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Photography and story by Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7
Senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka were on the Big Island Tuesday (March 30) to attend ceremonies for county projects backed by federal earmarks and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.
Senator Inouye used earmarks to fund seven out of the 10 new Hele On buses put to work on the Big Island. Attending the bus dedication was Hawaii County mayor Billy Kenoi, councilmembers and administration staff along with school kids who entertained the senators at the county building.
Next stop on the senator’s tour was the Hawaii Army National Guard armory at Hilo International Airport where six new UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters were officially handed over to the National Guard from the Sikorsky Aircraft company. Capturing Senator Inouye’s tour of projects was a camera crew filming the events for his re-election campaign.
The last stop of the day was Senator Inouye attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ane Keohokalole Highway in Kona, also known as the mid-level road. The $35 million stimulus project was paid for by the ARRA funds.
iPhone version of slideshow here
The Ane Keohokalole ground breaking ceremony was special because of the participants by the descendants, including Keawe and Kaimi Keohokalole, Nicole Lui, and Hannah Reeves. Mahalo nui loa.