Elroy Osorio Sr.
Eighty-four-year-old Elroy Osorio Sr. has been there and done that when it comes to Council reorganizations. Having served as a board of supervisor from 1960 to 1964 and as a District 4 County Councilman from 1994 to 1996, Elroy Osorio been in the middle of controversy.
Dennis "Fresh" Onishi
Elroy’s mother’s sister adopted Dennis “Fresh” Onishi’s mother Yasuko Nakamura (who became Yasuko Tanaka). Elroy, who has affinity and interest in Dennis “Fresh” Onishi and his political future, can be considered Fresh’s mentor. You can imagine his concern that his hanai nephew was among the freshman council men that introduced the recent and controversial reorganization legislation.
Three days before Fresh Onishi’s reorganization-related resolution was introduced, he emailed a copy to Elroy Osorio. But Elroy could not open Fresh’s email.
“If I would have been able to read the attachment and get a hold of him, I would have asked him to rethink it,” Elroy Osorio told me at a lunch meeting two Mondays ago.
“I do not believe that he could do this on his own,” he said. Who influenced Fresh, he doesn’t know or won’t say. But he will say that he is concerned that his nephew was used as a “scapegoat.”
“I warned Fresh, now he’s got a target on his back,” Elroy said.
When Elroy, a Republican, was elected to the County Council in 1994, he was made the chairman.
Then, as he remembers it, all the Democrats got together — Jimmy Arakaki, Brian DeLima, Al Smith and Takashi “Taka” Domingo — and convinced Keiko Bonk to betray Elroy and become the chair.
As it was then, Elroy Osorio believes there is no motivation for the reorganization other than “in-fighting” and called the recent one “the nature of the Council.”
”I was always told you have to count to five,” he smiled. While noting the tendency for council members to engage in block voting, Elroy acknowledged the public’s lack of tolerance for the same-old-business-as-usual disappointment on the County Council year after year, term after term.
“I told Fresh I was concerned about his future in politics,” Elroy Osorio said, suggesting that Fresh might be interested in state politics or running for mayor. ”I thought it was a bad move on his part, for everything to be pointing to him. I said West Hawaii won’t accept him with those actions.”
Asked what he thought about talk that the Council reorganization had anything to do with east-versus-west, he said, “Today I can’t say it’s an east-west situation.” Elroy noted that Dominic Yagong, one of those council members unseated from a chairmanship, is from North Hilo and Hamakua, which is considered East Hawaii. He pointed out that we can’t really know the conflict with council members unless we attend all the meetings, “see what happens” and watch their dynamics together.
He repeated that he is concerned about Fresh’s future in politics, being “a neophyte councilman to take on that responsibility” of the reorganization.”
“I agree with the public, he didn’t come up with this on his own,” Elroy said of Fresh. ”I think he was was influenced by someone else.”
“I’m not against change if it’s something the five people believe in,” Elroy said. He just thinks the change pitched in this recent reorganization was “a weak excuse.”
“What does this mean for Dennis in the future? Is he getting off to a good start or making serious mistakes?” Elroy asked. He said he’ll be surprised if the Council doesn’t reorganize again.
Had Elroy been able to open the attachment and reach Fresh before the matter was placed on the agenda, Elroy said he would have told Fresh to “hold back.” “We don’t have enough time to discuss this fully, I would want to think about the resolution,” he said.
As we were meeting, Elroy dialed Fresh’s cell phone number, got a hold of him, and asked him to take the time to return my telephone messages. Elroy indicated that Fresh said he would call me. I gave Elroy a ride home from the restaurant where we me and, as he was getting out of the car, he said he would call Fresh to make sure he returns the messages I have left for him.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I do not know “Fresh” from stale but he seems ignoring a good man’s best advice. He may be yet another one-term councilman from his district, a la Rosehill and Elroy.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Thank you Tiff and Mr Osorio.
This is a jewel:
“He pointed out that we can’t really know the conflict with council members unless we attend all the meetings, “see what happens” and watch their dynamics together.”
Tiff, you’d agree, yeah?
