Heading into the 2010 elections, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann is just where he wants to be: in control of his political destiny, and in some ways driving the fate of many of Hawaii's top political leaders.

Hannemann is one of several leaders eyeing 2010 as a year of major change in Hawaii.

Gov. Linda Lingle, 55, will leave the governorship. Hannemann, Rep. Neil Abercrombie, 70, and state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, 57, are interested in running, although neither of Hannemann's rivals will talk on the record about the race.

Hannemann, 54, won his re-election with 172,798 votes, which he points out was 17,500 more votes than what Lingle garnered on Oahu in her 2006 landslide victory.

Asked about his political future, Hannemann says in two years he can stay or go.

“;It is clear I am in a good position to either pivot to Washington, D.C. , or stay home and try for Washington Place,”; Hannemann said.

Those options were already sounded on election night by Sen. Dan Inouye.

“;Here's a success story. Born in Samoa, mayor of Honolulu, and this is just the beginning. He may go to Washington, he may go to Washington Place,”; Inouye said.

Inouye, 84, who takes over the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee in January, says he will run for re-election in 2010. There has been speculation that Lingle would run for the Senate then, but Hawaii's first GOP governor in 40 years declines to speculate about her political future.

Hannemann, however, with his strong win this year, acknowledges that people are naturally going to speculate on his future.

“;It is clear that when the governor's race opens up and if I want to go, I would be very formidable. I still have money in the bank. ... I think we are in good shape on Oahu and I have a strong neighbor island base,”; Hannemann said in an interview last week.

Abercrombie has long been rumored to be mounting a 2010 gubernatorial campaign. He almost ran in 2006. Asked now what he will do in 2010, Abercrombie's only hint is his pledge to run for something in two years.

“;I will definitely be running in 2010, there is no doubt about that,”; Abercrombie says.

Asked about Inouye's comments, Abercrombie said, “;I think that is wonderful.”;

“;Mufi himself said he wants to keep his options open. Mufi will have plenty to do in the next couple of years just trying to deal with the rail transit and his obligations and duties as mayor,”; Abercrombie added.

If Abercrombie runs for governor it would open his First Congressional District, which runs from Wahiawa to Makapuu. Hannemann speculates that as much as he enjoys being an executive, he also would like to serve in Congress.

“;I love the big-picture policy issues, domestic policy, foreign policy,”; Hannemann said.

He added that he also enjoys being mayor and could serve out his second term. In 2012 Sen. Dan Akaka, 84, will be up for re-election and if he decides not to run Hannemann says he might also consider running for the Senate then.

If he or other state office holders who are in the middle of their terms, such as Hanabusa , decide to run for governor they will have to resign their office. But if Hannemann decides to run for Congress he will not be required to resign, and if he loses, he will still have two more years left as mayor.

“;All this talk about me is not fueled by me,”; Hannemann said.

“;All I am saying is I want to be honest and say I want to consider it. I may go, I may not go,”; Hannemann said.

Republican City Councilman Charles Djou, 38, has already said he will run for the First Congressional District, although he has filed with the Campaign Spending Commission to run for lieutenant governor in 2010.

Also up for speculation is the future of U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono.

In 2010 she could also run for governor instead of re-election.

Asked what office she would run for in 2010, Hirono, like Abercrombie , would say only that she will be on the ballot.

As for governor, Hirono , who lost a race against Lingle for governor in 2002 , said , “;Write that when asked, she laughed.”;

On the Republican side, Lt. Gov. James “;Duke”; Aiona, 53, moved fast to start raising money for governor in 2010. Reports show that he has $711,000 in the bank.

Aiona has been helped by hiring Miriam Hellreich, the GOP national committeewoman , as his campaign fundraiser.

Hellreich held the same position with Lingle and has strong connections with both the local and national GOP. So far, campaign reports show Aiona has paid Hellreich more than $75,000 to help with his campaign.

No other Republicans have shown an interest in the race.