The Nifty Fifty House Party - Part XIII: Hawaii

Aloha! As we celebrate America's Birthday, we go now to the youngest -- and spottiest (in geographical terms) -- state in America...

HAWAII

Admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959, Hawaii comprises itself of an archipelago of islands including Kauai, O'ahu, Maui and the island of Hawai'i and many others. The state traces its history back to the Polynesians whose roots here date back to c. 300-500 A.D and is one of only four states that is majority-minority, boasting the largest percentage of Asian Americans of any state. Hawaii's economy has been led by tourism since becoming a state; its various industries have consisted over the years of pineapple, military installations, sugarcane, sandalwood and various other exotic specialities. Besides being a popular tourist attraction, Hawaii has also attracted fame with such films either set in or inspired by this state as South Pacific and Jurassic Park and police serials in the form of Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-O. Not to mention the hit drama LOST and musician Jack Johnson.

In its short history, the Democrats have dominated this state in the presidential race with the only aberrations from Democratic dominance coming in 1972 and 1984 (both landslide years for the GOP). This dominance can be traced to statehood when officeholders from the Republican Party (backed by plantation owners in this state) were replaced by Democrats for their spots, creating a longstanding dominance that was broken recently courtesy of the 2002 election (and 2006 re-election) of Governor Linda Lingle. This year, there is no doubt that Hawaii will go blue once again, as it is the birth state of presumed Democrat nominee Barack Obama, no Senate seat is up for grabs and the House slate is rather boring at this point.

NOTE: The primary is on September 20, 2008. Predictions could change based on various circumstances and filing has not closed yet until July 15, 2008.

District 1 (S-Factor 6.8 DEM): Okay, in a two-district situation your more urban district votes more Democratic and your more rural one more Republican. Hawaii has it backwards, with the Honolulu-centric district being the more Republican of the two. Longtime incumbent Neil Abercrombie has represented this district since 1990 and also for a short while in 1986 after Cecil Heftel resigned to run for Governor. His Republican opposition consists thus far of grad student Daniel Brackins and Honolulu City Councilman and attorney Charles Djou. Prediction: Solid DEM.

District 2 (S-Factor 9.5 DEM): Mazie Hirono came to Congress in 2006 as one of the first two Buddhists ever to grace the roster of Congress, albeit a non-practicing one. Her district covers the rest of Hawaii: Maui, Kauai, the Big Island and whatever parts of Oahu cannot fit into the 1st. So far, no elephants have shown up to face Hirono...yet. Prediction: Solid DEM.

Next stop: Pennsylvania.