The state of Hawaii and U.S. Congress’ first-ever Hawaii on the Hill event coordinated and led by U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii provided the nearly 900 attendees an opportunity to experience the Hawaiian Islands in
The state of Hawaii and U.S. Congress’ first-ever Hawaii on the Hill event coordinated and led by U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii provided the nearly 900 attendees an opportunity to experience the Hawaiian Islands in the middle of a hot summer season in Washington D.C.
The islands of Kauai and Niihau were represented with a number of iconic Kauai businesses and organizations who made the evening affair a “summer night’s eve of aloha to be remembered.”
Attendees were greeted with orchid lei as they entered the Kennedy Caucus Room in the historic Russell Senate office building adjacent to the Hart office building which houses members of the U.S. Senate. Upon entering, members of congress, congressional staffers and, guests were met by Commander Jonathan Lipps, U.S. Navy, Pacific Missile Range Facility and Michelle Emura, Aqua Engineers.
The Kauai Chamber of Commerce and Kauai Visitors Bureau and, thanks to member Koloa Rum, greeted attendees with a ice cold mai tai drink complete with a fresh Hawaiian pineapple slice, orchid, and umbrella decoration. The cool and refreshing drink and Kauai visitor information and giveaways provided attendees Kauai luggage tags, Kauai reminder refrigerator magnets and other handouts about visiting and or recommending the Garden Island.
A KVB Kauai sunset postcard and a Hawaiian honu (turtle) postcard from Hawaiian Air also provided guests a closer reason to visit the island. Other visuals including images of rainbows, waterfalls, landscapes and renowned Kauai sights rounded out the welcome and hospitality experience of Kauai.
On the other half of the Kennedy Caucus Room, food and product manufacturers Kauai Kookie, Salty Wahine, Aunty Lilikoi and Kauai Coffee Company provided food and drink samples and information about their businesses. Their efforts rounded out the Kauai experience that planners hoped to evoke in the room, which included Hawaiian music, dance, and island-style hospitality.
An important goal of the chambers was to ensure that industry sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, military, research and technology, and tourism were represented. The County of Kauai helped subsidize some of the costs of the participants, as well as providing other support.
Overall, Kauai had a strong presence at Hawaii on the Hill, which also had an underlying goal of providing policy and decision makers an understanding that what they do in the nation’s capital affects Hawaii. The chamber also acknowledges the support provided by retired PMRF Cpt. Nicholas Mongillo and Jackie Mongillo in preparing and serving the 800-plus mai tais. Mongillo also shared stories about the Niihau shell lei she wore which brought a lot of curiosity and questions from attendees who noticed the sparkle of the shells as well as the aloha spirit of our Kauai friends in the Mainland.
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Randy Francisco is president of the Kauai Chamber of Commerce.
