With its measly four electoral votes and a time-difference disadvantage on Election Day, Hawaii has never been much of player in presidential politics.

But 2008 will forever be remembered here as the year that changed all that, which is why the election of Hawaii-born Barack Obama leads our list of the Top 10 local stories of 2008.

1. Obamania: The senator from Illinois has not lived in the islands for decades. But the intense spotlight of presidential campaigning brought his uniquely Hawaiian upbringing to the nation's attention. And Hawaii embraced the Democratic candidate with a record turnout for the caucus in February and 72 percent of the Hawaii vote on Election Day. Obama returned the favor by visiting the islands three times, with the international media in tow.

2. Budget bashing: The economic meltdown - another major national story for 2008 - also tops the list of local stories. A free fall in tourist arrivals, mass layoffs and high-profile business closures combined to decrease the tax revenues going to state and local governments. The state has been cutting department budgets and more of the same is expected in 2009.

3. Back on track: Oahu's long-planned and long-debated rail transit project appeared to be rolling again after voters gave it the thumb's up in an Election Day referendum. The ballot question came after rail opponents forced the city's hand to get voter approval. As with the state budget, planning and paying for the system is sure to dominate city politics in 2009.

4. Mayoral moves: Speaking of transit, the issue led to the mayoral candidacy of outspoken rail critic Panos Prevedourus. While he failed to get past the primary, his candidacy forced the runoff between City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi and Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who won re-election on Nov. 4.

5. More mayors: On Kauai, Mayor Bryan Baptiste died of a heart attack, which led to an election in which County Parks Supervisor Bernard Carvalho Jr. handily defeated County Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura. On the Big Isle, Billy Kenoi, a former executive assistant to outgoing Mayor Harry Kim, easily defeated County Councilman Angel Pilago to replace Kim.

6. Blacked out: For the second time in just over two years, Oahu was in the dark Friday and Saturday as Hawaiian Electric Co. shut down its system to prevent a more catastrophic outage. The suspected culprit was lightning.

7. Toddler's death: The state was horrified by the death of little Cyrus Belt, who was tossed over the Miller Street overpass onto the H-1 freeway on Jan. 17. Neighbor Matthew Higa, an admitted crystal methamphetamine addict, is accused of murder in the 23-month-old's death.

8. Active volcano: Kilauea Volcano had a busy 2008, including the Halemaumau Crater spewing out enough sulfur dioxide to force evacuation of some surrounding areas in April. On Nov. 25, the current Kilauea eruption reached the 251-day record set in 1924.

9. Copter crash: The pilot and three crew members of a Coast Guard helicopter died in a crash five miles south of Oahu as they practiced search-and-rescue operations. Killed were Cmdr. Thomas Nelson, Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Wischmeier, Petty Officer 1st Class David Skimin and Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Nichols.

10. Saint Damien: While one former Hawaii resident won the office of the presidency in 2008, another ascended toward sainthood. Pope Benedict XVI approved the nomination of Father Damien DeVeuster of Molokai to receive the Roman Catholic Church's highest honor. Damien will be canonized in a Vatican ceremony in the fall.