SEN. Daniel Inouye has drawn criticism from national groups as a wasteful spender for the amount of "pork" he brings home to Hawaii. But like it or not, Hawaii is heavily dependent on federal projects and Inouye is exceptionally good at securing the money. Hawaii’s aging
congressional delegationA network TV news crew is here this week doing a story that only half-facetiously describes Inouye as Hawaii's second leading industry, behind tourism. Many see Inouye's eventual retirement as the biggest single threat to Hawaii's economic health.
Inouye, 73, is running for another term this year and faces little opposition, but he is certainly nearing the end of his career. In fact, we'll likely have to replace all four members of Hawaii's all-Democratic congressional delegation in the next six to eight years -- if not sooner.
Hawaii's other senator, Daniel Akaka, is the same age as Inouye. Rep. Patsy Mink, the only Hawaii politician who comes close to Inouye in national stature, is 70. Rep. Neil Abercrombie is closing in on 60.
A look at who's coming up behind them is discouraging. There are plenty of wannabes, but no apparent candidates with the political skill, experience or stature to match the service Inouye has provided for nearly 40 years.
The wannabes see Abercrombie as the weakest link in the Hawaii delegation and are jockeying for his job.
City Councilman Mufi Hannemann badly wants to go to Washington. After failing in two earlier runs for Congress, he decided he needed to pay some political dues and ran for the Council, where both Mink and Abercrombie served before winning congressional seats.
After one term, Hannemann considers his dues paid and wants to move on. The question is whether his service on the Council has convinced voters that he has acquired the vision and talent to do the job in Washington.
If he makes the move, he may have company from fellow Council member Donna Mercado Kim, who also is looking to move up. She hasn't made a clear mark on the Council and is a big unknown to most voters in the House district.
Some speculate that Congress would be the next logical move for Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono. She was an impressive campaigner in the last election but has since disappeared from view, leaving us to wonder if she could forcefully represent Hawaii in Washington.
State Sen. Matt Matsunaga, who entered politics with an unsuccessful run for the congressional seat once held by his father, Spark Matsunaga, is presumably still interested.
You want to like Matsunaga for taking an unpopular stand on same-sex marriage, but must deduct points for the way he said he opposed same-sex marriage while pushing legislation that for all practical purposes would have sanctioned the unions. It was an impossible position to sell and he lost his shirt in negotiations with the House.
Former Gov. John Waihee was once considered a good bet as our next senator, but his star has dulled after revelations of foolish spending and loose ethics in his administration.
ON the Republican side, it's difficult to see either Quentin Kawananakoa or Gene Ward becoming a significant player in Washington.
Inouye's generation produced fine leaders who secured statehood and built a state. But they jealously guarded their own turf and failed to breed new leaders to follow them.
The current political scene is nearly barren of true leadership. It won't change until we stop electing people who enter politics as a career choice, not a calling.