Hawaii Tribune-Herald from Hilo, Hawaii • 26

Tribune-Herald, Thursday, October 31, 1996 Immigrant in search of the American dreainrW Lp An estimated 1 million immi- his version of the dream. It's a ver- planned for 1997. And while the fests that pass for public service "I told my kids, 'This jH By Dave Berna his version of the dream. It's a ver- planned for 1997. And while the fests that pass for public service Droerammine, Lee and his family sion that is expected to lead to the immigration debate continues t-M Vegaa Review-Journal grants move to.

the United States annually, according to the' Immi- time. This is parents' tune," say. "Now, you more work." We-play some golf." continue to work and grow and sometimes play. opening of a fourth liquor store lat- along the marble halls of the U.S. er this year and a fifth that's Capitol and on the Sunday shout- eration and Naturalization Service, A LO L'-'J Li uiV I A have worked with Mayor Steve Yamashiro on many community projects.

He really cares about ALL the people of this island. He understands community needs and the economics. He's honest and knowledgeable. We trust him. Problem is, he doesn't care who gets credit so some don't realize how much Mayor Yamashiro has accomplished.

He has our IZe-Stect Gtoriann Akau 4i STEVE Waimea LAS VEGAS, Nev. Two noun of sleep. That's all he could afford. Some nights, he slept in for an extra 20 minutes, but Hae Un Lee didn't have time to reach any state of REM. The South Korean emigrant would get home from his overnight shift as a hotel bellman and collapse on his living room couch.

Three hours later, he was opening his Las Vegas liquor store for a 12-hour shift. Work. A little bit of shut-eye. Work. If Lee had little time to dream it was because he was living his dream, his version of the American dream.

"I love America. I love Americans. This is good opportunity for me, for my family," Lee says, through a thick KoreanEnglish accent Fifteen years later, Hae Un Lee owns Lee's Discount Liquors, a three-store Las Vegas operation that employs 30 people and will earn an estimated $14 million this year. To the 54-year-old Lee, the fatherlof three and grandfather of the "American dream" is something more than a cliche. It's a real-world concept, one of freedom and wealth and opportunity.

"I feel the United States is the best country in the world," he says, sitting in his office. It's where the growth is, the opportunity is." Yet, to many, the American dream is a tired cliche. It still may conjure nostalgic feelings of money and shelter. It still may provide, a sense of hope and optimism. But like so much of Americana that has gone the way of front-porch rockers and uniformed milkmen, the American dream has become an anachronism to many people.

In this era of "America first!" and anti-immigration sentiment, many Americans seem to have little, if any sense, of what constitutes the dream. Maybe they've never thought about the concept; maybe they've never had to. and nearly 33 percent of those immigrants arrive illegally. Overall there are 5 12 million illegals in the United States. What are they chasing? A chance for work? Education for their young? The opportunity that drew Lee and his family from Seoul? The National Immigration Forum is one of a multitude of groups lobbying for immigration reform.

The Washington, D.C.-based organization is generally considered to be politically left of center on such issues as immigration and asylum policy, race and ethnic relations, public education and population control. But ask a Forum spokeswoman to define the American Dream, the concept that apparently draws millions of Hae Un Lees to the United States and you receive awkward laughter. "I really don't want to be quoted on this. I don't want to be fired," the spokeswoman says. "We don't have a policy on this." Conversely, Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a group generally considered to be politically right of center, has a ready explanation of the dream.

"It's essentially what people are talking about everywhere: the middle-class lifestyle, economic security, prospects of advancement," Krikorian says. "That's also, quite frankly, the Pakistani dream, the Rwandan dream. The question is does immigration policy prevent millions of Americans from achieving their dream?" In other words, he says, too many successful Hae Un Lees could prevent millions of Americans from getting their take of the pie. Lee knows little about tougher immigration policy or nativist sentiment, but he does know that hard work he works seven days a week and a commitment to a singular goal has helped him reach Paid lor by the Committee to Elect Steve Yamashiro. 160 Kamehameha Hilo.

HI 96720. Co-Chairpersons: Larry Manligurs, Tina Whrtmarsh. Ken Sowden Sunset Shopping Plaza. Suite C-1 02, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Co-Chairperson: King Kitaoka MAYO 71 UHPA RECOMMENDS The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly suggests to its membership that favorable consideration be given to the following candidates in Tuesdays General Election.

All have proven themselves to be advocates of education in Hawaii and worthy of our support. to OP American Heart Association. Fighting Heart Disease and Stroke TOP Reduce your risk factors University of Hawaii Professional Assembly OFFICIAL UHPA GENERAL ELECTION CARD This card may be taken into the election booth. REPRESENTATIVE HKKY I HAN duced and pushed for the passage of legislation and funding to create the Hilo Family Practice Residen cy Clinic. It currently serves over '600 patients who would otherwise be without a local physician.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 2 South Hilo-Puna MATSUURA, Richard 3 Puna-Ka'u-Kona LEVIN, Andrew 5aS0kU tANAKAJos STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 1 North Hamakua, North Kohala TAKAMINE, Dwlflht A 2 South Hilo CHANQ, Jerry 3 South Hilo-Puna HAMAKAWA, Eric A 4 Ka'u-Puna HERKES, Robert A 5 Kona-Ka'u COHN, Elaine 6 South Kohala-North Kona TARNAS, David A 7 West Maui, MAUI, LANAI, M0L0KAI WHITE, Michael A 8 Maalaea-Waiehu-Napili SOUKI, Joieph A 9 Kahului-Wailuku NAKASONE, Bob A 10 Puunene-Paia-Makawao-Qlinda MORIHARA, David 11 South Maui-Keokea HALFORD, Chrlt A 12 East Maui-North Kauai MORITA, Hermina 13 Waipouli-Lihue KANOHO.Ezraj A Jl4 Koloa-Waimea, KAUAI, NIIHAU KAWAKAMI, Bertha Bj BOARD OF EDUCATION 1 I Big Island FOX, Robert A Former U.S. Army Special Forces Medic Surgeon's Asst. at North Carolina Memorial Hospital Hilo Medical Center Foundation Hilo Family Practice Residency Clinic, Inc. Hilo Residency Training Program, Inc. Hilo Hospital Home Health Care Big Island Substance Abuse Council Steadfast Housing (for mentally ill adults) Hawaii County Equal Opportunity Council Center for a Sustainable Future fXJ Green Beret Medic 1970 ES TAT I 2ND DISTRICT HILO University of Hawaii Professional Assembly REPRESENTING 3400 U.H.

FACULTY MEMBERS ON ALL CAMPUSES. This announcement was paid for by the UHPA Legislative Committee, Prof. Alex Malahoff, Chairman, 1017 Palm Drive, Honolulu, HI 96814, and was neither authorized nor paid for by any political candidate or candidate committee. Frtandi of Jany Chang 2UO Ulnnnm tmt HH M7 Canpavi ibrapr OMMn MUttimo.TiMuiOT Mtfumqa.