Mufi Hanneman

Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 29, 2009

E Ho`omua Hannemann forms Statewide Committee

E Ho`omua Hannemann, an exploratory committee comprised of leading private and public sector individuals supporting a 2010 gubernatorial bid by Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann today released a preliminary listing of members. E Ho`omua Hannemann is engaging in conversations with residents throughout Hawaii, assessing the level of support for a Hannemann candidacy, raising funds for the 2010 governor’s race and encouraging Hannemann to mount a gubernatorial bid.

“There are many Mufi Hannemann supporters who are urging him to run for governor next year. Now more than ever, Hawaii is in need of strong executive leadership and we believe that Mufi is exactly what our state needs right now. Over the next several months we will be fundraising and friend-raising statewide and believe our efforts will demonstrate the breadth and depth of support for Hannemann’s candidacy,” said business leader David Carey, member of the committee.

Committee member and civic leader Ruth Ono added, “This will be one of the most important elections of our time, as the very essence of our beloved home is stressed by economic, social, environmental and cultural challenges of tremendous proportion. Mufi Hannemann is the right leader at the right time and we believe Hawaii and our people will be well served if he is our next governor.”

“Through the years, Mufi has proven to be a champion of working men and women. He has a record of growing the economy in a way that benefits our entire community,” said labor leader George Paris. “His strong leadership is exactly what we need to bring our state through these tough times,” Paris added.

“I’ve said consistently that running for governor is something I’d like to consider seriously and I appreciate the efforts of the exploratory committee. That said, there is much work today as Mayor of Honolulu and this is where I’m focused,” said Hannemann.

Mufi Hannemann is the 12th mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, the 13th largest municipality in the United States. Following an illustrious career in business, government, and politics, Hannemann took office on January 2, 2005, becoming Honolulu’s first native-born mayor in almost 40 years. He was elected to a second term in November, 2008.

This Harvard-educated leader and former star athlete has the distinction of having served in the administrations of four U.S. Presidents: Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Hannemann formerly held posts as director of Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, chief of the state’s Office of International Relations, and chairman of the Honolulu City Council. In the private sector, he was a corporate executive with C. Brewer, one of Hawaii’s oldest and largest agribusinesses; created and operated his own business consulting firm and non-profit organization; and was an educator and coach at Iolani School, his high school alma mater.

Hannemann’s goals as mayor have included restoring fiscal integrity and accountability at City Hall, focusing on basic public services, and improving the quality of life for all of Honolulu’s citizens. The focus on City services is directed at ensuring public safety; repairing and maintaining roads; accelerated maintenance of parks and other public facilities; improving an aging sewer system and managing solid waste and recycling; tackling traffic and transportation issues; expanding the use of computer and telecommunication technology for government services; and aggressively promoting business growth and private sector job creation.
He is active in the U.S Conference of Mayors where he is a trustee and chairman of the group’s tourism committee and is leading the charge nationally to prioritize the arts and visitor industry. He and Chicago Mayor Richard Daly are co-chairing the Windy City’s bid to host the 2016 Olympics.

Among his numerous honors and awards, Mayor Hannemann was recently selected as “Best Public Official” by Honolulu Magazine, earned the Easter Seals National Outstanding Advocate Award, named Fellow of the Pacific by Hawaii Pacific University, honored by the Iolani School with the Alumni Service Award, and inducted into the Farrington Governors’ Hall of Fame. The National Football League honored him with the Val Pinchbeck Award for his support for the Hawaii Pro Bowl and the league’s charitable endeavors in the islands.

Hannemann is married to Gail Mukaihata Hannemann. They reside in Aiea, Hawaii.

The members of the statewide exploratory committee include:

Dr. Danilo Ablan
John Aeto
Jr. Ah You
David Akina
Jeff Arce
Donn Ariyoshi
Kelvin M. Bloom
Wendell Brooks
Robin Campaniano
W. David Carey
Stanford S. Carr
Gifford Chang
Ming Chen
Sonny Ching
Debbie Ching Maiava
Herbert Chock
Sam Choy
Dave Chun
Jeff Coelho
Annie Corpuz
Wayne K. De Luz
W. Allen Doane
Walter A. Dods, Jr.
Maggie Domingo
Lee Donohue
John “Jack” Dwyer
Maria Etrata
Linda F. Fernandez
Scott Fernandez
Eddie Flores, Jr.
Andy D. Friedlander
David Fuertes
Wendell Fujii
Robert Fujimoto
Robyn Furuya
Lee David Gordon
Tim Guard
Anthony Guerrero
Warren Haruki
Denise Hayashi
Robert P. Hiam
Alan Ho
Peter S. Ho
Issac Hokama
Grant Howe
Bobby Ichikawa
Robert Iinuma
Mike Irish
Mike Jokovich
Danny Kaleikini
Howard Kihune, Sr.
Peter Kim
Taeyong Kim
Alan Kimi
Lynn Kinney
Fran Kirk
So Suk Ko
Bert A. Kobayashi
Bert T. Kobayashi
BJ Kobayashi
Patrick Kobayashi
Alton Kuioka
Martin Luna
Tenari Maafala
Stephen H. MacMillan
Duncan MacNaughton
Kalani Mahoe
Colbert Matsumoto
Aimoku McClellan
Bill McCorriston
Bill Mills
Tom Moffatt
Arnold Morgado
G.A. Red Morris
Colin Nishida
Dean Okimoto
Ray Ono
Ruth Ono
George Paris
Alyssa Park
John Reed
Jean E. Rolles
Karen Ryder
Len Ryder
Harry Saunders
Dustin Shindo
Russell Siu
You Soukasseum
Phil Tacbian
Leonard Tanaka
Cha Thompson
Jack Thompson
Michael Tresler
Mary Thronas
Turk Tokita
Dr. Laurie Tom
Joanne Trask
Keith Vieira
Shelly Wilson
Adam Wong
Ken Wong
Robert Wu
Gerald Yamada
Roy Yamaguchi
Russell Yamamoto
Leslie Ann Yokouchi
Paul Yonamine
Wally Yonamine