White hair and white faces, that's the new element in Hawaii's super political majority, the Democratic Party.

At their biennial convention this weekend, the changes were obvious.

“;This is the Tom Gill Party,”; remarked former state Rep. David Hagino, now a labor lawyer and part-time political strategist.

Fifty years ago, the state Democratic party belonged to founding father and governor John A. Burns, with some assistance from the ILWU. Tom Gill and fellow liberal supporters and the late Mayor Frank Fasi and fellow conservative supporters tried unsuccessfully to pry their way into power.

During the 12 years of Gov. George Ariyoshi's term, the party and the state administration blended into a political machine. The Democra- tic convention looked like a state Cabinet meeting; as many state political appointees also cracked the whip to organize political precincts.

“;It used to be that if you weren't part of the old guard, they wouldn't trust any newcomers,”; recalled a salt-and-pepper headed Bart Dame, who joined the party when he was 17.

“;I've gone from being a rebel to becoming a trouble-shooter,”; Dame reflected during the 2010 convention.

At 82, Walter Heen has been judge, a legislator, city councilman, party chairman and is now an Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee and adviser to Neil Abercrombie's campaign for governor. In 1997 Heen was one of the co-authors of the essay on Kamehameha Schools/ Bishop Estate headlined, “;Broken Trust.”;

“;There's more haoles in the party now,”; says Heen. “;It is more balanced, and that's a good thing.

Another veteran Democratic loyalist, also helping Abercrombie, is Jimmy Toyama.

“;There is a mix of delegates that is better. This reflects the diversity. This looks more like the whole state,”; Toyama says.

The party also appears a lot older. Observers couldn't escape the political war-horses now fitted out with walkers and canes. Hawaii's two octogenarian senators, Dan Inouye and Dan Akaka, are both readying preparations for their 86th birthdays and upcoming re-election campaigns.

What hasn't aged are the party's issues. Last weekend the Democrats voted for Internet neutrality, publicly funded state elections and banning corporations from donating to state or county campaigns.

Somehow Hawaii's Democrats always find a way to re-invent themselves just before a critical election.

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Richard Borreca writes on politics every Wednesday in the Star-Bulletin. You can reach him at rborreca@ starbulletin.com.