Posted on: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

Legislative conference focuses on the West

More than 400 state legislators from around the West gather in Waikiki today for a four-day conference focused on the problems and potential of the nation's 13 westernmost states.

The 56th annual meeting of the Council of State Governments — West, under the chairmanship of Hawai'i state Sen. Brian Taniguchi and state Rep. Dwight Takamine, will dig into issues ranging from the fallout of the federal No Child Left Behind law through energy, water resource and tourism issues. The focus will be on the Pacific Century and how Western states have a particularly strong leadership role to play in the region.

This full working conference that will showcase Hawai'i's qualifications as a place to meet and do business in a first-class resort atmosphere.

We welcome the delegates and hope they have a successful meeting.