Illinois Senator says Hawai'i shaped his life

[urbanguy]

When Illinois state Sen. Barack Obama takes the stage as keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention tonight, he may receive an especially enthusiastic ovation from Hawai'i delegates.

The 1979 Punahou School graduate says he owes so much to Hawai'i.

"It's where my parents met, where I was born and where I was raised, but most importantly it's the place where I learned the ability to relate to a lot of different people," said Obama, 42. "That has carried over and has had an impact on my politics."

The Harvard-educated law professor is heavily favored in his bid to become the fifth African-American U.S. senator in history. He says he feels lucky to have been raised in Hawai'i, and says that upbringing formed the basis of his values.

"Hawai'i's spirit of tolerance might not have been perfect or complete, but it was