All posts by Genevive Bjorn

News, Politics

Results of General Election 2008 in Hawaii

We came, we saw, we voted. Here are highlights of the results of the General Election 2008 in Hawaii. You can also link to the official State of Hawaii results for additional details about each county’s races.

1. CON AMEND Proposed Amendment to the State Constitution

Shall the age qualification for the office of governor and office of lieutenant governor be reduced from thirty-five years of age to twenty-five years of age?

YES   34,354  15.9%

NO 170,688  79.1%

2. CON CON Constitutional Convention Question

In other words, should we think about changing the state’s constitution. But there’s nothing in particular at this point that is proposed to change.

YES  70,890  32.9%

NO 134,277  62.3%

3. CONTESTS

Up for grabs are the following offices:

President (1) and Vice-President (1)

(D) OBAMA, Barack / BIDEN, Joe  158,169  73.3%

U.S. Representative (2)

District I – (D) ABERCROMBIE, Neil  62,480  70.8%

District II – (D) HIRONO, Mazie  90,215  70.8%

State Senator (7)

District 1 – (D) TAKAMINE, Dwight Y.  10,373  59.9%

District 5 – (D)  BAKER, Roz  3,502  51.8%

District 6 – (D) ENGLISH, J. Kalani  6,975  71.9%

District 7 – (D) HOOSER, Gary L.  10,385  68.5%

District 12 – (D) GALUTERIA, Brickwood M.  3,581  46.4%

District 21 – (D) HANABUSA, Colleen  1,458  72.6%

District 23 – (D) HEE, Clayton  4,167  65.2%

State Representative (28)

Board of Education (7)

Office of Hawaiian Affairs (4)

Hawaii — Mayor (1)

KENOI, Billy  27,283  58.2%

Hawaii — Councilmember (9)

Hawaii — Prosecuting Attorney (1)

Hawaii — Lowest Prosecuting Priority of Cannibas

FOR  23,184  49.5%
AGAINST 19,465  41.5%

Maui — Councilmember (9)

East Maui – MEDEIROS, Bill (Kauakea)  14,741  53.4%

West Maui – JOHNSON, Jo Anne  13,358  48.4%

Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu – VICTORINO, Michael (Mike)  19,470  70.5%

Kahului – PONTANILLA, Joe  15,483  56.1%

South Maui – NISHIKI, Wayne K.  12,329  44.7%

Makawao-Paia-Haiku – MOLINA, Mike  14,568  52.8%

Upcountry – BAISA, Gladys Coelho  15,260  55.3%

Lanai – KAHO’OHALAHALA, Sol P.  11,977  43.4%

Molokai – MATEO, Danny A.  18,369  66.6%

Kauai — Councilmember (7)

Kauai — Prosecuting Attorney (1)

Honolulu — Mayor (1)

HANNEMANN, Mufi  70,099  55.6%

Honolulu — Councilmember (3)

District 4 – ONISHI, Dennis (Fresh)  3,604  59.6%

District 5 – SAFARIK, Gary S.  2,046  48.2%

District 8 – GREENWELL, Kelly  3,633  47.7%

Honolulu — Prosecuting Attorney (1)

News, Politics

Barack Obama First President Born in Hawaii

1 Comment

The 2008 presidnetial election was historic in many ways. For residents of Hawaii, President-elect Obama represents another historic first: the first to-be president born and raised in Hawaii. Obama was born in Honolulu on August 4, 1961 to young parents who were attending the University of Hawaii. He graduated from Punahou High School in 1979. Like many locals, he has moved away to pursue his career and raise his family. Let’s hope all of the aloha that comes from Hawaii will help him face the staggering challenges ahead. Congratulations, President-elect Obama! E malama pono.

Politics

How Hawaii Compares to Other States

In this election season, the media is buzzing with political stories from around the country. But how does Hawaii really stack up against the Mainland? Here are some illuminating facts about Hawaii, compared to other states:

RANK AMONG STATES (#1-ranked state first)

Median Household Income

#1 Maryland $68,080

#5 Hawaii $63,746

#51 Mississippi $36,338

State Unemployment

#1 Rhode Island 8.8%

#40 Hawaii 4.5% (tied w/ 1 other)

#51 South Dakota 3.2%

Uninsured Population

#1 Texas 24.4%

#50 Hawaii 8.3% (tied w/ 1 other)

Gas Price

#1 Alaska $3.622

#2 Hawaii $3.518

#51 Oklahoma $2.197

Unauthorized Migrants

#1 California 7.8%

#28 Hawaii 1.9% (tied w/ 2 others)

