Djou Senate Candidate?; UH Satellite; Korean Cabinet Ties; Another Recall Revision; Website Complains

Will Djou Jump into Race for Sen. Akaka’s Seat?

The National Journal’s On Call blog is pointing to a recent column written by former Charles Djou as an indication that the former U.S. Representative remains a possible candidate for Sen. Daniel Akaka’s seat.

“Former Rep. Charles Djou (R-Hawaii) all but swore off elective politics in his recent farewell address, but the former congressman recently penned an article that is sure to ignite speculation among the state’s political observers over whether a 2012 bid against Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) is in the offing,” penned blog writer Stephanie Palla in a posting.

Palla noted that Djou recently wrote a piece for Pacific Business News in which he blasted the make up of Hawaii’s Congressional delegation, calling it a seniority-based system that’s produced the oldest delegation in the nation with an average age of 73.

Palla also noted that former Gov. Linda Lingle is considering a bid for Akaka’s post, but that it will be months before she reaches a decision.

“ Lingle would be the state’s strongest potential Republican challenger to Akaka, but if she does not run, Republicans in the state may shift their attention to Djou,” the blog said.

UH CubeSat selected as candidate for Space Missions

A so-called CubeSat from the University of Hawaii has been selected by NASA as one of 20 small satellites to fly as auxiliary cargo aboard rockets planned to launch in 2011 and 2012.

The small cube-shaped satellites that are about four inches long, have a volume of about one quart and weigh 2.2 pounds or less.

NASA said the selections are from the second round of the CubeSat Launch Initiative. The satellites are expected to conduct technology demonstrations, educational research or science missions.

The selected spacecraft are eligible for flight after final negotiations when an opportunity arises.

Constance Lau Appointed to Fed Advisory Council

Hawaiian Electric Industries President and Chief Executive Officer Constance H. Lau has been appointed the sole Hawaii representative on the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council.

Lau, who also serves as Chair of HEI’s American Savings Bank subsidiary, will meet with other council members twice a year to provide input and local perspective to the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank’s senior management on a variety of topics, including economic and banking conditions, regulatory policies and payments issues. Lau will serve a three-year term.

More UH Graduates Serving in Cabinet Posts

The University of Hawaii said two of it PhD graduates in Economics, Choi Joong-kyung and Kim Dong-soo, have been appointed to cabinet posts in the administration of South Korea President Lee Myung-bak.

Choi has been appointed minister of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, handling the government’s export and corporate policy. He received his PhD from UH Manoa in 2003.

Kim has been appointed the 16th chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, Korea’s antitrust watchdog. He received his PhD in economics from UH Manoa in 1997.

Other UH graduates who serve in government posts include Hao Ping, vice minister of education in China. He has a master’s degree in history from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and was a visiting scholar at the East-West Center.

Department of Health Whittles Recall List Again

The Hawaii Department of Health has once again issued a revised its list of recalled products made by First Commercial Kitchen LLC given new information it’s received.

The list is the seventh issued by the state as part of its action against First Commercial, a Waipahu-based company. It originally issued a list with more than 100 products to be recalled, but then reduced through six subsequent revisions.

The department said it had difficulty getting accurate information from First Commercial and that it has revised the recall list as businesses come forward with documentation and evidence of product safety.

The revised recall list now includes:

Arturo’s Hot Sauces

Hot Sauces: Hot Hawaiian Savory Sauce

Refrigerated Salsas: Maui Onion Sauce, Red, Red Hot, Red Very Very Hot

Barb’s Favorite Recipes, Barb’s Local Style Black Bean Sauce, Barb’s Kal-Bi Sauce

Cabais Capital Sweet Wasabi Sauce

India Café: Curry Sauce for Meat, Sauce for Seafood, Tikka Masala (General Sauce)

Jen-e Tropical Creamy Garlic Dressing

Mom’s Recipe Sauce

Pacific Poultry: Huli-Huli Sauce

Table Boss Safari Sauce

Website Complains about Being Shut Out by Abercrombie Administration

A Haleiwa-based online travel industry news website is taking Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s administration to task for having ignored its emails and telephone calls.

Juergen Thomas Steinmetz, publisher of eTurboNews said he was told by an Abercrombie spokeswoman that the office would not put the company’s websites on its list of publications receiving media releases.

“This is the most outrageous comment eTN has ever received from a public official in our more than 10 years of being in business,” said Steinmetz in a statement. The company also reported being rebuffed for interviews with Hawaii Tourism Authority President Mike McCartney and Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association President Mufi Hannemann.

ETurboNews said it has been online for 10 years and that more than 1.2 million consumers read articles on the eTurboNews website every month.

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