Tag Archives: 2008

Lifestyle, Politics

The Hawaii Quarter Marks the End of 50-State Program

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Collectors (including my in-laws on the Mainland) will be delighted because the long-anticipated commemorative Hawaii quarter was released today. It’s available from local banks at face value in $10 rolls or from specialty quarter dealers for up to 10 times face value for uncirculated coins.

The final design–King Kamehameha, Hawaii’s iconic ruler who united all the islands in the 1800s–reflects one aspect of Hawaii’s history that is unique: it was an independent kingdom before being colonized during the Spanish-American war by the United States.

Other competing quarter designs that were eliminated include an image of Diamond Head with a surfer and a hula dancer. In the end, the committee wanted an image uniquely Hawaiian and easily recognizable without reading the words on the coin.

On the winning design, there is a map of the main Hawaiian islands and the state’s motto in Hawaiian, “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina I ka pono.” The motto translates to “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” In other words, doing the right thing allows the people and land to endure.

Hawaii quarter marks the end of the wildly popular 50-state quarter program, with perhaps as many 150 million people participating in collecting. The Hawaii quarter is the last of the 50 state quarters to be released during the decade-old program because Hawaii was the final state to join the union.

Links to other articles about the Hawaii Quarter:

US Mint

AP story

CNN

Honolulu Star Bulletin

Culture, Politics

Election Impacts Cannabis Supporters

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In Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan, legislation put before the public on Election Day 2008 will directly impact supporters of cannabis.

In Hawaii County (the Big Island), about 50% of voters were in favor of making the prosecution of cannabis-related crimes the lowest prosecuting priority (about 42% were against). The measure passed.

In Massachusetts, the majority of voters chose to decriminalize the possession of an ounce or less of marijuana. The Sensible Marijuana Policy Initiative was approved.

In Michigan, voters approved a medical marijuana measure. Proposal 1 removed state penalties for registered patients to buy, grow and use small amounts of marijuana. Michigan joins a handful of states, including California and Oregon, with exceptions to drug laws for the use of medical marijuana by severely ill patients.

News, Politics

Results of General Election 2008 in Hawaii

We came, we saw, we voted. Here are highlights of the results of the General Election 2008 in Hawaii. You can also link to the official State of Hawaii results for additional details about each county’s races.

1. CON AMEND Proposed Amendment to the State Constitution

Shall the age qualification for the office of governor and office of lieutenant governor be reduced from thirty-five years of age to twenty-five years of age?

YES   34,354  15.9%

NO 170,688  79.1%

2. CON CON Constitutional Convention Question

In other words, should we think about changing the state’s constitution. But there’s nothing in particular at this point that is proposed to change.

YES  70,890  32.9%

NO 134,277  62.3%

3. CONTESTS

Up for grabs are the following offices:

President (1) and Vice-President (1)

(D) OBAMA, Barack / BIDEN, Joe  158,169  73.3%

U.S. Representative (2)

District I – (D) ABERCROMBIE, Neil  62,480  70.8%

District II – (D) HIRONO, Mazie  90,215  70.8%

State Senator (7)

District 1 – (D) TAKAMINE, Dwight Y.  10,373  59.9%

District 5 – (D)  BAKER, Roz  3,502  51.8%

District 6 – (D) ENGLISH, J. Kalani  6,975  71.9%

District 7 – (D) HOOSER, Gary L.  10,385  68.5%

District 12 – (D) GALUTERIA, Brickwood M.  3,581  46.4%

District 21 – (D) HANABUSA, Colleen  1,458  72.6%

District 23 – (D) HEE, Clayton  4,167  65.2%

State Representative (28)

Board of Education (7)

Office of Hawaiian Affairs (4)

Hawaii — Mayor (1)

KENOI, Billy  27,283  58.2%

Hawaii — Councilmember (9)

Hawaii — Prosecuting Attorney (1)

Hawaii — Lowest Prosecuting Priority of Cannibas

FOR  23,184  49.5%
AGAINST 19,465  41.5%

Maui — Councilmember (9)

East Maui – MEDEIROS, Bill (Kauakea)  14,741  53.4%

West Maui – JOHNSON, Jo Anne  13,358  48.4%

Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu – VICTORINO, Michael (Mike)  19,470  70.5%

Kahului – PONTANILLA, Joe  15,483  56.1%

South Maui – NISHIKI, Wayne K.  12,329  44.7%

Makawao-Paia-Haiku – MOLINA, Mike  14,568  52.8%

Upcountry – BAISA, Gladys Coelho  15,260  55.3%

Lanai – KAHO’OHALAHALA, Sol P.  11,977  43.4%

Molokai – MATEO, Danny A.  18,369  66.6%

Kauai — Councilmember (7)

Kauai — Prosecuting Attorney (1)

Honolulu — Mayor (1)

HANNEMANN, Mufi  70,099  55.6%

Honolulu — Councilmember (3)

District 4 – ONISHI, Dennis (Fresh)  3,604  59.6%

District 5 – SAFARIK, Gary S.  2,046  48.2%

District 8 – GREENWELL, Kelly  3,633  47.7%

Honolulu — Prosecuting Attorney (1)