#51 West Virginia 0.0%

Poverty Rate

#1 Mississippi 18.0%

#49 Hawaii 5.5%

#51 New Hampshire 3.9%

U.S. Troop Deaths in War in Iraq (Total)

#1 California 448 troops killed

#43 Hawaii 21 troops killed (tied w/ 1 other)

#51 District of Columbia 5 troops killed

U.S. Troop Deaths in War in Iraq (per Capita)

#1 Vermont 33.7 troops killed per million residents

#19 Hawaii 16.3 troops killed per million residents

#51 Connecticut 8.0 troops killed per million residents

Schools Achieving No Child Left Behind Standards

#1 Wisconsin 98%

#51 Hawaii 34%

Per-student Education Expenditure

#1 New Jersey $13,468

#20 Hawaii $8,523

#51 Utah $5,059

Population

#1 California 36,553,215

#42 Hawaii 1,283,388

#51 Wyoming 522,830

Presidential Approval Rating

#1 Idaho, Utah 57%

#21 Hawaii 40% (tied w/ 3 others)

#51 Rhode Island 23%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions (Total)

#1 Texas 688 million tons

#44 Hawaii 22 million tons

#51 District of Columbia 4 million tons

Carbon Dioxide Emissions (per Capita)

#1 Wyoming 125.7 tons per person

#34 Hawaii 17.7 tons per person

#51 District of Columbia 6.9 tons per person

Hispanic Population

#1 New Mexico 44.4%

#19 Hawaii 8.2% (tied w/ 1 other)

#51 West Virginia 1.1%

Black Population

#1 District of Columbia 54.7%

#41 Hawaii 2.2%

White Population

#1 Vermont 96.1%

#51 Hawaii 26.6%

Non-Hispanic White Population

#1 Vermont 95.2%

#51 Hawaii 24.6%

Senior Population

#1 Florida 17.0%

#6 Hawaii 14.4% (tied w/ 1 other)

#51 Alaska 6.9%

State Gross Domestic Product (Total)

#1 California $1,727 billion

#40 Hawaii $58 billion

#51 Vermont $24 billion

State Gross Domestic Product (per Capita)

#1 District of Columbia $150,700 per person

#17 Hawaii $45,400 per person

#51 Mississippi $28,900 per person

College-educated Population

#1 District of Columbia 47.5%

#16 Hawaii 29.2%

#51 West Virginia 17.3%

Married Couple Population

#1 Utah 62.3%

#13 Hawaii 51.7% (tied w/ 3 others)

#51 District of Columbia 22.2%

Sources: Median Household Income (One-year estimates, in 2007 inflation-adjusted dollars): U.S. Census Bureau, State Unemployment (Seasonally adjusted, September 2008): The Bureau of Labor Statistics, Uninsured Population (2005-2007, three-year average): U.S. Census Bureau, Gas Price (Regular, as of Oct. 29, 2008): Oil Price Information Service, Unauthorized Migrants (As percentage of state population; approximated from 2005 data): Pew Hispanic Center, Poverty Rate (Percentage of families below the poverty threshold, 2007): U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Troop Deaths in War in Iraq (Total) (As of Oct. 16, 2008): Department of Defense, U.S. Troop Deaths in War in Iraq (per Capita) (As of Oct. 16, 2008): Department of Defense, Schools Achieving No Child Left Behind Standards (Percentage of schools achieving ‘Adequate Yearly Progress’, 2004-2005 school year): Department of Education, Per-student Education Expenditure (2003-2004 school year): Department of Education, Population (2007 estimate): U.S. Census Bureau, Presidential Approval Rating (As of Oct. 2006): SurveyUSA, Carbon Dioxide Emissions (Total) (Emissions from fossil fuel combustion, metric units, 2004): Department of Energy, Carbon Dioxide Emissions (per Capita) (Emissions from fossil fuel combustion, metric units, 2004): Department of Energy, Hispanic Population (As percentage of state population, 2007): U.S. Census Bureau, Black Population (Single-race, as percentage of state population, 2007): U.S. Census Bureau, White Population (Single-race, as percentage of state population, 2007): U.S. Census Bureau, Non-Hispanic White Population (As percentage of state population, 2007): U.S. Census Bureau, Senior Population (People 65 years of age or older, as percentage of state population, 2007): U.S. Census Bureau, State Gross Domestic Product (Total) (2006): The Bureau of Economic Analysis, State Gross Domestic Product (per Capita) (2006): The Bureau of Economic Analysis, College-educated Population (Percentage of people 25 years of age or older who have completed a bachelor’s degree, 2007): U.S. Census Bureau, Married Couple Population (Percentage of households that are married-couple families, 2007): U.S. Census Bureau