July 9th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
He is easily influenced. That alone is damning. He is close to a union which abandoned it’s weaker sister, the HSTA thats bad. He pissed off both east and west Hawaii. Not smart. Lets see who is smart enough to manipulate one who speaks to and for God. No delusions there:) A poor excuse for a gentleman who is of questionable mental stabilty. He thinks terrorist are a future industry, and finally a guy who just rides through the meetings. Hmm who does this lead to . Remember Brenda and Dominic aren’t choices.
July 9th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
There are competent politicians like Elroy Osorio (St. Louis grad, Century 21 Franchise owner, businessman) Stacey Higa (Kamehameha grad, printing company owner) Dominic Yagong (corporate executive for supermarkets and convenience stores, effective councilman) and Aaron Chun (UCLA Law School, effective coucilmen).
Fresh does not even come close to meeting the standard.
I think he was influenced by Jimmy Aarakaki and Roland Higashi. And you know what happened to Stacey Higa, after getting their support in his last campaigns and wasn’t electable in this mayoral campaign, these two supported the favorite horse, Billy Kenoi. Anyone who listens to these two will end up following a lonely road and out of elected office.
Everything about this reorganization was about stripping Dominic of his chairmanship of the Finance Committee and if you read all the resolution to not have Dominic serve on any committee.
Kenoi, with the influence of Higashi and Aarakaki, and the operators like J, Ikeda, Takaba, Goodenow, talked Fresh and Coach in to this. Em was not part of the planning.
Kenoi and cronies had most to gain from this coup. And it was executed to perfection with no accountability. Billy’s appointee Ashida shutting all the protesters down with his legal opinion was also a great move.
Onishi can survive it as a councilmember, possibly he seems to think so when talking over beers with his friends, because he is elected in an AJA district. He will never get elected to mayor because of Kona, Puna, Ka’u and even Dominic’s district of Hamakua.
But, if Stacey runs against him as a coucilman, Keaukaha doesn’t trust Fresh but they do Stacey.
I have stated for weeks this is what happened and Elroy is being coy because he knows it too. This is not about East/West but a consolidation of power for money. Period.
But the sad thing is, why is there not someone better in the district to run.
Richard Petersen, where is your in-depth analysis in this?
July 10th, 2009 at 12:47 am
ivantatum (whoever you are):
There’s an old saying: You’re so full of s..t, you’re eyes are brown.
Have a nice day.
July 10th, 2009 at 6:24 am
Hi Ivan: My hunch is that Elroy correctly “kawai-sona” is crushed by Fresh’s PR fiasco [cover-up/illegal power grab], that Elroy viscerally supposes that his nephew Fresh is not capable by good nature of committing the cover-up re-org, so to speak. I feel that Fresh acted alone because in my literally eyeballing both groups –those whom Fresh confides in [Elroy/Aaron Chung/] –& those who are falsely accused of being puppet masters over Fresh [Roland Higashi/Jimmy Arakaki/Steve Yamashiro/Harvey Tajiri/etc.], no one would promote such an attention-getting setup — too many minuses/not enough plusses, in a Machiavellian sense looking at it as “ends justify means” for discussion purposes only. To me, Fresh’s own audacity/tenno heika [his majesty, the emperor] caused Fresh to act alone. Aloha, –Curt
July 10th, 2009 at 6:39 am
Oh, Elroy is not coy, Elroy is clueless about Fresh’s power grab. Billy Kenoi has nothing to do with Fresh’s cover-up. Billy adheres to the separation of powers between the 3 branches of government [executive/legislative/judicial]. Though Dominic is a borot [conceited narcissist], Billy respects Dominic for Dominic’s on-the-job Council experience/legislative acumen. Love, –Curt
July 10th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Mike Middlesworth-
For someone who wants to promote their name, their supposed credintials, and all the experience you have in the newspaper business, while trying to publicly market your name and blog (i’m full of it, you’re a joke) you would not know how to take a stand publicly if your life and livelihood depended on it.
Keep on kissing up and selling out maybe you’ll get a call for and interview or a job. I bet you’re down at Starbucks with Dave Smith waiting for the call.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:58 am
Curtis,
I respect your opinion but Kenoi doesn’t respect Dominic’s ability (more like threatened) or he would have named Dominic his Managing Director, instead of Kim’s appointee Bill Takaba, as all of his local supporters wanted him too. If Dominic was the MD, a lot of his supporters and even county workers know Dominic would have put his foot down over the 1) waste and grafts (he tried with internet abuse and is also with Kaimana).2) Dominic did not make friends by suggesting to layoffs and cutback in County government. 3) he was also willing to take a pay cut, which the others voted down which would have set the table n dealing with the unions. Coming right from the horses mouth, Kenoi doesn’t respect Dominic.
