DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF HAWAII

The 'Democratic Party of Hawaii' is an arm of the Democratic Party of the United States in Washington, DC. Based in Honolulu, Hawaii, the party is a central organization established for the promotion of the party platform as it is drafted in convention every other year. It is also charged with registering voters and delivering voter turnout through four major county organizations for Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and the City & County of Honolulu. The Hawaii Democratic Party ruled Hawaii for over forty years, maintaining a stronghold of power with little elected opposition in the governorship and the Hawaii State Legislature from 1962 to 2002.

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Early years

See also

External link

Early years

The Democratic Party of Hawaii was first organized during the early years of the Territory of Hawaii. At that time, an oligarchy of powerful sugar corporations called the Big Five effectively controlled government in the Hawaiian Islands. The oligarchy of Castle & Cooke, Alexander & Baldwin, C. Brewer & Co., Amfac, and Theo H. Davies & Co. worked blatantly in favor of the Hawaii Republican Party, crediting it for the successful overthrow of the monarchy and delivery of annexation which in turn drove sugar profits into the hundreds of millions of dollars. The 1932 Massie-Kahahawai Case was also a seminal event that fortified the political will of Territorial citizens against the administration of a Republican governor, who commuted the sentence of socialite Grace Fortescue, convicted of manslaughter in the death of Joseph Kahahawai to one-hour of exchanging pleasantries in his executive chambers. Honolulu Police Department officer John A. Burns began organizing the plantation laborers, especially the Japanese Americans and Filipino Americans he came to know while on his police beats. He believed that grassroots organizing and the power of elections could overturn the corruption and unfairness of the Republicans in power. The party got its biggest boost when Burns successfully influenced Japanese American veterans who fought in World War II to get involved. Burns' efforts culminated in his election to the governorship after attaining statehood, heralding a forty year era of Democratic rule in Hawaii.

See also

★ List of state Democratic Parties in the U.S.

★ Hawaii Republican Party

External link

★ Democratic Party of Hawaii

★ HONOLULU Magazine - 9 Ways to Save the Democratic Party ~ October 2006