LINDA LINGLE

Working together to move ahead in affordable housing, education, eldercare

The New Year affords each of us the opportunity to set new goals for what we want to accomplish, and to resolve to do better than the year before.

My resolution for 2007 is to work more closely with the state Legislature to address key issues affecting the people of our state, while setting the foundation for a prosperous future that preserves all the things that make our island home so special.

We have many challenges before us — ensuring that our children receive a quality education, finding solutions to the affordable housing shortage and homelessness, caring for our elderly, and protecting our environment.

Together we can meet these challenges and capitalize on the many opportunities that lie ahead. The people of Hawai'i have the collective knowledge, creativity, and resolve to continue making the kind of progress needed to assure a bright future.

I invite all Hawai'i residents to join in this important effort in the year ahead.

MUFI HANNEMANN

From the mayor, a bit of whimsy, wishful thinking and real needs

Here are my New Year resolutions for 2007. Some of them are vital to our civic well-being, others a bit more whimsical and a couple just might be wishful thinking:

1. Keep mass transit on track to break ground in 2009.

2. Find more creative opportunities to preserve valuable public lands like we did with Waimea and Pupukea.

3. Persuade the City Council to establish a separate homeowners classification for real property taxes, a la the Neighbor Island counties.

4. Make progress on the programs we've launched to improve our sewers, roads and solid waste.

5. Teach Charles Djou how to pass a vocal audition for the Royal Hawaiian Band's next Christmas CD.

6. Finish cleaning up the Wai'anae Coast beaches and move on to other areas of O'ahu.

7. Start riding a bicycle again, for pleasure and to get around.

8. Help Advertiser columnist Dave Shapiro develop a better disposition.

9. Expand new civic traditions such as the 9/11 Remembrance Walk, Family Festival, Prayer Service and City Lights festivals.

10. Convince Colt Brennan to play another year of football for the UH Warriors.

11. Establish a Department of Emergency Management to strengthen the role of our first responders.

12. Get the Sierra Club's Jeff Mikulina to publicly support mass transit/light rail since it is the environmental thing to do, as Al Gore says.

13. Sing a duet with the governor, at the Honolulu City Lights opening ceremony in December.

14. Say "mahalo" every day to the people whose efforts make Honolulu an even better city.

15. Remind everyone to spend quality time with their families.

HAUNANI APOLIONA

As with Hokule'a, Hawaiians can make great strides through focus and discipline

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou. E ho'ola e, e ho'ala e i ko kakou hana.

Happy New Year. Let us all inspire well being and enlightenment by our work.

There are signs that the Hawaiian Renaissance begun decades ago remains strong. In the year 1950, less than 500 people spoke Hawaiian. In 1978, State Constitutional amendments recognized Hawaiian as the official state language. In 2006, more than 12,000 people spoke Hawaiian; that's less than 1 percent of the state's population, but the numbers are growing. Hawaiian language schools, once forbidden, are on the rise.

Our music has even gone Hollywood with the creation of a Grammy category. Our tourism industry continues to draw record numbers of visitors from around the world, with many seeking meaningful cultural experiences.

OHA is proud to have been an active partner with many Hawaiian organizations to develop and fund programs in education, health and economic development. We rejoice in the achievements of so many young Hawaiians who have benefited from these programs. As we begin the new year, we salute the Polynesian Voyaging Society as Hokule'a sails to Satawal and ultimately, Japan.

First launched 30 years ago, Hokule'a embodies the spirit of what we Hawaiians can achieve if we are clear on our vision and mission, prepare ourselves, and remain focused and disciplined in carrying out our tasks.

While litigious detractors have attempted to shut down programs that will preserve and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture, the Native Hawaiian host population of this state can prevail through passage of congressional legislation recognizing Native Hawaiians as a political class of indigenous people. This bill is good for Hawaiians and all people of Hawai'i. There is nothing else that is certain to protect Native Hawaiian assets in the immediate future and protect the state from having to fill the void left by loss of Native Hawaiian programs.

We must reject the politics of fear from the small but vocal group of detractors who falsely claim that Hawaiians want secession, land grabs and gambling. Those claims have been refuted by the facts.

The year 2007 is the year for the Hawaiian community to come together, as we embark on the journey of building a Native Hawaiian government. And we encourage our non-Native Hawaiian friends and community to join us, for we cannot accomplish anything if our efforts are not unified.

My resolution for 2007: Holomua kakou, a loa'a i ka lei o ka lanakila, "Moving forward, achieving success, embracing a new vision that will benefit all of Hawai'i nei."

DANIEL INOUYE

Supporting our troops and securing funds for disaster recovery, well-being

The new year and a new congressional session led by a new majority offer hope and the opportunity for progress on crucial issues facing Hawai'i and our nation.

We must move forward in determining the best plan to stabilize Iraq. As we do so, I will continue to fully support our brave men and women in uniform by ensuring that they have the needed training and equipment to function professionally and safely under extremely dangerous conditions. Furthermore, we must begin a serious discussion for the dignified and honorable withdrawal of our troops. Until then, I hope all Americans, no matter their feelings regarding the war, will unite in supporting our soldiers and wishing for their safe return.

I will also continue to work diligently to secure federal funds to support our state's recovery from two disasters in 2006 that caused significant damage — the earthquake that struck the Big Island and Maui especially hard, and the massive flooding that drenched Kaua'i and parts of O'ahu. My disaster-relief efforts are emblematic of a Democratic push to refocus on our nation's domestic agenda and help working families. That means adequate funding and discretion for the No Child Left Behind initiative so that student performance is nurtured and not hindered. It means securing additional funding to reduce traffic congestion through road construction, mass transit or greater rural bus service. It also means greater support for renewable energy initiatives, and measures that provide affordable and transitional housing.

As the new chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, I will be leading an important panel that has jurisdiction over issues vital to Hawai'i's well-being: aviation, maritime and ocean matters, tourism, telecommunications, and science and technology. There is much to do, and I eagerly await the challenge of leading a Senate panel that can ensure an enduring infrastructure for both Hawai'i and our nation.