Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, among the cherished symbols of our Lahaina community burned and lost last August was the former King Kamehameha III Elementary School. If the historic banyan tree represents the proud roots and history of this community, then King Kamehameha III, right next to it, represents its future. Since the 1880s, generations of Lahaina residents went to school here. Our commitment and promise to Lahaina keiki are that they and their children will one day go to King Kamehameha III Elementary again. Last month, while many of us took off for the holidays, I visited construction crews on Maui working around the clock to build a temporary school that will give some stability to the 600 students and staff displaced by the fires. This project is personal for every single person involved. Some went to school there. Others have family currently enrolled. Each person on the build site has a strong sense of ``kuleana,'' ``responsibility'' to get this done right. So committed to their mission, crews worked even on Christmas and New Year's Day to keep on track. To the Army Corps and the crew of Pono Aina Management who worked so hard over the holidays and continue to do so, mahalo, and I cannot wait to walk through the new school again. ____________________”