Special thanks to all of you who've rallied!

Whether it was showing up early this morning to walk in support of United Way or you were among the hundreds of who attended the fundraiser at Puhi Park with friends and family and to hear Bernard's vision for Kaua'i over the next two years, we thank you. It is our working together in showing support and caring about the community that will make a difference. [And don't forget to wear your trucker hats!] Nice work on customizing those hats, Imai!

Make it custom, make it "you" at this weekend's fund-raiser

There’ll be food, music, and a petting zoo, but don’t forget this Sunday, it’s BYOS (Bring Your Own Stuffs) to paint and customize yourself!
Some of you remember the customized trucker hats, which, of course, we’ll have. But if you’d rather revamp your old- school hot pants or bedazzle an already fabulous tee to show your support for Bernard, bring it along.
We’ll have the screens and decals, you just bring the tank top, surf shorts or anything else you can think of.
Special thanks to Mike Pemberton at Fantasy Shirts for helping us with this project, so those Younger and For Bernard could flex their creative muscles!
Hope to see you from noon to 3 p.m. at Sunday’s "Us Guy's Together" fund-raiser, Puhi Park Fronting Kaumualii Hwy., $15 per person, seniors & children under 12 free.
Buy tickets at headquarters or by phone, 246-6200.

Why I'm supporting my dad for mayor, by Brittney Carvalho

I love sports mostly because I grew up watching my brothers. I graduated from Kapa'a High School as Student Body President, just like my dad. I was Homcoming Queen, just like my mom. I've been honored with many awards in leadership not only on the field and court, but also in the community, and I owe all of my accomplishments to my parents, who have always pushed not only me but also my brothers to be the best we could be. My dad is an amazing leader — not only because it is hard to miss him — but because he has a heart of gold. Anyone that has spoken with my father can see right off the bat that he is sincere and he really listens to what anyone has to say. He is a leader in the sense that he can make tough disisions that benefit Kaua'i in a positive way. I know this because he has done the same with his children. When my brothers hit high school my parents sent them away to Honolulu to attend private schools so that they could play football at a higher level and hopefully get football scholarships for college. It was a sacrifice that my parents made for my brothers and now look at where they are, they both earned full-ride football scholarships and one has made it to the NFL. As for me, I'm an island girl at heart and I begged my parents to let me stay on Kaua'i and attend Kapa'a High School.
Ever since I could remember, my father has been making things happen in our communities with special youth programs, anti-drug programs, PTA, and the father commission, just to name a few. Although my father is a busy man, he always made time for me and my siblings, whether making us work out, talking story, family outtings or watching us play our sports. My parents have worked hard to mold their children into good people. When we were little, my dad used to wake us up at 5:30 every morning to go running, he would yell at us and blow his whistle telling us to keep pushing especially when we wanted to give up. With my dad giving up or saying "I can't" is not an option. When you start something, you finish, he always says. I'm sure this way of thinking sounds very familiar to most people and I believe that this is the type of leadership Kaua'i needs to overcome our island's challenges. We need someone like my dad who refuses to give up until he sees this island be all it can be!

Why? Because his leadership style works. By Green Bay Packers player [and son of Bernard, too] Brennen Carvalho

My name is Brennen Carvalho and I'm a 21-year-old football player for the Green Bay Packers. I've had a pretty successful career as far as football in college goes. My accomplishments were
only made possible through my upbringing. I've lived on Kaua'i all my
life and have been fortunate enough to have been raised by a great
man. His influence on me as well as my other siblings can't be
expressed solely with words. We were raised with humility and respect and learned that
success comes only with hard work. My parents instilled qualities in us
that I will one day teach my kids. We all learned this in the same way with parents who
provided us with the best opportunities they could in order to help us become
educated, better people: Who love God over all things. I really
can't see any other person being Mayor for the island that I love much. It's not just because he's my dad. It's more because I know him better than anyone, and I know what he can provide for our island.
The way we grew up, the lessons we learned and still learn from both him and my mom, make us the kind of people we are today. I know how great his love for Kaua'i is and I know he only wants the best for it. That's why I know that under his leadership, Kaua'i will be better than ever. I can only hope to raise my children as well as my parents raised me. I'm blessed to have such parents. But they are my parents, he is my dad. That's why I believe that making him mayor of Kaua'i will benefit all of its people: Because that way we can share his leadership together to make Kauai' the place we know it can be.

