HONOLULU -- Gubernatorial candidate Duke Aiona has spent his almost eight years as lieutenant governor urging good health practices including getting vaccinations.

At a state news conference last month, Aiona stressed the dangers of the flu.

"It stops us from working. Stops our children from attending school and in general it puts a hole on the household in general so we want to have every tool in every household to address this," said Aiona, a Republican.

Aiona at the August news conference to promote a school flu shot program urged getting the flu vaccination. He made it seem like he had been vaccinated himself.

"We have it in the form of a shot and the form of a nasal mist. Those of you who are like me and are sissies, and don't like shots, we have it in nasal form," said Aiona.

But Aiona has ignored his own advice

"I have never really been vaccinated in the past and I guess I am a creature of habit and I seem to take care of myself fairly well, exercising and dieting and I do brag about that," said Aiona on Tuesday.

Aiona said he is neutral about the information about flu shots.

"I have read the literature on it, I have read the science on it and I say it has some merit to it and I am not convinced that vaccines are more beneficial that harmful. But I don't think in any way my personal views hamper our efforts to get people to get vaccinated. I encourage people to get vaccinated," said Aiona.

The state's flu specialist said Wednesday everyone should get flu shots even if they are perfectly healthy.

"I think a lot of people don't realize how serious flu can be so whether you are healthy or not when you do get infected you will become sick and it can be quite serious and when you become sick you could potentially pass it on to other folks," said Dr. Sarah Park, director of the state's Disease Outbreak Control Division.

Aiona said his own flu shot avoidance is not detrimental to the state's effort to urge everyone to get vaccinated.

"No, I don't think it sends the wrong message, it is just a personal choice," said Aiona.

Aiona's Democratic opponent in the Hawaii governor's race, Neil Abercrombie said Wednesday he gets flu shots annually and supports public health efforts to help prevent the spread of the flu.

Republican Gov. Linda Lingle's office said she gets her flu shots every year.