Lt. Gov. Schatz’ inaugural
speech sounds hopeful note

At noon on Monday, Dec. 6, Hawaii’s new Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Neil Abercrombie and Brian Schatz, were sworn into office on the steps of Iolani Palace. Schatz, who left his position as president and CEO of the nonprofit Helping Hands Hawaii to run for office, offered this inaugural message as he began his term in office:

Aloha. Bright as this day is in Hawaii, I look at what’s happening nationally and I see America facing a crisis in which our politics and government are increasingly inflamed by extremes.  Behaviors are nasty and unreasonable.  Blame is in abundance, and collective responsibility is in short supply. Hawaii must not succumb to this angry and useless road.  We must resist it, reverse it, and get to work, together.

That means everyone who cares about Hawaii.  Republicans, Democrats, independents, people who voted for us, and especially people who didn’t, need to hear this.

The election is over, and the time to solve problems is now.

So let’s declare a ceasefire on the wedge issues and the personality squabbles.  We’ve wasted too much energy on the small stuff.  And let’s pull together on what really matters for Hawaii: increasing economic opportunity, creating a more secure energy future, and improving public education.

We will make far more progress on energy independence if we focus on the financial, land use, and regulatory changes that we need to make it happen, rather than rehash the old fights. We’ve been talking about energy independence for four decades – now it’s time to get it done. And that means real and realistic dialogue, shared sacrifice, and a determination to take action.

On the public education front, we've got to embrace President Obama's Race to the Top, a program that recognizes that our current system is preventing many students and teachers from reaching their full potential. And we must give our Superintendent and her new team the tools they need to succeed.

To strengthen our safety net we have to come up with new and more accountable ways to partner between government and the nonprofit organizations.  They know how to deliver excellent service.  We need to do more listening and less dictating.

Our ability to navigate these difficult times depends totally on having a seriousness of purpose and a focus on problem-solving.


See, here in Hawaii, we do things a bit differently. We don't complain about the things that are wrong; we call on our deepest traditions and we use them get to work. Together.

That “together” includes a new generation, my generation. There are many of us trying make ends meet, to raise a family, to build an economic future for ourselves, and it has become too easy, too fashionable to think of government as extraneous, irritating, even contrary to our goals. But here’s the thing our generation must remember: Democracy is not what we have, it’s what we do.

We need to step up and lead, in whatever way we are able, either as a member of this administration, or a volunteer on a Board of Commission, or as a soccer coach or church or temple leader. Hawaii was built by people our age who were committed to the idea that this is literally the best place on the planet to live, work, and raise a family. But it requires a renewed dedication to our community, and to service. So get involved however you can – Governor Abercrombie and I need your help. And with his early appointments he has shown his willingness to put his trust and faith in members of our generation in leadership roles.

My own special focus for 2011 will be on making the upcoming and historic Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting a success for our local businesses in opening up new Asian markets and as a showcase for our State. Imagine the opportunity, in less than a year, we will have the heads of state from across Asia, and hundred of Asia’s top CEO’s here to learn about Hawaii, and the business opportunities that we offer. This is our chance to re-launch Hawaii on the global stage as a player in Asian markets, both for established and emerging industries.

In addition, Governor Abercrombie has assigned me responsibility to lead the Hawaii Fair Share Initiative. The idea is simple: we need more investment in Hawaii – whether it’s private or public money, business or government, we need to attract the kinds of investments that will help us to rebuild in the short term and reinvest in the long run. We will pull together our resources to pursue money for clean energy, education, nonprofits, and business development.

We have an ambitious agenda, and working together we will get it done.

Today marks the beginning of a new era of cooperation in Hawaii.  We face a host of challenges and we need everyone working together to make progress.

Island principles.  Island hopes.  Old fashioned hard work. 

All of us together.

Mahalo.