Hawaii Topia

In case you missed it here is the video of Govoner Linda Lingle speaking at the RNC.

Popular independent Presidential candidate Ralph Nader is speaking at the University of Hawaii at Manoa today (3 July) and pushing some of his policy ideas. What is ironic is he is speaking at the same university that Barack Obama’s parents met!

Nader will hold a news conference at 7:30 PM at the University of Hawaii Art Building auditorium then host the rally at 8 PM. Tickets at $10 or $5 for univeristy students.

Just in case you didn’t know, Ralph Nader was the man that took just enough votes from Al Gore to elect President Bush in 2000. Currently, he is getting about 6% of the vote in a Barack Obama/John McCain match up and could play spolier to Obama!

Hawaii has become the first state in the US to require new homes to be built with, “solar or other energy efficient hot water systems.” The law goes into effect 1 Jan, 2010. I think this is great news if it results in less oil being used to heat water in homes.

Hawaii’s Senate Majority Leader Gary L. Hooser stated, “Hawaii is almost totally dependent on imported oil for its energy needs and estimates show that, with this law, our oil consumption will be cut by 30,000 barrels during the first year and continues to decline exponentially thereafter. While the instituting of broad mandates is never an easy thing to do, the public benefits resulting from the passage of this measure are huge.”

Apparently, this change will result in a 30% reduction in the use of energy from the electric company. Good news all around!

Most people can associate Barack Obama with Hawaii, but they are just not exactly sure what Obama’s ties are to Hawaii. Hopefully, this article will help as Barack Obama has a good chance of becoming the President of the United States and would be the first African American President and also the first President born in Hawaii.

Barack Obama’s Hawaii Birth
Barack Obama was born on the island of Oahu, Hawaii in the Kapolani Medical Center on 4 Aug, 1961. Obama’s parents, Barack Obama Sr and Ann Dunham, met while attending the University of Hawaii (Manoa). His father was a foreign exchange student from Kenya. Obama’s parents didn’t stay together long and were divorced when Obama was 2-years old. His mom was remarried to an Indonesian man and moved to Jakarta, Indonesia until he was 10-years old.

Barack Obama with his Mon in Hawaii

Five year old Barack Obama with his Father at the Honolulu Airport

Punahou High School

Obama was sent back to Honolulu at the age of ten to live with his grandparents until graduating from Punahou High School. His nickname on the Punahou basketball team was “Barry O’Bomber.” He was a decent basketball player.

Barack Obama 9th Grade Punahou Class Picture

Barack Obama High School Graduation with Grandparents Madelyn and Stanley Dunham

Barack Obama High School Graduation with Sister Maya