Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Neil Abercrombie's new weekly Olelo television program, "Hawaii Now," premieres on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 7:00 P.M. on Oahu's Olelo public access television channel 54.

Abercrombie's July program spotlights a recent reception he hosted at Fort Shafter in Honolulu to honor the First Congressional District’s 11 appointees to four of the nation’s U.S. military academies.
In the program, Abercrombie discusses how his office each year nominates selected high school students from the First Congressional District district to receive appointments to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He also talks with eight military academy appointees to find out how they won their appointments. This year, 11 of the First Congressional District’s nominees, who have received appointments to four of the academies, come from nine Oahu high schools and the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School.

The appointees also hear advice from Abercrombie and guest speakers who included Major General Edward A. Rice, Jr., Vice Commander, Pacific Air Forces and an Air Force Academy graduate, and U.S. Army Colonel (P) Robert B. Brown, J7 Director, Training & Exercises Directorate, United States Pacific Command, who graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served in Iraq.

Abercrombie has nominated military academy appointees every year as a Congressman, but this year’s appointments come as he sits as Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, which has direct responsibility for the Army and Air Force. In addition, he is the second most senior Democratic member on the Seapower Subcommittee, which is responsible for the Navy and Marine Corps.

"As a result, I'm acutely aware of what is required of today’s voluntary military service and have focused much of my subcommittee work to ensure that our forces are prepared and equipped to face the challenges in the world," said Abercrombie. "These young people have made an important choice in their lives, and I congratulate them and will continue to work in Congress to be sure that we provide the very best training, equipment and overall support for our service members of today and tomorrow, as they serve our nation around the world."

The appointees featured in the program are:

• Gian Mark Agni, U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Graduate of U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School.
• Marissa Fong, U.S. Air Force Academy. Graduate of Sacred Hearts Academy.
• Lauren Hu, U.S. Air Force Academy. Graduate of Punahou School.
• Patrick Janicke, U.S. Naval Academy. Graduate of Iolani School.
• David Park, U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Graduate of McKinley High School.
• Robert Thompson, U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Graduate of Saint Louis School.
• John Walker, U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Graduate of Mililani High School.
• David Otte, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Graduate of Mililani High School.

Abercrombie's future programs will focus on a different topic each month with each program being repeated weekly at the same day and time on Olelo channel 54.

"Finding more ways to communicate with the people of the First District is especially important because my duties as a subcommittee chairman and the expanded work schedules of House members this session have made it more difficult to return to Hawaii as much as I would like. These programs will help me to report back to—and to interact with—the people of the First District about my work in Washington, D.C. and Honolulu," said Abercrombie.

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