Politics in Hawaii and a Senate race to watch--part one

From Kingdom to State--it still matters


In 1893, the Hawaiian monarchy was toppled. Backed by a borrowed contingent of U.S. marines--a coalition of businessmen pulled off a bloodless coup. In 1898, after delays and obstacles, the revolutionaries attained their ultimate goal, annexation into the U.S.


If the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani and what followed was legitimate political evolution, then full statehood (in 1959) was a happy outcome. Dissenters argue otherwise, citing illegal acts of aggression, rendered invalid by proper application of U.S. and international law. Proponents of this view make up different factions in Hawaii's Sovereignty Movement.

Some, who feel there is no going around the fact of U.S. dominion, still want some new political structure granting distinct status to native Hawaiians. Perhaps a "nation within a nation" model, similar to what many Indian tribes already have, or something else.

What is pono (correct)? Singling Hawaiians and part-Hawaiians out for special status is a political mine-field. The Kingdom of Hawaii did not base citizenship upon race. The legal climate in the U.S. today generally forbids making distinctions based upon race. As for restoration of Hawaiian Independence, there is no procedure by which states may exit the Union. Lastly, still other native Hawaiians are proud Americans, who aren't about to give that up. The whole topic is highly contentious.

Thankfully, this unresolved dilemma has stayed at the level of shouting and demonstrations. With innumerable common interests, and generations of inter-marriage, Hawaii's people simply cannot be divided into tidy racial, or political, boxes. No ethnic group here has a majority. While race can lend a sub-text to a lot of things, politicians must at least appear to represent all voters.

Party rule and the winds of change

From Annexation through the 1950's, Republicans ruled Hawaii. Period. And racism was part of that picture. Change came after WW II. Even in the face of overt discrimination, Americans of Japanese Ancestry (AJAs) had volunteered in large numbers and served with great distinction. The GI bill gave returning Vets greater access to higher education. A new professional-class emerged, hungry for opportunity and reform. Unions gained strength, fostering block voting in support of Hawaii's Democratic Party.

With grass-root organization, by the 1960's Hawaii Democrats went on to win most races, becoming the party in power, for the next 40 years.

These Democrats were unabashed liberals--idealists who wanted to re-make Hawaii into a better place for the working-class. They introduced measures like mandatory employer-sponsored health insurance. Hawaii was first state to legalize abortion after Roe v. Wade. The pro-labor 50th State, with its anti-business reputation, was a conservative's nightmare.

As decades passed, dissent grew. Had Hawaii suffered by becoming a one-party state? Was government too firmly beholden to powerful union interests? Real or imagined, charges of cronyism and corruption became commonplace. Critics, even within the party, complained that the Democrats had lost their zeal for social reform, concentrating instead on retaining power.

When the Democrat's lock on top office was eventually cracked in 2002, the new governor represented the impossible: A Republican. A woman. A neighbor islander. A mainland Haole--Jewish, even! (Something of a rarity in Hawaii.)

Former Maui Mayor Linda Lingle did not win because Hawaii had gone Republican--though the number of Republican voters in Hawaii continues to grow. She ran on clean government, improving public education and creating a more business-friendly environment.

Although the idea of her "doing for Hawaii what I did for Maui" terrified environmentalists and anti-development factions, Maui had been the State's only success story in a period of economic gloom. Seeing their best chance to upset the pineapple cart ever, Lingle received sizable campaign contributions from mainland and national GOP interests, a significant issue for those who feared undue "outside" influence.

After a razor-thin loss in her first run for Governor, Lingle ran again and won, partially due to minimizing her party affiliation. She got the sizable "enough, already" vote.

Since taking office, Lingle has been hobbled. The State Legislature is still controlled by Democrats--why should they make the enemy look good? Even so, Democrats in Hawaii are seemingly in disarray. The party--which once could not lose--has not found a strong opponent to challenge Lingle in this fall's gubernatorial election.

Yes, the islands are in political transition, which brings me to part two: Hawaii's most interesting Senate primary ever.