Why I support Bernard, by Heather Baptiste

I support Bernard Carvalho because he truly loves the island of Kaua'i and has been contributing the improvement of our beautiful island. He strives for continual improvement to make life better for all of the residences and is finding ways to make it possible for Kauai’s youth to be able to continue to call Kauai their home, as they grow older. He also is knowledgeable of my father’s goals for Kaua'i and the challenges that have to be overcome to reach them. I think with his knowledge and heart he could carry on my fathers work as well as his own.

Police union backs Bernard

The State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers has endorsed mayoral candidate Bernard Carvalho, according to a prepared statement released Saturday.
SHOPO is the exclusive bargaining unit for Hawai'i’s police officers representing 3,000 officers throughout the State.
SHOPO’s Kaua'i representative, Lt. Bryson Ponce, said in the statement Carvalho has the integrity, personality, leadership, vision and drive needed for the position.
Ponce also said, "He pledges to be very supportive of our police officers in all aspects which include wages, hours, and working conditions.
...I am sure Carvalho will work hard on supporting our police department and our officers to be competitive in helping with filling vacant positions, retaining officers, fighting the war on drugs and drug abuse, and bringing back core family values that is so much needed in our society.”
Upon hearing the news, Carvalho expressed gratitude for KPD's backing, the statement continues.
"It is an indescribable privilege for me to be endorsed by the men and women in blue," he said. "I have the utmost respect for the Kaua'i Police Department and the officers who keep our island safe on a daily basis. As Mayor, I will be a strong advocate to ensure their needs are met so that they can continue to serve the people of Kauai effectively. Mahalo to the leaders and members of SHOPO for this tremendous honor."
Carvalho also pledged additional support for the County’s anti-drug effort.
“I have participated in the Kaua'i Community Drug Response Plan since its inception in 2003, and so much more needs to be done, not only on the enforcement side but also in the areas of prevention, rehabilitation and successful re-entry of offenders into our community. We have to do more to support the non-profits who are providing these vital services.”
One of Carvalho’s main initiatives as Mayor will be to site and build an adolescent drug treatment facility on Kauai. “We have to give our kids the option to deal with their problems here in their own community where they can benefit from the support of their families.”
“All of this supports the mission of the Kaua'i Police Department and the work they do every day to keep drugs off our streets and away from our kids,” stated Carvalho.

Mayoral candidate debate roundup

By Amanda C. Gregg

He may not crack as many jokes as Mel Rapozo, seem as frustrated as Rolf Bieber or speak as comprehensively as JoAnn Yukimura, but he’s sincere, he’s competent and he’s actually — gasp — a politician many feel they can trust.
While there isn’t one mayoral candidate lacking the intention of improving the way of life for residents, answering the “Who should be the next mayor?” question isn’t about intention or promises, but rather leadership style.
And as Rapozo delivered on his “straight shooter” MO and Yukimura pointed to her accomplished resume at the mayoral candidates’ first major debate this past Tuesday, it was clear Bernard’s Carvalho’s approach is active listening, with a sort of pensive, reserved strength — the kind that would be expected from a former University of Hawai’i football team captain.
Also clear was that his decisiveness in leadership would be garnered from a team-like effort.
“When we get into difficult times, we need to pull together as one community,” he said.
Carvalho seems to hearken back to his roots in more ways than one, whether that means pulling together as a team or drawing upon memories from his childhood in the “walkable community” of Kealia, replete with a park, small gas station and dispensary.
“If you were to fast-forward, that would be today’s smart growth,” Carvalho said.
“The overall picture for me is keeping that type of rural character and making sure we coexist as a community and as an island,” he said.
But perhaps what most distinguished mayoral candidate Carvalho from others was his strong sense of approachability and sincerity.
"I've worked in community many years and it's not about me, it's about all of us, working together," he said.
For that to translate into Kaua'i's future, he said, the vision for the island has to include keeping it local and promoting its youth.
Marketing a Kauai-grown section in local grocery stores, adding van pools, more bus services, bringing back a signature event like the PGA Grand Slam and getting teens on track for financial independence are key parts of Carvalho's plan.
“Working closely with business communities, working with our young people and empowering them to be placed in high-paying jobs and (focusing on) health and wellness to strengthen the community” are just a few ideas to accomplish that Carvalho said, noting it can and should be done with the spirit of aloha, which, as he said, “starts with us.” —
Amanda C. Gregg