Kauai climbs ‘The Hill’

Photo courtesy Will Dempster

Sen. Mazie Hirono, third from right, with, from left, Honolulu City Councilman Tommy Waters, Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami, Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii President and CEO Sherry Menor-McNamara and members of the Aloha Boys.

Kauai’s contingent sent to this week’s “Hawaii on the Hill” in Washington, D.C., was on a mission of aloha.

Call it a mission of success, as well, that saw Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami join his colleagues on stage for song and fellowship.

Sen. Mazie Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii celebrated the success of the Sixth Annual Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill, which drew over 60 Hawaii businesses and 2,000 attendees.

Each participant received a fresh orchid lei and learned about an array of Hawaii businesses representing the diversity of Hawaii’s economy.

“The Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill is the most popular state showcase on Capitol Hill, and every year we are privileged to host so many people interested in experiencing the rich diversity of our state,” Hirono said.

Sherry Menor-McNamara, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii president and CEO, said Hawaii on the Hill continues to set attendance records.

“Tonight’s Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill demonstrated that Hawaii’s business community will continue to make our voices heard on a national stage,” she said.

Kauai’s team sent to the event included the mayor, Mark Perriello, Kauai Chamber of Commerce president; Senate President Ron Kouchi; Pacific Missile Range Facility Commander Capt. Vinnie Johnson; Rep. Jimmy Tokioka; Kauai Coffee General Manager Fred Cowell and Koloa Rum President and CEO Bob Gunter.

A “Policy Summit” was also part of Hawaii on the Hill and Kouchi was among a group that kicked off the summit.

“Every day, Congress and the current administration make decisions that have a wide-ranging impact on Hawaii businesses, and it’s critical that our business community stays engaged in the conversation,” Menor-McNamara said. “The Hawaii on the Hill Policy Summit continues to serve as a direct forum for our participants to stay up-to-date on the latest trade and other economic policy.”

Hawaii on the Hill is a partnership between Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. The two-day event in our nation’s capital gives Hawaii businesses the opportunity to meet with news and policymakers while also showcasing Hawaii businesses and products to members of Congress and the Washington, D.C. community.

5 Comments
  1. […] Kauai climbs ‘The Hill’  Thegardenisland.com […]


  2. gordon oswald June 13, 2019 8:02 am Reply

    Why would we spend so much money to send over our best and brightest from Kauai to Washington, and then destroy the moment by allowing the totally disgraced Mazi Hirono to be identified with them? She’s already made Hawaii the laughing stock of the Nation, and proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to be devoid of any “Aloha”!. You spending our money to give this Cretan a photo op moment? Stupid.


  3. Rev Dr. Malama June 13, 2019 8:46 am Reply

    Isn’t that nice of Kauai taxpayers to send their representatives to the usa ans Russia to sing Kumbaya?!
    Meanwhile I ride the bus, if it ever shows up, on horrific roads in extreme pain and watch Kauai go up in smoke…. literally and figuratively!!!!
    We have multiple CRIMES and crisis’ here from corruption and collusion of our inept representatives who cannot even kept bathrooms clean and open to the public at parks and other overpopulated areas, much less provide the basic resources and services that we expect from the enormous amount of money that we pay them….


  4. politic’n June 13, 2019 10:19 am Reply

    SMILE AND WAVE FOLKS, smile and wave….


  5. LocalBoy June 17, 2019 5:34 pm Reply

    Besides a huge waste of taxpayers money, it’s absolutely a disgrace and an total embarrassment to the entire Aloha State to send people like Hirono and Caldwell to represent Hawaii anywhere!


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