Governor Lingle, Chief Justice Moon, House Speaker Say, Senate President Hanabusa, Mayor Hannemann, Mayor Arakawa, Mayor Baptiste, distinguished guests, family, friends, and the people of the state of Hawai`i - aloha.

Four years ago my family and I appeared before you as the 11th lieutenant governor of the state of Hawai`i. It was a brand new experience, which created a lot of excitement and great anticipation for the years to come. And as a result of your resounding vote of confidence on November 7, 2006 we humbly stand before you again - with honor, pride and thankfulness - for four more years as your lieutenant governor.

Our journey over the past four years has been a blessing from God! We have experienced the unexpected, met people that we could only dream about meeting, established new friendships, and improved the lives of families throughout the state of Hawai`i. Our new beginning was shared with all of you throughout these past four years.

Trust and integrity in government was restored, the economy expanded, more prevention and intervention programs relating to alcohol and drug abuse were developed and implemented - and - for the first time in the history of this state the governor and lieutenant governor have functioned as a team - united in purpose for the people of the state of Hawai`i.

Thank you Governor Lingle for embracing and making the office of the lieutenant governor - truly a part of the executive branch. There is no question that you have established a new paradigm in state government. But in spite of what has been achieved and accomplished we know that there is much more to do. And i am firmly committed to moving Hawai`i forward!

More specifically i am committed to moving Hawai`i forward through the strengthening of our family's by the spirit of aloha!

For the vitality and integrity of a community is dependent upon the character of its people rather than the form of its government.

We owe it to ourselves and more importantly to the children of the next generation to continually strengthen the first and vital cell of human development, values, support, and direction - the family.

It is through the family unit where a child will learn how to love, communicate, share, humble themselves, co-exist with one another through mutual respect, to be thankful, to express their fears, doubts, sorrows, and forgiveness, and to find compassion, hope, and faith!

As fathers, mothers, grandparents, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, aunts, and uncles, we cannot allow the erosion of the family unit to happen.

We must meet the challenge of developing new approaches, creating new resources, developing and funding more programs and facilities which deal with - family violence, respect of human life, acceptance of responsibility, provisions for alternative education, treatment of alcohol and substance abuse, and development of effective communication.

We need to realize that in dealing with and resolving these issues we must ask whether we as a community are going to pay early and more economically, by committing and increasing more public and private resources to prevention and early intervention, or pay later at a greater cost with less chance of success.

For in the past we as a community often paid later by default.

Accordingly, this administration will continue to commit itself to a proactive-preventive role rather than a reactive-crisis-oriented role.

In the past decades our society's attitude towards many values has impinged upon the integrity of our family unit.

Infidelity became a fashion statement. Marriage has gone from a covenant of promises to a contract of convenience. Child rearing was done on time available.

And the abuse of alcohol and drugs were far too common.

But with the true spirit of aloha we will continue to stem this tide.

For through the spirit of aloha our families will come to realize the true sense of values and character - and in return this deepest need of humankind will unite all that is separated in this state!

As your lieutenant governor I am committed to serving you, the people of Hawai`i, with honest conviction, simply put, "doing what is right"

I look forward to continuing the work that we have already begun and to embark upon new endeavors that will strengthen the beauty of these islands and its families.

We offer our hands, our minds, and our hearts for all of you.

Let us promote and protect all that is good about Hawai`i, all that is unique about its people, all that is special, and all that makes Hawai`i, Hawai`i.

Let us raise our level of discussion beyond partisan rhetoric.

Let us raise the level of commitment beyond discussion.

Let us seek the pono, the righteousness that gives life to our land and our people.

Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono.