The state Democratic Party, which has controlled isle politics for more than 40 years but which has come under increasing criticism, convenes its biennial convention today in search of its soul.
During the three-day parley in Waikiki, delegates will elect party officials, adopt a platform and debate resolutions ranging from increasing taxes to making the party more friendly to business.
But the discussions among the 1,000 delegates and 500 alternates will be framed by larger questions that go to the heart of the party's identity: What is its vision? Where is it headed?
Those questions are taking on a greater urgency, given Hawaii's stagnant economy, government cuts and demands for a smaller government.
"Our challenge is to provide an adequate social safety net - and to be able to afford it," said state Rep. Ed Case of Manoa, co-chairman of the convention's business and economic development committee.
Sen. Randy Iwase of Mililani, a convention delegate, said when isle Democrats came to power in the 1950s, the middle class was emerging and was also a key element of the party. But now it's shrinking.
"The middle class carried a load of Democratic programs, such as welfare," Iwase added. "I don't think that Democratic
constituency, the contracting middle class, believes any less in helping the needy. It's saying, 'Look, we've been carrying a lot of water. Now, in this tough economy, we've got to help our families.' I don't think that's turning your back on the poor."
But many social-service and church activists in the party believe that Gov. Ben Cayetano and a number of key lawmakers who are fellow Democrats have abandoned the needy.
As a result, these Democrats are pushing resolutions to impose higher state taxes on people earning more than $100,000 annually as a way of continuing programs that have been scaled back or eliminated. The rationale: In the 1980s, President Reagan, a Republican, reduced federal income tax rates for the wealthy by more than 50 percent.
Another resolution to help the needy proposes hiking the corporate income tax on firms with annual profits of more than $100,000 and taxing the pensions of retirees who earn more than $75,000 a year, a move which failed during this year's legislative session.
At the same time, there are also resolutions declaring that the Democratic Party is supportive of business, particularly small businesses.
"There's a practical realization that if we want these social programs to advance society, they have to be paid by business," said Case. "In the old days, business prospered no matter what government did. Today, if we don't take care of business, we cannot have social programs."
The soul-searching within the party is also reflecting factional divisions among Democrats, said party activists. Retired Army Col. Les Ihara, whose son is a state senator, is concerned that the liberal wing of the party, which controls the party apparatus, will approve a platform not in tune with the older and predominantly Japanese-American party element.
Ihara is seeking a rule change to have the platform approved by a two-thirds majority instead of a simple majority.
Ihara's wing of the party, aligned with unions, has historically focused its attention on jobs and pocketbook issues.
Democrats added that the contest for national committeewoman, a symbolic referendum on same-sex marriage, also mirrors the split between the liberal Rainbow Coalition and the party's traditional wing.
Incumbent Linda Rosehill opposes same-sex marriages. Rosehill, a longtime party loyalist, is criticized by party liberals for lobbying on behalf of big business interests such as Chevron and Amfac.
Yet other party regulars praise her for raising funds from business and labor.
Rosehill's challenger, state Civil Rights Commission Chairwoman Amy Agbayani, has testified in support of same-sex marriages.
"The question is who is best representative of the Hawaii Democratic Party," said Case.
"I want the party to be well perceived - not as part of the old boy network."