With Takaba as MD, you will have no opposition to violating of Sunshine Laws, unethical reorganization or anything the administration wants to do.
But, Curtis, I respect your opinion.
What about you Mike (middle of the road) Middlesworth, are you going to take a stand or just want everyone to go to your blog and praise you. Great, you shoudl run for elected office. Your ego would fit in perfect.
July 10th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Ivantatum, watch it.
I have been quite indulgent with the fact that you choose to be anonymous and, day after day, multiple times per day even, you write very inflammatory remarks here. You are verbally attacking two people who I personally respect simply for the fact that they are questioning you for the truckloads of dirt that you dump here. As I said, I’ve been indulgent. I have people who are intrigued by you and your posts emailing me asking for me to do “an anonymous ‘witness protection’ style of interview” with you. You have definitely caught people’s attention.
But you cannot stand behind your pseudonym and attack people for simply calling you a bullshitter, when in fact some people think you are because you refuse to put your name to all your provocative accusations.
As the administrator of this blog, I’ll allow people to have verbal spars, but I really think it’s a bunch of chicken shit for someone cloaked in anonymity to attack people who use their real names and who I consider colleagues who are questioning all the controversial statements you’ve been making. I know Mike Middlesworth and Dave Smith, and I don’t know you. Imagine this to be my house. We are all seated for dinner. You are the one wearing a mask. If you are going to attack my fellow dinner guests, you better be willing to take off the mask and get real with me.
With that, I want to ask you to trust me enough to identify yourself to me and engage in what has been suggested to be a “witness protection-”style interview. I will respect your desire to remain anonymous but, from here on out, I want to know who you are exactly, what your lawsuit with the county is about, and why you are so interested in keeping your identity secret. Please, I think we have all been very patient and understanding. It’s time for you to come out from behind the cloak… I have your cell phone number. There was one day you called me from it and not the blocked number from which you usually call me. I’ll call you later to schedule the interview… We can meet at Starbucks and see for ourselves if Dave Smith and Mike Middlesworth are there, waiting together for a call about a job interview ??? That is such a cheap shot, it’s pathetic, ivantatum. Grant me an interview. It’s time we meet eye-to-eye. An, fyi, I ain’t looking for a job. I have plenty jobs, it’s a little overwhelming at times.
July 10th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Right on Tiff!
Now, if I could forget “She Who Remembers”.
July 10th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Ivantatum: Is that you who just tried to call me from a blocked number? FYI, for anyone who calls me from a blocked number, I answer discriminately, certainly not before 9:30 a.m. when I head to Pahoa to open the shop… At the moment, I’m in my pajamas, and I was just about to head outside to enjoy the morning, drinking coffee with my husband out on the lanai… I’ll call you on your cell phone later, ivantatum.
July 10th, 2009 at 8:38 am
Curtis,
My question is if Fresh acted on his own, than why did he and Guy, at separate times, drive to Dominic’s house in Honoka’a to ask him advice on running a campaign. If he could do this on his own, which you are suggesting and Elroy disagrees with, why would he drive all the way to Honoka’a to asking for advicement on running? He did not act on his own.
July 10th, 2009 at 9:16 am
The Ivan guy needs to clean up his act.
Facts are better than opinins. Proof is better than indiscriminant accuasations based on aimless suppostion.
Grace, even in discussion about politics and religion, beats nastiness every time.
I personally have known Mike and Dave for many years — worked for one and shared time in the trenches with the other. I doubt they barely know each other, let alone are plotting future activity together.
I admire Tiff for trying to keep this blog toegther by putting poor behavior in check. I believe that is why Hunter did a first read before publishing comments. I hope she does not have to do that.
July 10th, 2009 at 10:49 am
[...] Armstrong, who clearly is on Councilman Dennis “Fresh” Onishi’s good side with two interviews in as many weeks, quoted the new chair of the council Finance [...]
