What does Chinese Astrology say about someone born in the Year of the Horse? Once you have identified a goal you channel all your energies into achieving it, but do not be over-confident or assume that everyone else agrees with your methods. You are active and alert, and prefer the unusual to the unpredictable. If you decide to choose a new skill to further your career, persevere until you have perfected it and try to resolve any problems rather than simply avoiding them. You are hard working, cheerful and independent, although you do not mind working as part of a team as long as your efforts are recognized. Many people born in the Year of the Horse have a healthy constitution and are suited to mentally or physically demanding work. You have potential to be an inspiring leader but try to hold back when situations irritate you, since a hasty word could land you in trouble. You are suited to a job in politics, sport or the construction industry. You would also make a good geographer, explorer, actor, artist, and advertising or sales executive

Hawaii411.com's Five-Oh Questions (the icebreakers)

Q: Who is your local hero/mentor? A:  I would say my grandfather on my mother's side... He raised me to a large degree, taught me basic rights and wrongs... principals Q: If he were here today, where would you take him to eat? A: John Dominis for sure! Q: What is your favorite place to be in Hawaii? A: At home Q: Rice or Poi? A: Rice Q: What does the D.G. stand for? A: Damn Good!

More on the Interview...

Hawaii411:How do you improve Hawaii's economy?
Andy: Hawaii's Future is tied with the Far East.  We should become an international state... with tourism, we keep, we enhance, we support, but we diversify, and economic diversification I believe is with the Far East... 

By (such things as) attracting High-tech laborers to Hawaii (with private companies building on the West Oahu Campus, hiring and paying the laborers, and working in conjunction with the University).  They are not a burden on social programs.  Their disposable income is very good... they themselves become major contributors to our economy.

Hawaii411: What do you think is the current problem with Education and what is the Solution?
Andy: The number one problem is management.  You can't have three bosses (the Board of Education, the Legislature, and the Governor).  The Board of Education needs to be appointed... we've got to hold someone responsible and accountable, and that should be the Governor, unless you give the Elected school board taxing power.

You have to make sure that a school system from elementary school to high school is one mentality (curriculum and system).

Did you know that Andy Anderson at one point in his life owned the largest camera shop in Hawaii (Waterhouse Photo), the largest hi-fi store (Gems) the largest record store, and has been just as successful in the restaurant business (John Dominis and Michelle's)?  Did you know that Andy Anderson never got to finish high school? Andy Anderson has been involved in Hawaii Politics for over 30 years as the Honolulu City Manager, a State Senator and a State Legislator...  Andy Anderson last ran for Governor in 1986 and 15 years later wants you to vote for him again.   Hawaii411 had breakfast with Andy Anderson to find out why he wants to be our next Governor.  We asked Andy the questions Hawaii411 readers asked on our message boards.  The following are some of the things you wanted to know:

Hawaii411:  Tell us about your schooling.
Andy: I dropped out of high school six months early and went to work.  I made the mistake of hanging around a group of friends who were older than I was so when they left high school the year before.... I couldn't get focused, and I got restless and dropped out early, I never did finish.

Hawaii411:  What do you think got you on the road to success?
Andy:  Just hard work, my grandfather's upbringing. I went to work for Kodak Hawaii as a delivery boy, then I worked my way up to assistant sale manager for nine years, and then got bored again.  Kodak Hawaii had a ceiling for locals.  All the top executives came out of Rochester... So I borrowed $15,000, bought Waterhouse photo, and started my business career.

I've had the largest camera shop in Hawaii, the largest hi-fi store with Gems stores, and the largest record store here and in Phoenix Arizona; I had a toy company, a ranching supply store in Kona.  Then I went into the restaurant business, knowing nothing about it.

Hawaii411: Obviously, you have learned a little something about running restaurants… You own two of the bigger ones in town!
Andy: I happen to come from the school believing that if you apply logic to any business it works. I kind of used that for that point for all kinds of businesses and it seems to have worked.

Hawaii411:  You've basically been out of the 'visible' Hawaii political scene since you last ran for Governor in 1986.  In a nutshell, what have you been doing from then till now?
Andy:  I was out as an individual, but I was very active in Pat Saiki's campaign.  I was still a senior advisor to Frank Fasi in that interim.  I've always had my fingers in the political scene even though I was out directly, as an advisor, consultant... I've never given it up totally.

Hawaii411: At your age (71) most people are retired or retiring.  Why are you running now, at this point in your life?
Andy:  That's a good question. I thought I was going to retire from politics, I don't think I'll ever retire from business, I hope I die working.  I don't want to retire ever from participating in life and working.

