George Ariyoshi comes from a different time, and today he is probably moving a step ahead of all of us.
When he was first asked to run for lieutenant governor in 1970 with the idea of then becoming governor of Hawaii, Ariyoshi worried that our new state wasn’t ready for a Japanese-American governor.
He went on to become the nation’s first nonwhite governor and governed knowing he would be judged harder than most.
When he retired in 1985 at the age of 59, Ariyoshi had won 24 straight elections and served three terms as governor.
Since then, his administration has been the standard that all other Hawaii governors are measured.
He and U.S. Sen. Daniel K., Inouye were the top political proteges of former Gov. John A. Burns, the architect of Hawaii’s modern Democratic Party. While Inouye is at the top of his game in Washington, Ariyoshi is leading a new dialog and planning for a better state.
Today at 85, Ariyoshi is filled with a passion for Hawaii and keeps the flame burning to build Hawaii’s possibilities.
Earlier this week, Ariyoshi addressed the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii’s policy summit meeting. After his speech, I talked to him about his concerns.
He was careful to say he would not judge or comment on Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s performance. Instead, he urges Hawaii’s people to renew their vision.
Ariyoshi, who urged the state to adopt its first state plan and accompanying functional plans, says that insistence on planning is needed now.
"One person’s vision is not enough. You need to draw from the experience of many who have all come different walks of life," Ariyoshi said.
People today, Ariyoshi continued, are drawn into their own tight circles; we are not as expansive a community as we once were.
"I think it is the way people are being treated. If we could bring back the special feeling that existed between all different groups, while retaining their own culture and still come together …
"It comes down to caring for each other, being concerned and caring what happens to someone else," Ariyoshi said.
Two years ago, Ariyoshi wrote a small book to be distributed to high school students. He urged them to plan ahead, not just for their time in college or a job, but 50 years ahead, to think about what they want this state to be like five decades from now.
Today Ariyoshi is leading small coffee-hour gatherings, getting people and leaders together to continue that talk.
"A group of people came to see me, and asked if I could give coffee hours. They said there was a need to bring about a concern for Hawaii’s future," Ariyoshi said.
He agreed, but with a condition.
He wanted people to hold their own coffee hours, for people to invite their friends and neighbors over to talk about Hawaii.
"Let’s talk about Hawaii and Hawaii’s future. To me that is very important. I want more and more people to stop and think about where Hawaii is headed," said Ariyoshi.
I asked if he was looking for a consensus, or if he wanted to drive the discussion in a certain direction.
No, he said. We just need to start thinking and talking.
"The more people are concerned, the more they are going to feel and talk about doing what is right, and they will talk and express their feelings to public officials about what Hawaii can be and not let it develop just by chance," he said.
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Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser. com.