July 10th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
[...] trackback It is put up or shut up time for whoever is hatescorruption,betterplace and ivantatum.This person has advocated for people to call up the FBI to have them investigate corruption in [...]
July 10th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
If personal attacks continue to be made on this blog over any issue, the quality and professionalism of the Big Island Chronicle will suffer. Readers who turn to it to find out what is going on do not want to have to wade through garbage to gain different perspectives on the issues.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Hi Ivan: I only got to a computer now to read your query from early this morning. Thank you for your great question. You are correct in that Fresh asks for feedback [from Elroy, Aaron, etc.] to get a handle on issues. Dominic is the brain on the budget, not on how to run a campaign [look at Dominic's 2004 side-splitting run for mayor]. But then again, free country, so if Fresh wants wisdom from Dominic on how to run a campaign, it doesn’t mean that Fresh is influenced-manipulated by/acts in concert with someone else when Fresh goes on the attack to re-org the Council. Tenno heika means His Majesty, the Emperor, a pejorative vs. Dan Inouye born 1924, from Scrub Tanaka 1915-2006, for Inouye’s notoriety for getting advice & then plotting vs. the advisor. Of course, Inouye has Jack Burns 1909-1975 to blame for this, Burns being Inouye’s oyabun/godfather. Burns demanded federal patronage jobs & veto power over Ernie Kai’s [1905-1990] selections if Kai were appointed as Territorial Governor by President Truman in 1951. Ernie rebuked Burns’ extortionate demands. Burns purloined Kai’s appointment declaration as Governor & replaced him with Oren E. Long 1889-1965, who also rebuked Burns’ extortionate demands AFTER Long was appointed by President Truman. Burns picked Long as a palatable appointment by D.C. because Long’s wife was from a prominent Tennessee family who would be embraced by U.S. Senators Estes Kefauver & Kenneth MacKeller. Of course, early on in Burns’ political career, Burns had curried favor with Kai & Long. Just as Fresh Onishi sought wisdom from Dominic Yagong. Put simply, Fresh gets [from Yagong] but doesn’t give [back to Yagong]. Of course, Fresh’s retort is that Yagong is a whole cheeser [what'd you expect, Fresh, Dom was self-anointed holy grail football quarterback -- you're a jock, Fresh, so you know human nature] who humiliated Fresh’s deepest core [injured Fresh's self-esteem]. So again, Ivan, Fresh gets but doesn’t give. Tenno heika, his majesty acts alone, holier than thou. Love, –Curt
July 10th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Yeah, gang, I accept that one doesn’t get the nuanced feel of us Japs. The reason why “Tenno Heika” is multi-edged is that Dan Inouye is as American as apple pie, completely assimilated as a younger 2nd generation Japanese American. Like I told on my own posts, AJAs & other plantation kids born 1920 & after were able to get high school diplomas, thanks to our greatest educator Oren E. Long 1889-1965, the same fella who wisely rebuked militant Jack Burns 1909-1975 AFTER Long was appointed as Territorial Governor in 1951 by President Truman. Long’s tenure as DOE chief [called Dept. of Public Instruction -- DPI -- pre-Statehood plantation era] was 1934-1946, when fellas like Paul Miwa/Ted Tsukiyama both born 1920 were in the 8th grade as Long lectured into the pages of history starting in 1934!! Amazing Oren E. Long, Kansas granger boy [rebel to da max] who first came to Hilo fresh off the boat from the Mainland 1917 & educated us into the annals of lore. Anyway, Dan Inouye is the ubiquitous banana, yellow on the outside, white on the inside. Do you know that despite Inouye’s professed depth in Japanese culture, “he don’t know sh_t about his own culture?” Mazie Hirono same thing, even though born/raised in Japan early on. She asked Scrub when encouraged by Scrub to have yamato damashii, “What’s that??” Yamato damashii means fighting spirit, as “holy cow” in English means “Wow!!” Which is why Inouye is called tenno heika, because Inouye pretends to be his majesty the emperor, which Inouye is not. Love, –Curt
