House Finance Chairwoman Sylvia Luke apologized on the House floor Friday for comments she made in a Honolulu Star-Advertiser story April 15 in which she described Gov. David Ige as “almost like this desperate caged animal.”
Luke said her comments were “inappropriate and not fitting for this body. I want to apologize to you, especially my colleagues, the public and the governor for those remarks. I regret my comments and offer sincere
remorse that I have disrespected the Office of the Governor, the public, you Mr. Speaker, and members of the Legislature.”
Luke also singled out Reps. Nadine Nakamura and Dee Morikawa in her apology, adding that, “I understand that my actions may have resulted in you being excluded from discussions with the governor during these critical times of recovery for the island of Kauai.”
Luke declined to elaborate on her statement after the floor session adjourned. Morikawa (D, Niihau-Koloa-
Kokee) and Nakamura (D, Hanalei-Princeville-Kapaa) did not respond to requests for comment Friday.
When asked about Luke’s remark about possibly excluding the two Kauai lawmakers from discussions, Ige responded with a written statement that “no one is being excluded.”
“My administration has one purpose right now — to help Kauai and Oahu residents recover from the devastating floods and landslides, get them back into their homes, and restore their way of life as quickly and as smoothly as possible,” Ige said. “We must all pull together — the Senate, House, counties and the administration — for the benefit of the people.”
Luke, who is one of the most powerful lawmakers in the state, was responding in the April 15 article to Ige’s criticism of a letter announcing a fundraiser for U.S. Rep Colleen Hanabusa. That letter was signed by Luke, House Speaker Scott Saiki, Senate President Ron Kouchi and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz.
Ige said that letter by the four most powerful lawmakers in the state sent a clear signal that anyone who wants action from the Legislature must donate to Hanabusa. All four lawmakers denied that allegation.
Luke replied in the April 15 article that Ige is desperate because he was trailing Hanabusa by 20 percentage points in a recent Star-Advertiser poll on the Democratic primary for governor, and also described Ige as a “crybaby,” and “kind of pathetic.”
