Governor John A. Burns is often called the "Father of the State of Hawai'i", having overseen its modern development and setting precedents still honored today. He is credited for building the Hawai'i Democratic Party into an effective political machine that has ruled the islands for over forty years with little elected opposition.

The Democratic Party of Hawaii 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. This work is copyrighted. ... This work is copyrighted. ... The Democratic Party is one of the two major United States political parties. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... Location in Hawaii Founded  -Incorporated   County City & County of Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann Area  - Total  - Water   Population  - City (2000)  - Density  - Metropolitan 371,657 1,674. ... Hawaii County is a county located in the state of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. ... Kauai County is a county located in the state of Hawai‘i. ... Maui County is a county located in the state of Hawaii. ... Location in the state of Hawaii Formed Seat Honolulu Area  - Total  - Water 5,509 km² (2,127 mi²) 3,955 km² (1,527 mi²) 71. ... Hawaii Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano speaks before a special session of the legislature on January 24, 2000. ... 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Early Years

The Democratic Party of Hawai'i 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. 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 Hawai'i. On August 12, 1898, the flag of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i over ‘Iolani Palace was lowered to raise the United States flag to signify annexation. ... Oligarchy is a form of government where most political power effectively rests with a small segment of society (typically the most powerful, whether by wealth, military strength, ruthlessness, or political influence). ... Species Saccharum arundinaceum Saccharum bengalense Saccharum edule Saccharum officinarum Saccharum procerum Saccharum ravennae Saccharum robustum Saccharum sinense Saccharum spontaneum Sugarcane or Sugar cane (Saccharum) is a genus of between 6-37 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation) of tall grasses (family Poaceae, tribe Andropogoneae), native to warm temperate to tropical regions... Territorial Hawai‘i was ruled by a corporate oligarchy of the Big Five sugar corporations. ... Map of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of islands that stretches 2,400 km in a northwesterly direction from the southern tip of the Island of Hawai‘i. ... In 1998, Linda Lingle was appointed party chairwoman. ... 1932 is a leap year starting on a Friday. ... The Massie Affair was a famous murder trial that took place in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1932, which resulted in Grace Hubbard Fortescue (mother of Thalia Fortescue Massie), charged with manslaughter in the death of Joseph Kahahawai, literally getting away with murder due to racism and fear of mob violence. ... Police Chief Lee Donohue on the left honors Police Chaplain Andrew Kikuta during a June 28, 2000 ceremony at police headquarters. ... John A. Burns is often called the Father of the State of Hawaii having overseen its modern development and setting precedents honored today. ... Serving from 1999 to 2003, Army General Eric Shinseki of Hawaii became the first Asian American military chief of staff. ... In 1998, Benjamin J. Cayetano became the first Filipino American (and second Asian American after Governor George R. Ariyoshi) to be elected state Governor of the United States. ...

External link

• Democratic Party of Hawai'i