The Hawai'i Democratic Party, is an arm of the Democratic Party of the United States in Washington, DC. Based in Honolulu, Hawai'i, 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 Hawai'i, Kaua'i, Mau'i and the City & County of Honolulu. The Hawai'i Democratic Party ruled Hawai'i for over forty years, maintaining a stronghold of power with little elected opposition in the governorship and the Hawai'i State Legislature from 1962 to 2002.

Early Years

The Hawai'i Democratic Party was first organized during the early years of the Territory of Hawai'i. 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, Theo H. Davies & Co. worked blatantly in favor of the Hawai'i 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. 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 Hawai'i.

Resources

• Hawai'i Democratic Party