By Matthew K. Ing
Ka Leo News
July 27, 2006

While the crowded race for Rep. Ed Case's vacant seat is still up for grabs, the student leaders of Hawai?? ?i's public schools have already voiced their choice for the next U.S. representative for Hawaii's Second Congressional District.

Former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono earned approximately 60 percent of the student leaders' votes. The decision was part of a mock election at the 18th Annual Student Leadership Workshop held at the University of Hawai'i at M?? ?noa Campus Center Ballroom.

By U.S. Senators John Kerry and Russ Feingold
Commentary, The Honolulu Advertiser
July 21, 2006

There are differing views in the race for the U.S Senate in Hawai'i on troop withdrawal, some calling it a mistake.

The true mistake would be for the United States to continue the administration's aimless, open-ended course in Iraq. Our country desperately needs a new vision for strengthening our national security and it starts by redeploying U.S. forces out of Iraq so we can wage and win a more effective war on terror and give Iraqis the best chance to stand up for a stable Iraq.

By Zena Crenshaw and Tom Devine
Federal Times

Guess who??€™s turning the lights back on for whistleblowers? President George H. Bush once called for a ??€œthousand points of light,??€ ? but his son has been systematically snuffing them out. The last few years have been the dark ages of American politics, as unprecedented secrecy has shielded unprecedented corruption and abuses of power betraying the public trust in all directions.

Molokai Island Times
From Sen. Akaka's office

Washington, D.C. - A joint-effort initiated by Senator Daniel K. Akaka is underway to assess Hawaii's dependence on oil and the technical and economic feasibility of oil alternatives. Four federal and state agencies are working together to accomplish this necessary assessment including: United States Department of Energy, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and Hawaii Energy Policy Forum.

Senator Akaka is responsible for including authorization for this analysis in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

By EDWIN TANJI, City Editor
The Maui News
July 8, 2006

WAILUKU - Hawaii's senior senator, Daniel Inouye, says the United States responded appropriately to the actions of North Korea, which test fired a series of missiles into the Sea of Japan, in contrast to U.S. actions in the Middle East.

President George W. Bush expressed his concern but also made clear that the U.S. will work with other countries in responding to the belligerency of the North Korean government of Kim Jong Il, Inouye said.

The country is so tightly controlled it is difficult to comprehend what is going through the mind of Kim Jong Il, he said. But the missile firings clearly are a move to demand "respect and recognition" from other countries.