WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka today announced the appointment of Aaron Johanson and Lisa Kitagawa as the Hawaii delegates to the 36th Annual United States Senate Youth Program in Washington, D.C., where they will participate in an intensive one-week study of the federal government and in particular, the United States Senate.

Aaron Johanson, a resident of Honolulu, is Student Association Vice President at Moanalua High School. In addition to his responsibilities as Vice President, Aaron also serves as Student Representative to the Hawaii State PTA. He is President of the National Honor Society and Representative to the Central District Student Council. He is a member of his church youth group, a blood drive volunteer and the Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar to Japan. He is a State Oxford Debate Champion and a Congressional Art State Quarter-finalist. Aaron plans to major in Political Science or Pre-Law, enter politics and become the United States Ambassador to Japan.

Lisa Kitagawa, a resident of Kaneohe, attends James B. Castle High School where she is Windward District Representative and Secretary of the Hawaii State Student Council. Lisa also serves as President of the Debate and Speech Club. She is Sergeant at Arms for the National Honor Society and the Saxophone Section Leader. Lisa volunteers at the Kaneohe Community Family Center and is a Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference Scholar. Lisa's hobbies include piano and hula dancing. She plans a major in Political Science and a career in Family Law, and as State Legislator and Congresswoman.

Chosen as alternates to the 1998 program were Pedro Haro-Arvizu, a resident of Lahaina, who attends Lahainaluna High School and Jennifer Kajiyama, who resides in Laie and attends Kahuku High School.

"Senator Akaka and I are pleased that these two outstanding students will be participating in this program. We are confident that Aaron and Lisa will represent Hawaii well. We hope that this experience will enable them to better understand the federal government and the political process," stated Senator Inouye.

The United States Senate Youth Program is made possible by a grant from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. In addition to the one week all expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., each of the 104 student delegates in the program will receive a $2,000 college scholarship to be used at the college or university of their choice. The United States Senate Youth Program will take place from February 28 - March 7, 1998.