Inouye was going to leave office only one way, and that was feet first. Some of these guys were never going to retire voluntarily, and that included him, Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd. As I predicted, they all left feet first.
Lingle was going to have a tough time regardless. Had she run in 2010, she probably still would've lost. Although I don't know offhand, her approvals must've been poor when she left the Governorship, as she engendered no good will for the party and Aiona got the worst drubbing for a GOP candidate for Governor in a one-on-one race since statehood, I believe (and as a first tier candidate, even more disastrous... and all that in a good GOP year). Aiona's loss was so bad in 2010, I was wary about him running again, but it looks like 2014 may be the state's apology to him for not having elected him over Abercrombie.
"Pat Saiki is only 84, spring chicken for a Hawaiian Senator."
I believe she is, at present, the state GOP Chair. Speaking of spring chickens, had we known how long Hiram Fong was going to live, he should've been kept in his Senate seat well past his retirement in 1977 (when he was just in his late 60s). He likely could've kept serving until 1995.
"What about Prince What’shisname, the guy who was supposed to run for Congress but didn’t?"
Quentin Kawananakoa. He was the supposed magic candidate for the GOP, but apparently when he left the legislature and tried to make a comeback, couldn't get his old seat (after he failed to get the nomination for Congress in 2006). Despite that, I'd try to get him to run over Cavasso.
I can't speak much to the paltry farm team of legislative Republicans. There's just the 1 State Senator who's been there since 1996, Sam Slom, but he'd probably rather keep his seat (and the de facto leadership title, for whatever it's worth).
Fred Hemmings lost by a slightly larger margin in 1990, than did Aiona in 2010.
“Speaking of spring chickens, had we known how long Hiram Fong was going to live, he should’ve been kept in his Senate seat well past his retirement in 1977 (when he was just in his late 60s). He likely could’ve kept serving until 1995.”
And then the rats would have gained a Senate seat in the 94 election, lol. He could have stayed till he died and then Lingle would have appointed the successor.
I think Beth Fukumoto is the one to watch in the State Leg, but she’s just starting her career, she’s 31, which practically makes her a fetus.
Quentin Kawananakoa, what happened, all I can find is that he dropped out of the 1996 congressional race after being hospitalized with “hypertension” (larger issue perhaps? Depression? Booze?). Too bad, given that Orson Swindle almost beat Ambercrombie that year, I bet Kawananakoa would have.