You may not get to read Lee Cataluna’s column today, since it’s tucked safely behind the newspaper’s paywall, although there’s a chance this link will work (“Governor shows no aloha for island tourism industry“).
Basically, it’s a nasty jab at Gov. Neil Abercrombie and his wife, Nancie, for winging off to Paris to celebrate their 30th anniversary.
Cataluna writes:
In general, it isn’t anybody’s business where a couple goes on vacation. But when you’re governor, everything you do is heavy with symbolism. The governor of Hawaii flying off to a romantic vacation in Paris is like the governor of Michigan driving a Hyundai.
Cataluna follows with a somewhat gratuitous reference to the always-campaigning Mufi Hannemann, Governor Abercrombie’s long time personal rival, now once again a candidate (is anyone surprised?).
If Hannemann had become governor, you can bet he wouldn’t have blown town to take Gail on a romantic European vacation. Hannemann would more likely island-hop from Koele Lodge to Hyatt Poipu to Disney Aulani and tweet about the great service and aloha spirit he encountered at every stop, posing for pictures with Unite Here! members and joining the lobby pianist for a medley of Don Ho tunes.
That’s the problem. For the relentlessly ambitious Hannemann, absolutely every occasion is a campaign stop, even, if Cataluna is correct, his anniversary. Cataluna seems to think that’s a positive. I don’t share that view. Insisting on making everything political isn’t a virtue, it’s an affliction.
For the governor, there is no privacy in Hawaii, whether it’s in a high priced resort or walking through downtown Kahului. Cataluna recognizes this, noting that when you’re the state’s chief executive, “people take note of everything.” But apparently she’s unable to empathize, or perhaps just unwilling to empathize with the governor.
Call me old fashioned, but to celebrate a deeply personal occasion–and I think a couple’s 30th anniversary makes the cut–a modicum of privacy isn’t unreasonable, even for the governor and his wife. If that’s not possible to find in Hawaii, and I doubt it is, then take that romantic trip to Paris. Shouldn’t we also celebrating that there’s still romance to share in Nancy & Neil’s relationship?
So to Neil and Nancie, congratulations! Enjoy your trip. Get out of the political bubble for a couple of weeks, and come back ready to roll.
Discover more from i L i n d
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Color me shocked that someone else who reads this blog is a sports fan (“touchthestick?”). And actually made a reference to Colin Cowherd of ESPN!
Here is my “opinion:”
I do not think it was a “cheap shot” by Cataluna at all; she makes a very valid point.
If you are the Governor of this state, and you know how badly we need the dollars in Hawai’i, you should lead by example and show everyone that it is possible to enjoy a romantic getaway right here in these islands.
“I guess many of you missed or overlooked this mention in his column from 9 months ago.”
Here “is” my “opinion:”:
“missed” or ‘overlooked”…. hmmm. hate multiple choice when we only have two slim inappropriate choices. No, maybe most “people” do not “read” nor “care” about Wayne “Harada”.
The point is it was not some top secret information held from the public that Cataluna left the islands and has been writing her column from there. The fact that it was mentioned and made public back in January should put to rest things about it being a “secret”.
Actually, Lee herself should have disclosed it in a straightforward manner rather than depending on Wayne to mention it in his column.
Well Lee is quoted in Wayne’s column….unless you mean she should have mentioned it in an earlier column this year or maybe the change in some byline would make others feel better about this. In my opinion it was mentioned once in January, problem if there is any, was taken care of. There is no reason to mention it more than once. It is not her fault or anyone elses that they missed reading Wayne’s column.
I strongly feel that Lee should be held responsible for mentioning the move in her own column since the matter concerns her status and standing.
a “secret” hmm. wot dis. grade school o wot.
Did you notice that Bob Jones mentioned you in his 10/5/11 column in the Midweek?