Posted on: Sunday, February 8, 2004
Political vacuum ripe to fill
By Jerry Burris
Advertiser Editorial Editor
It had the appearance of a typical political fund-raiser: people you know, good food, music, plenty of lei and lots of money being raised.
But the event last week at the Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom was something quite different. In subtle ways, it signaled a change in the civic and political landscape of the state that bears close watching.
It was the first annual Public Affairs Leadership Awards Dinner, sponsored by the Hawai'i Institute for Public Affairs. This relatively young, nonpartisan organization focuses on independent policy research and analysis. In short, it is an Island-style "think tank" that seeks to bring clarity to public issues.
Judging from its successful fund-raiser, the institute, for all its youth, has considerable clout. The board of directors reads like a who's-who of folks deeply involved in civic affairs — canny in the ways of politics, but not necessarily at the front rank of public visibility.
They include Robbie Alm, a public affairs executive with Hawaiian Electric; Guy Fujimura, secretary-treasurer of ILWU Local 142; Corbett Kalama, executive vice president at First Hawaiian Bank; attorney John Komeiji; Bill Kaneko, the institute's president and CEO; Richard Lim, president of City Bank; Colbert Matsumoto, chairman of Island Insurance; and Lauren Nahme, of Ono Construction.
Also, Bill Nelson, vice chairman at Bank of Hawai'i; public-relations executive Barbara Tanabe; Pete Thompson, senior vice president at Salomon Smith Barney; public affairs consultant Norma Wong; and Hoyt Zia, director of strategic planning with Common Heritage Corp.
The five people honored at the dinner are perhaps better known, but they clearly symbolize the goals and aspirations that drive the institute.
They were Mitch D'Olier, business leader and president of Kaneohe Ranch Co; Randy Moore, a businessman now teaching math at Central Intermediate School; retired labor leader and social worker Ah Quon McElrath; Kelvin Taketa, president of the Hawaii Community Foundation; and Chris Lee, chairman of the UH Academy for Creative Media.
Each gave a brief but compelling talk about his personal commitment to Hawai'i and the importance of a healthy, thriving community.
"This," sighed one long-time Democrat, "is where the Democratic Party should be today."
"No," said another political veteran. "This is where all the people are who ran away from the Democratic Party."
What they were pointing to was the gradual death of Hawai'i's political parties as the central drivers of civil and public policy in this state. As the parties have become focused on achieving or holding on to power, other civic institutions have arisen in their stead.
The Hawai'i Institute for Public Affairs includes both Republicans and Democrats, and it is off to a fast start. If our local
political parties hope to continue to play a central role in civic life, they should consider groups such as this an important wake-up call.
Jerry Burris is editor of the editorial pages of The Advertiser. You can reach him through letters@HonoluluAdvertiser.com.
