• Encourage sustainable development by proposing tax incentives for the use of alternative energy in both residential and commercial projects.
• Attract environmentally-friendly “green” industries to the Big Island.
• Clarify what it means for a product to be “Made in Hawaii ” and work to protect the integrity of products that meet this definition.
• Review current laws regarding non-native species and introduce legislation to prevent the spread of new invasive species.
• Identify endangered species of native plants and develop programs to regenerate them if possible.
• Provide money for the maintenance of State Parks and beaches.
• Review current recycling initiatives and work to improve existing programs.

I am sharing only a fraction of the letters, testimony and email that were submitted at the confirmation hearing.  The limitations of the web doesn't permit me to put up everyone's kind and generous statement of support.  But these few statements give you the opportunity to see what people really think about me and allows you to make up your mind about who I am and what I stand for.

These documents are public record and submitted as testimony, but have not been released to the general public.

Hawai’i Island:

View the PDF

• Mayor Harry Kim
  
• Mayor Stephen K. Yamashiro, ret.
  
• Council Chair James Y. Arakaki, ret.
  
• Former Councilman Michael C. Tulang
  
• Former Provost, Ms. Sandra T. Sakaguchi, Hawaii Community College
  
• Mr. Dale Hayashi
  
• Hugh Y. Ono, P.E.
  
• The Hon. Paul M. de Silva, Judge, 3rd Circuit, ret.
  
• The Hon. Jay T. Kimura, Esq., Prosecuting Attorney
  
• Charlene Y. Iboshi, Esq. First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
  
• Lincoln S. T. Ashida, Esq.
  
• Donna Fay K. Kiyosaki
  
• James S. Correa, ret. Chief of Police
  
• Mr. Nate Chang
  
• Mr. Hugh Clark
  
• Mr. Myron Yamasato
  
• Mr. George Yokoyam
  
• Mililani B. Trask, Esq.
  
• William Wilson, PhD.
  
• Gary Y. Murai, Esq.
  
• Ivan M. Torigoe, Esq.
  
• Mr. John Kai, President, Pinnacle Investment Group, LLC
  
• Ms. Jeanette Baysa
  
• Mr. Rodney Y. Inaba
  
• Robert D. S. Kim, Esq.
  
• Peter K. Kubota, Esq.
  
• Ms. Jean M. Kuroyama
  
• Mr. Walter R. Lucas
  
• Ms. Wendy Y. Maeda
  
• Ms. Charleen K. “IPO” Melendez
  
• Ms. Keaolha Pisciotta, President Mauna Kea Anaina Hou
  
• Mr. Dewan Vashishta
  
• Alton M. Okinaka, PhD
  
• Ms. Gloria Oshiro
  
• Mr. Liko Puha
  
• Ms. Karlen N. Suga
  
• Ms. Ginger Takeshita

Honolulu:

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• The Hon. Robert G. Klein, Associate Justice, Hawaii Supreme Court, ret.
• The Hon. Patricia Y. Lee, Esq., Chairperson, University of Hawaii Board of Regents
  
• State and County Human Resource Department Directors
  
• Mr. Edward Yuen, Esq.
  
• Jill Nunokawa, Esq.
  
• Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu
  
• Mr. Darrel Galera, Principal, Moanalua High School
  
• Amy Abgayani, PhD.
  
• The Hon. Walter S. Kirimitsu, Associate Judge, Intermediate Court of Appeals, ret.
  
• Ms. Nell Nakamura
  
• The Hon. Ronald Y. Amemiya, Attorney General, State of Hawaii, ret.
  
• Hazel G. Beh, Esq.
  
• Byron W. Bender, PhD, University of Hawaii, Board of Regents
  
• Ms. Robin Chun-Carmichael
  
• Elizabeth Kent, Esq.
  
• Walter Nunokawa, PhD, University of Hawaii, Board of Regents
  
• The Hon. Melvin K. Soon, Judge, First Circuit Court, ret.
  
• Alan Yang, PhD., University of Hawaii, at Manoa
  
• Ms. Claudia Chun
  
• Mr. Elroy Chun
  
• J. N. Musto, Ph.D.
  