July 10th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Immense distinction, you know, gang, between plantation kid born 1919 & before, vs. a kid born 1920 & after. Look at our ubiquitous husband/wife Dr. Paul Miwa & Shinae “Betty” Kashiwabara Miwa. I told you about Paul born 1920, later 1st AJA university high official nationwide, who was coaxed by Dan Inouye born 1924 to mainstream UH-Hilo into a 4 year college 1969-1975 as our chancellor. Wife “Betty” born 1919, I say it again, brah’/sis’ — 1919!! McBryde Camp 3 Kaua’i [yes, Dan Inouye's dad's "hood"/roots -- dad later Lyman Boarding School alumnus Hilo just as Hilo's Shokan "Jesse" Shima 1901-2002 centenarian was, Jesse Shima[bukuro] the greatest-ever Japanese person to step foot Stateside — Jesse major impact on treatment of minorites — Jesse protege of FDR’s closest confidant Harry Hopkins/Jesse confidant of Ike’s closest confidant Mike Hagerty, a mere high school graduate/Jesse confidant of Howard U. African-American leaders/etc.] — Betty only went to the 8th grade!! Paul fell in love with her because of her depth of character — she was her parents’ caregiver, our Japanese Florence Nightingale!! Love conquers all [fear} Ai/kokoro [love/heart], –Curt
July 10th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Yes, Paul Miwa died in 2003, but Betty just turned a robust & razor-sharp 90 years old!! Her daughter & sole living child is Amy Miwa, who is Donald Ikeda’s go-to ace. Love, –Curt
July 10th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Oops, my apology. Jim Hagerty 1909-1981, not actor Mike Hagerty [my flub], was President Eisenhower’s closest confidant. Hilo’s Jesse Shima was Jim Hagerty’s dearest confidant/peer, Jim just a high school graduate with common sense, which Ike revered, though Jim much younger than Ike. Aloha, –Curt
July 11th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Curtis, you have very interesting stories to tell, but I would appreciate it if you would stop using “Jap.” Racist slurs is the main reason I can’t stand the WHT website blog, not to mention their B.S. conspiracy theories. You may feel comfortable using that word, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels the sting when reading/hearing it. I know you don’t use it to be offensive in any way, but I, and others who read but don’t blog, would appreciate it very much. Thank you:)
July 11th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Watchful Observer-
You don’t understand the “old school” local style that people like Curtis and I share. Growing up here in Hilo, we all made fun of our friends ethnicity not to lord it over them but to recognize their uniquesness.Like “kanaka” “buddahead”, “portagee”,”pake”,”boodinki” are terms of endearment in our culture where we grew up in a plantation together, very close together, where we had to all get along. It means no harm like a white person would in the mainland when he says it. If a whiter person did it in the mainland, it would be fighting words.
Curtis, correct me if I am wrong, but a haole locals like would be called a “good haoloe”.
And speaking of conspiracies, you are off base if you don’t know about the waste, fraud and cover-ups that are occurring in our local government. Read the front page of both daillies and the county’s laughable excuse to the lawsuit. It’s issues like that which hurt businesses (vindictive retaliation, fraud) which causes lawsuits and more legal expenses for county when Ashida postures and says,”short on facts and law.”
July 11th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
[...] TIFF: I HAD TO CHUCKLE WHEN ELROY OSORIO SPOKE LIVE WITH FRESH ON ELROY’S CELL PHONE AT LUNCH. I KNOW FRESH’S MENTALITY [...]
July 11th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Hi Watchful Observer & Ivan Tatum: Yes, I apologize for using an offensive slur and will say AJA from now on. Ivan is correct in that our colloquial figure of speech uses so-called slurs 1) as terms of endearment and 2) as repudiation by a member of such ethnic group against his/her own ethnic group. Betrayal? No. Aversion to ethnocentrism? Yes. Ivan is correct, but for the sake of decorum/sensitivity, I’ll use AJA instead of the J_p slur. Dearest Watchful Observer, if you’re actually an AJA from Hawai’i/Stateside, are you then going to reproach me for saying buddahead to denote an AJA from Hawai’i, & for saying kotonk to denote a Mainland AJA? Thanks, –Curt
July 11th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Hi editor Tiffany: I tried to click on to your 5:47 p.m. post this evening [up above], but nothing came on. Am I clicking wrongly? Thanks, –Curt
We should be all good now, Curt. Had some technical difficulty. — tceh