I don't think I've ever seen my state in such turmoil and disarray.  Like any other parent and grandparent, I'm concerned with my kids coming home.  I'd like to be assured that there is a place for them in Hawaii - opportunities, jobs, security, to be able to buy a house, and I don't see that.

As I look at the candidates running, as much as I respect them... I view them as, not in the derogatory way, but they are professional politicians, all they know is government, and government mentality, and government thinking.   I don't think that's enough for Hawaii for tomorrow.  I don't think that's enough background and knowledge and street smarts for turning this state around economically and diversifying the economy for which we have to do.

I don't have obligations.  Fortunately financially I'm okay... so I don't need the job, but I want to do it.  I've got the knowledge, I've got the experience, I've got the qualifications, I've got the desire, and I'd like to contribute and that's why I'm involved.

Hawaii411.com:  You last ran as a Republican, why Democrat this time?
Andy: I spent most of my life as a Republican.  I believe in the two party system...  Well number one, I have been an independent for seven years because I resigned from the Republican Party seven or eight years ago, but prior to that the Republican party (for the last 10 years) has been taken over to a large degree by Christian pro-life mentality.  There are large blocks of this pro-life, one-issue mentality... and I spent so many hours and so many years of my life always keeping peace between these factions that I was getting tired.

In the Pat Saiki campaign, I guess it all came home because we lost thousands of votes... from card carrying Republicans with this Pro-life mentality who went for Frank Fasi because he was campaigning on Pro-life.  After that defeat for Pat, I just decided that I was not going to keep peace in this warring party.

I weighed the options and I believed in the Democratic Party.  Their agenda is broader, the issues are greater, the types of candidates that represent Hawaii basically are there, and so I see that team and that agenda a better form to institute the changes I think are needed.

Hawaii411: What is the greatest asset that you bring to the table?
Andy: Maturity, street smarts, experiences, having lived life.   Candidates can talk about political experience - I equal them without question.  Candidates can talk education - I'm the only candidate with children.  I've been through educating children... I've been a PTA President.  I've raised a family...

They want to talk about small business - they are all professional politicians, I am a small businessman, have been for 40 years... I’ve lived small business everyday.

They want to talk about senior citizens - I think I can relate to the problems of the senior citizens a lot better.  To sum it all up, I've lived life longer, and have got more experience, and I think I can relate to and address the people with more experience.

Hawaii411: What do you think is the greatest challenge to out next Governor? 
Andy: I think the first thing the Governor has to do is to get the respect of his people, and that has deteriorated... and the respect of the legislature.  You have to return believability that once you give your word, you are going to keep it.

Then I think we have to bring our people back together as one again...A Governor, no matter how successful, once elected can not by himself or herself, turn this state around.  It's going to take the joint cooperation of the community. 

Hawaii411: What do you think of Road Racing in Hawaii, is it a problem?
Andy: I have read about the problem... as a youngster I used to race sports cars.   I had a suped up MG-supercharged.  We would go out to Bellows or Wheeler every Sunday, and let it go.  There are places for that, and we gotta direct this energy to the proper tracks and to get off the streets, making sure that there are tracks to accommodate this. I think the police are locking down adequately, but it's not going to stop unless we give them (racers) a place to burn it up.

Hawaii411: You've had a standout career in Hawaii Business and Politics.  How would you like to be remembered?  What will your legacy be?
Andy: I think I've made my contributions, and I've tried.  It's better to have tried and failed then to never have tried at all, I think that I've always generated dialogue, ...always challenged the status quo... made people think of the alternatives. I go into this campaign with the same mentality.  Even if I should lose, I will have raised the level of dialogue and issues to a level never before have we discussed.  I think that's a contribution.

411 Conclusion:  Andy Anderson was very generous with his time and gracious to grant us a prompt interview.  He came across as very charismatic, and shows a genuine interest in Hawaii's future.  Andy covered a broader array of topics than we could cover here today (stay tuned for a transcript of the entire interview).  We felt that he made many valid points and had many ideas that were "outside of the box", or unconvential for political thinking. He's a businessman, and makes it clear to us that he is not a 'professional politician'.  Andy Anderson will raise your level of thinking to take care of Hawaii's needs... It's innovative thinking like his that will help change the current status quo of Hawaii's economy. We want to give Gubernatorial candidate Andy Anderson a big Hawaii411.com "Mahalo."  Hawaii411.com would like to wish Andy the best of luck in his run for Governor of Hawaii.