• Tenari R. Ma’afala
  
• Robert H. Lee
  
• Ms. Carol Okimi
  
• Honolulu Star Bulletin, Editorial, March 9, 2004

• Energy Independence - Sustainability
• Broaden economic base so less tourism dependent.
• Restore employee pension funds (public and private sector)
• Better roads - better bridges - better airport – better harbors.
• Reduce and clarify regulations on businesses.
• Protect and support agriculture on the Big Island (Sustainability).
• Big Island should be the center for Agriculture and Aquaculture research in the State.
• Establish “East-West” Center for Agriculture and Aquaculture.
• Invasive Species Control Center: Focused, intensive, dedicated research center accessible to all farmers, growers, ranchers, extension agents, hobbyists and academics.
• Tax breaks for start up business and small businesses.
• Improve Health Care quality and accessibility through a stakeholder, Health Care Study Group – 1 year turn around with recommendations.
• Comprehensive review and overhaul of laws relating to Senior Citizens – 1 year turn around with recommendations.

• Mandatory jail term for any crime committed against an on-duty, uniformed police officer, fire fighter, EMS, Corrections Officer, DLNR enforcement officer.
• Mandatory jail term for any violation of a Domestic Violence Temporary Restraining Order.
• Mandatory jail term for any crime committed against Senior Citizens.
• Allow employees in public safety positions with 35 years of service to receive 100% retirement benefit.
• Stop raids of fully funded public safety positions to supplement operational budgets.

• No political fundraisers one month before the Legislature starts until one month after it ends.
• Stop taxpayer funded benefits for any government official/employee convicted of any crime of dishonesty (e.g., Campaign spending violations; voter fraud; bribery; theft, etc.) while performing his or her duties.
• Stop “Pay to Play” politics; protect non-profit organizations and employees from making forced campaign donations in exchange for funding.
• No gifts and junkets to Legislators.

In Hilo, Ted joined the law firm of Roehrig, Roehrig, Wilson, Hara, Schutte and deSilva. He later joined the County’s Corporation Counsel’s Office in 1993 and served as the Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Yamashiro Administration and later as Corporation Counsel during the transition between the Yamashiro and Kim Administration.

Ted now works from his own Hilo law office, focusing on Labor and Employment Law. He often speaks to public and private sector groups about employment issues.

Ted proudly served as Governor Lingle’s Chief Labor Negotiator during the first two years of her administration. Ted was also selected by Governor Lingle to serve as the Regent for the University of Hawaii, representing East Hawaii. He teaches at UH-Hilo. He is a member of the Kaumana School Elementary Safety Committee. He has also served on the Governor’s Council of Advisors for East Hawaii, the State Merit Appeals Board and the Hawaii State Society of Human Resource Management Board.

Ted and Terri live in Kaumana in Hilo. Their oldest child is Katharine Hong (12), is in the 7th grade at Hilo Intermediate School. Their youngest child is Noah Hong (10), attends Kaumana Elementary School.

Terri Lum and Ted have been married for nineteen (19) years. Terri is a licensed, private practice Social Worker with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Washington in Seattle. She has worked with agencies like the Sex Abuse Treatment Center in Honolulu, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Women’s Center, the Casey Family Program and EPIC Ohana Counseling. Terri is active in Hawaii Island Junior Bowling, Girl Scouts and the Cub Scouts.

Ted serves as the District Chair for Boy and Cub Scouts for the PuKaHi District (Puna-Kau-Hilo) until 2009. He is the Cubmaster for his son’s Cub Scout Troop. He is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay.

Ted also successfully coached the Hilo High School Mock Trial Team to their first State Championship (1992).

Ted went on to attend the University of Hawaii School of Law. He helped organize the first Student Union at the Law School and was appointed as the student representative to the Law School’s Faculty Committee.

Donations

To send a donation to Ted Hong for Senate, please send checks to:

elecTed Campaign Committee
PO Box 4725
Hilo, HI 96720

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Videos

Endorsements:

View this video on YouTube

Ted announces candidacy:

View this video on YouTube

• Local School Boards- decentralize the DOE
• Empower teachers and principals by making sure that $ .80 of every education tax dollar gets into the classroom.
• Mandatory school repair and maintenance fund based on a percentage of spending, requiring super majority of Legislature to raid funds.
• Eliminate cap on Charter Schools and establish Charter School Board of Governors (outside DOE/BOE control).
• UH-Hilo becomes Hawaii State University.
• Freedom and Public Safety Recognition Award: Every immediate family member of a Hawaii Resident in the active military, National Guard, police officer, firefighter, EMS, Corrections Officer, DLNR enforcement officer, who is disabled or dies in the line of duty, is awarded free enrollment to any State university or community college.
• Preschool Access Scholarship:  For every child that attends a certified Pre-School, the State will pay $3,500.00 directly to that child's school.