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Former Gov. Ariyoshi ‘disappointed’ with Gov. Ige

State’s longest-serving governor believes that Hanabusa aims to do ‘very important’ things

Former Hawaii Gov. George Ariyoshi speaks with Pukalani resident Katsuko Enoki before the beginning of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center’s “Leadership Series” of talks Saturday at the Kahili Golf Course’s Nahele Ballroom. Ariyoshi, 91, spoke about how Japanese values helped inspire the second-generation of Japanese-Americans to overcome prejudice during World War II and seize political power in Hawaii in 1954. The Maui News / BRIAN PERRY photo

WAIKAPU — Former Hawaii Gov. George Ariyoshi expressed unhappiness with Gov. David Ige on Saturday, saying he was “disappointed” with the leadership of the man he backed and helped put in the Governor’s Office in 2014.

The comments from one of Hawaii’s elder statesmen, the longest-serving governor in Hawaii’s history from 1974 to 1986, came after he launched the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center’s “Leadership Series” of talks at the Kahili Golf Course’s Nahele Ballroom.

When The Maui News asked Ariyoshi if he’d endorse Ige or Democratic primary challenger U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, he was not straightforward.

“I have lots of friends in politics on a personal basis, and I’m very concerned about Hawaii’s future,” he said. “And I’m going to be speaking about the things that are important to Hawaii, things that need to be done. And, let them decide, let the people decide who they’re going to support.”

When asked if that meant he would be neutral in the Democratic primary, Ariyoshi said: “Well, I am in the sense that I worked very hard for Gov. Ige, but many of the things that I spoke about have not happened. I’m a little bit disappointed.”

Ariyoshi, 91, stood next to Hanabusa with former Gov. Ben Cayetano, members of the state Legislature and Hanabusa supporters when she officially announced her campaign for governor Jan. 8 on the lawn of the state Capitol in Honolulu. Former Gov. John Waihee supports Ige, calling him “the right choice in the upcoming election.”

“Although David has faced many controversial issues in his first term, he has not shied away from making some very difficult decisions,” Waihee said in a posting on the David Ige for Governor website.

After the Nisei Veterans talk, The Maui News asked Ariyoshi if he’d support Hanabusa.

He said: “I talked to Hanabusa . . . about some things that I feel very strongly about, and she has indicated to me that she feels in a similar fashion. She wants to do the things that I’m talking about . . . primarily aerospace. Aerospace is the most important thing, not just for Hawaii but for our country.”

Later, he added that “I think she’s going to do the things I feel are very important.”

When asked why he’s disappointed with Ige, Ariyoshi talked about the Hawai’i Community Development Authority’s work to redevelop the 600-acre Kakaako district. It is bounded by Piikoi, King and Punchbowl streets and Ala Moana Boulevard in Honolulu.

“We talked about Kakaako,” he said. “And not much has happened in Kakaako, except the very wealthy people buy Kakaako and spent a lot of money there. I’m very concerned about the East-West Center. I’m concerned about aerospace. . . . I just feel that we need someone who’s going to look at Hawaii’s needs . . . what they’re going to be and . . . in my judgment this governor has not done that.”

Ariyoshi acknowledged that he backed Ige in his 2014 campaign to oust fellow Democrat Neil Abercrombie.

“And I’m disappointed,” he said. “I’m disappointed that when I backed him up and talked about things that are important . . . those things have not been worked on.”

In response to Ariyoshi’s comments, Ige said Sunday that “I have made tough decisions, and Governor Ariyoshi may not agree with all of them.” He emphasized making decisions “for the right reasons” to benefit the people of Hawaii, above special corporate interests.

“I will continue to lead our state forward with integrity,” Ige said.

The governor did not directly address Kakaako, except to say that his administration completed hundreds of affordable units in Kakaako, and instead focused on his prioritizing affordable housing. In the three years of his administration, Ige said 5,300 units have been produced with 40 percent of them in the affordable range.

On the issues of the aerospace industry and the East-West Center, Ige said he has supported both. His administration is committed to the development of the space industry and submitted a Space Strategic Plan for review by the state Legislature. His support also includes investing in science, engineering, technology, arts and math in Hawaii schools.

Ige said he was very happy with the direction of newly appointed East-West Center president, Richard Vuylsteke. He noted the center was instrumental in the state hosting the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress with President Barack Obama as a featured speaker in September.

In his talk to more than 90 people attending the Nisei veterans event, Ariyoshi spoke about how Japanese values inspired second-generation Japanese-Americans to withstand racial prejudice after the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor and serve with bravery and distinction in Europe during World War II. Ariyoshi himself served as an interpreter in the Military Intelligence Service during the war, and even those soldiers of Japanese ancestry were regarded as “the enemy” by their white comrades.

One of those values was okage sama de, which Ariyoshi has translated as meaning, “because of your shadow which falls on me, because of your help, because of you, I am what I am.”

He has said the value is that “we are extensions of one another, and we are beholden to one another.”

Other values include giri and otagai, or obligation to those who came before and people coming in the future.

Ariyoshi said he learned from his immigrant parents and believed nisei soldiers did as well not to bring shame, or haji, upon their families, their home or culture.

“It’s about working together to help each other,” he said. “It’s not one person doing it; it’s the group getting together and working together.”

Ariyoshi said it’s such values that helped Japanese-American troops of the 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team in their fabled rescue of Lost Battalion, members of the 1st Battalion of the 141st Texas Regiment, in the Vosges Mountains in France at the end of October 1944.

The survivors of the battles in Europe understood the need for courage, commitment, loyalty and cooperation, and to not give up or bring shame to their family, he said. And, they came home determined to right injustices at home, including the 1954 Hawaii Democratic revolution to usurp the long reign of the Big Five businesses and the Hawaii Republican Party, he said.

Ariyoshi was the third governor of the State of Hawaii, the first Asian-American to be elected as governor of a state in the United States. He served as lieutenant governor under John Burns and became acting governor when Burns became ill in October 1973.

Burns convinced Ariyoshi to take up politics and later to give up his law practice to serve as lieutenant governor and ultimately run for governor.

Nisei Veterans Memorial Center Executive Director Deidre Tegarden said Ariyoshi was the first choice to launch the center’s series of presentations on leadership.

“From being born to immigrant parents, to his time as an interpreter in the MIS during World War II, to leading our state, his journey is an inspiring one,” she said.

The leadership series will continue with guest speakers throughout this year, she said.

* Brian Perry can be reached at bperry@mauinews.com.

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