Vol. 5 No. 2 Apr-Jun 2013 - Plumbers and Fitters Union Local 675

PAGE 2 HA‘AHEO 675 APRIL/JUNE 2013A Fight in Congress ManyPrefer Would Not OccurReginald Castanares,Business Manager/Financial SecretaryAlthough Hawaii’s first political election won’t be tillAugust 2014, voters are already being urged to look atthe qualifications of announced candidates.The biggest battle will be for the seat of U.S. Senator.Following the passing last December of Senator DanielInouye, Governor Neil Abercrombie confidently filled theslot with the interim appointment of Lieutenant GovernorBrian Schatz, who serves until next August, after which theseat will be for a full six-year term.Schatz, at 41, has indicated the desire to continue asHawaii’s senior senator in that August body. Our UnitedAssociation (UA) has joined us in supporting that wish onthe basis he provides Hawaii the best opportunity for a keyrole in the chamber that prizes members who show promiseof establishing meaningful seniority for the benefit of both hishome state and the nation. Already with a solid head start,he has significantly demonstrated his capabilities as a statesman.What especially marks a keen sensibility on how the Senateoperates is the manner in which Schatz from the outset hasdeveloped cordial ties with colleagues on both sides of thefloor. It is an astuteness that belies his young years and thatquiet yet graceful approach can only secure positive support.When Schatz started his Washington journey a fondhope was to establish an immediate rapport with his islandcolleagues and sustain a team approach. Many in Hawaiisurely held high hopes our present Congressional quartetwould stick together, at least to mold a solid relationship.That is not to say later Congressional aspirations amongothers should be ignored. In the profound absence of a DanInouye, we feel we’re blessed with a team that we still believewould sow a fresh path. That won’t entirely happen, sadly.Losing any of our present Congressional members – all whowon our initial support – has to be felt severely.Nonetheless, we contend Hawaii’s long term benefit lieswith Brian Schatz continued as our senior senator.Mahalo, UA, For Our Role as Regional HostOur Union Local 675 is grateful for the opportunity to have hosted a regional contest, a first in our so far 93-yearaffiliation with the UA. Entries from ten western states offered our own contestants, who did well, an experience nonewill ever forget.Skills competitions that involve mainland groups seldom take place locally. For that reason we feel the HawaiiTourism Authority has to rejoice that we provided a rather inconspicuous though significant source to consider in itspromotions hereon. Organized labor nationally is a serious market to cultivate. Its collective muscle and role as the keybuilder of America’s middle class should prompt the HTA to look at this seemingly overlooked source for further growthof island tourism.To UA officials Bob Lamb and Sid Stolper, mahalo in marshalling 27 mainland locals to join us on our homegrounds,offering them a taste of our island hospitality, and opening their eyes to the quality and exuberance of our ownwork force . We’re also especially proud of our apprenticeship staff and volunteers for an effort acknowledged superb byany measure.Hopefully this is just the beginning of our newly extended role as “ambassadors of aloha.” Our visitors will surelyspread the word that Hawaii is tuned to conduct serious business.