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.
“...she’s 31, which practically makes her a fetus.”
LOL!
Perhaps I should’ve said Aiona had the widest loss in an open election. Hemmings would’ve been running against Gov. John Waihee in his second term in 1990 (I don’t have my references in front of me, namely the OurCampaigns numbers).
Had Fong retired in 1994, the GOP might’ve been prepared to run a serious candidate for the open seat (Saiki would’ve won the Governorship that year had another Republican not run Independent).
I wasn’t clear what happened with QK and any potential health problems. I believe his last run for office was in the aforementioned legislative race in 2008.