Stuart Ho, a prominent Hawai'i business leader and former politician, will be the next Hawai'i resident to share his perspectives on statehood as part of the 50 Voices of Statehood television and radio series.

During the past five decades of statehood, Ho has been influential in Hawai'i's business, government and community sectors. He served in the state House of Representatives in the late 1960s; took over the reigns of Capital Investment of Hawai'i, the company founded by his father Chinn Ho, who in 1961 developed the 'Ilikai Hotel, Hawai'i's first luxury high rise resort, and the Makaha Resort, the first resort destination on O'ahu's Leeward coast; served as a University of Hawai'i regent; ran the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific; and today is the president of AARP Hawai'i. He has also served on numerous business and nonprofit boards, including Aloha Airlines, Bank of Hawai'i, Gannett Co., and the Aloha Festivals. Stuart Ho's 50 Voices of Statehood vignette will air this week.

The 50 Voices of Statehood vignettes, which are being recorded by the award-winning Searider Productions of Wai'anae High School, feature personal perspectives on statehood and Hawai'i's history from 50 residents representing the state's diverse ethnic, cultural, religious, political, social and economic backgrounds. Each week over the next year, a different vignette will air on six television stations and 60 radio stations statewide. An interactive online forum (www.seariderproductions.com/50voices) will allow teachers and students to incorporate the vignettes into their classroom discussions.

The 50th Anniversary of Statehood Commission has planned a comprehensive yearlong series of events and activities, with a special focus on education, to honor the 50th anniversary of Hawai'i's admission to the Union. The 50 Voices of Statehood series, as well as information on the commission, its members and the commemorative plans may be found at www.hawaii.gov/statehood.