Ho'omalimali and the Succession Model of Political Inheritance in Hawai'i: A Study of the Electoral Dominance of Americans of Japanese Ancestry in State and Congressional Politics

This thesis seeks to discover the underlying causes and factors for the unique political situation in Hawai'i where a minority demographic has been historically dominant. In researching historical and political contexts, as well as institutional and electoral factors, analysis of all these findings has shown a constructed “succession model” behind the dominance of Americans of Japanese Ancestry (AJA) through the Democratic Party. The thesis also examines the implications of the disrupted and further divisive political climate of the Hawai'i Democratic Party since the death of universally respected and revered Senator Daniel Inouye (1924-2012). Senator Inouye’s death brought to an end a political career that spanned nearly six decades, and commenced a new era for Hawai'i political leadership. Quite possibly, this new era has also fractured the succession model. In a 75% minority state, throughout the past 65 years, Americans of Japanese ancestry have managed to gain a stranglehold over the Hawai'i Democratic Party, and therefore the Hawai’i state government itself. By leveraging influence amongst the Asian-American voting bloc, and in spite of only existing as 12.6% of the total population of the Islands, a system of entrenched incumbents with well-connected, but not blood-related, successors has formed the foundation for the AJA dominance in Hawai'i state politics. Through copious coalition-building among the state’s numerous ethnic groups, and the establishment of hierarchy and a succession lineage within the Democratic Party of Hawai'i, Americans of Japanese ancestry in the era since statehood have been politically successful in Hawaiian governmental and legislative bodies. However, the death of Senator Inouye in 2012 demarcated a new political era, and due to the lack of a respected political hierarchy and a discernible succession model with an established leader, the Democratic Party of Hawai'i has faced in-fighting and internal disunity with the subsequent election cycles. This thesis analyzes the institutions, methods, and means by which Americans of Japanese ancestry have become successful in demographic domination in Hawaiian politics, and how these factors have changed in the void left by of Sen. Inouye’s passing. The thesis concludes that while AJA dominance will continue through the Democratic Party, the succession model may no longer be the key to predicting election results. Currently, the sitting governor, David Ige, faces a strong challenger, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, in the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary to be held on August 11, 2018. For the first time, two strong AJA candidates will face off in a Hawai'i Democratic Party race, and without a clear predictable outcome. This primary race pits the recognition power of incumbency against the emotional power of a scorned intended successor. Prior to 2012, the incumbent in the “succession model” would be the unquestionable frontrunner. However, with the absence of a Democratic AJA kingmaker and the disintegration of a previously well-defined line of succession for top elected positions, Hawai'i has entered a new era of redefining political inheritance.