by Andrew Walden

It was Duke Aiona's day at the Hawaii State Republican Convention meeting at Ko'olau Ballroom May 18. 

GOP Chair David Chang described voters telling him, "I regret voting for Abercrombie" and asking him, "Who do you have?"  He then introduced Aiona, who told conventiongoers:

"Am I going to run for office again?  ...If I do decide to run for office in 2014, it will not be for any office other than the office of governor.  My interest lies only in that office."

Aiona's announcement was met with a standing ovation from delegates.  Convention Chair, former State Rep Barbara Marumoto, thanked Aiona for, "everything you do, everything you have done, and everything you will do."

With Linda Lingle's Lincoln Day announcement that she would not be seeking office, Aiona and Charles Djou are Hawaii Republicans' top prospects for Statewide office.  In a clear reference to Djou, Hawaii Republican National Committeewoman Miriam Hellreich told the 200 delegates and guests, "I know somebody who would be a really great candidate for CD1."

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