27 "talk story" session will be held at Pearl City Elementary School at 5:30 p.m. A previous version of this story gave an incorrect location.