Patsy T. Mink: “On January 3 of this year, I introduced H.R. 132, to designate the Post Office on the island of Lanai as the ``Goro…”

“On January 3 of this year, I introduced H.R. 132, to designate the Post Office on the island of Lanai as the ``Goro Hokama Post Office.'' I thank the majority of this committee for allowing me to bring this bill up at this early stage in our session, and I know that this is a moment of great honor to Mr. Hokama, whom I advised yesterday. Although it is only 5:00 a.m. in Hawaii, I believe that he and his family are listening. The Lanai Post Office came to my attention, and it is in my district; it is a small island with only 3,000 people, but the Post Office situation came to my attention several years ago. The population had grown at that point and there were post office boxes on the outside of the Old Post Office, and it became quite evident that a new building had to be constructed. So, after years of waiting, finally in February of the year 2000, a new post office was constructed. I think that it is extremely appropriate, therefore, that this post office be named the Goro Hokama Post Office. I have known Mr. Hokama almost the entire time that I have been active in politics, since the late 1950s. I have known him as a person of enormous dedication and integrity. He has given of his life to the growth and development of the island of Lanai where he was born and where his family currently resides.”