The threatened deportation of successful restauranteur, Chai Chaowarsee by the INS caught the community by surprise in late February. The government charged that the popular chef-owner, a 15-year Honolulu resident, was illegally here. People wonder why the INS acted so quickly with a small businessman and dragged its feet on documented illegals who voted during the 1998 (and prior) Hawaii elections. Wonder if Chai supported Linda Lingle in '98?

At the February 15 Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame awards banquet at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays founder Ed Hogan was introduced and a young woman rushed from the back of the room toward the podiumãinitially it looked like part of the introãand started yelling about the firm's ads. Later, a man who identified himself as the woman's husband, also tried to disrupt the awards ceremony. Both were union activists. M.C. Kimo Kahoano did an excellent job of putting protest in perspective with timing. Interesting question: did the two pay the $75 dinner/fundraising fee to attend the private event? JA by the way, netted $40,000 for its worthy business education programs.

That 20-foot whale that jumped into the whale watching boat off Kauai, made global news. Are endangered species over-protected.

Despite ill-conceived state subsidies, the tv series Baywatch Hawaii drowned last month.

Only in San Francisco: Mayor Willie Brown announced that municipal workers can now have sex change operations courtesy of the taxpayersãup to $50,000 worth of nips and tucks. And we complain in Hawaii about $10,000 mandated in vitro fertilization for all!

In Washington, Republicans and Democrats debate the size of tax cuts; in Hawaii, Democrats are trying to raise taxes and the issue is how much. What a difference a balanced two-party system makes.

"Bickering" is what Advertiser political columnist Kevin Dayton called the struggle between state House Republicans and Democrats on Constitutional issues. Republicansã19 (of 51 total) for the first time since Statehoodãexercised right s on behalf of the public to bring billls out of the majority deep freeze to debate them openly on the floor and then vote on them. Democrats resisted (they don't like their votes recorded publicly on controversial issues) and refused to accomodate what is law and what could not have been attempted until the GOP gains in the 2000 election. To denegrate standing up for the Constitution misses or obfuscates the point. Again, many in media dismissãor dodgeã the real issue.

March 15 marks the much-anticipated debut of the new Honolulu Star-Bulletin and the fierest competitionãfor ad revenue and circulation, not newsãthat this state has seen in decades. Canadian David Black battles Gannett. Several prominent SB staffers got pink slips, including Diane Chang, Ian Lind and Carl Zimmerman. Vegas bookies divided on the prospect for success of the SB venture.

Honolulu Weekly's poor Bob Rees, constantly needs more space to attack his growing list of "enemies." Feb 6 issue featured 3/4 front page of "Heroes or Zeroes?" cartoons. I kinda like my "Factor X" designation.

Al Gore, teaching a journalism class "National Affairs Reporting" at Columbia U in NYC, admonished his students not to discuss, report, or quote anything he discusses in class.

Former State Rep. David Stegmaier now on the staff of U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka in D.C. State Rep. Nobu Yonamine, convicted of 2nd DUI , said he would resign after this session but after some accelerated Jesse Jackson-style soul-searching, has decided to stay. Constitutent feeling is mixed. New State Sen. (former Councilmember) Donna Kim really independent and shaking up many well-entrenched state bureaucrats. Former Senator Marshall Ige facing serious charges of theft and spending violations, requested a public defender. Councilman Andy Mirikitani goes to court June 6 on charges of felony wire fraud, theft, bribery and extortion. Why are people skeptical of government officials here??

Local 5 union boss Eric Gill in trouble with his members, opposition, and the parent union which is placing Local 5 under trusteeship thus jeopardizing current hotel negotiations.

Dan Mollway, exec of the state Ethics Commission, wants his $77, 964 salary upped by a salary commission, not Legislators, after an increase failed last year. Mollway's "advisory opinions" are usually ethically selective.

The House turned down the chance for voters to choose an elected Attorney General 27-16; 8 didn't vote and Democrat Helene Hale joined 15 RepublicansãHawaii is one of a few states where the Governor appoints.

The positive sounding, "Hawaii Coalition for Economic Diversity," was the PR front for gambling interests headed by Sun International who ran expensive (and laughable) full-page ads and hired a telemarketing firm to target anti-gambling lawmakers.

"We owe it to our children," says Vicky Cayetano in a series of pro-fluoride tv ads. First Lady Cayetano confides she wants to run for "Mayor or Governor" in 3 years.

Tell us it ain't so: U of H is seriously considering Rep. Neil Abercrombie and failed banker Larry Johnson for next president at Manoa??

Sam Slom is also a State Senator representing the 8th district in the East Oahu area.
His website can be accessed here: http://hotspotshawaii.com/sam/slom.html

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