Hawaii economy and politics

The history of Hawaii can be traced through agovernor is concurrently the Secretary of State of
succession of dominating industries: sandalwood,Hawaii. Both the governor and lieutenant governor
whaling, sugarcane, pineapple, military, tourism, andadminister their duties from the Hawaii State Capitol.
education. Since statehood was achieved in 1959,The governor and lieutenant governor oversee the
tourism has been the largest industry in Hawaii,major agencies and departments of the executive of
contributing 24.3% of the Gross State Product (GSP)which there are twenty.
in 1997. New efforts are underway to diversify theThe legislative branch consists of the Hawaii State
economy. The total gross output for the state inLegislature — the twenty-five members of
2003 was US$47 billion; per capita income for Hawaiithe Hawaii State Senate led by the President of the
residents was US$30,441.Senate and the fifty-one members of the Hawaii
Industrial exports from Hawaii include food processingState House of Representatives led by the Speaker
and apparel. These industries play a small role in theof the House. They also govern from the Hawaii
Hawaii economy, however, due to the considerableState Capitol. The judicial branch is led by the highest
shipping distance to markets on the west coast ofstate court, the Hawaii State Supreme Court, which
the United States and ports of, coffee, macadamiauses Aliiolani Hale (Ali'iolani Hale) as its chambers.
nuts, pineapple, livestock, and sugar cane. AgriculturalLower courts are organized as the Hawaii State
sales for 2002, according to the Hawaii AgriculturalJudiciary.
Statistics Service, were US$370.9 million fromThe state is represented in the Congress of the
diversified agriculture, US$100.6 million from pineapple,United States by a delegation of four members.
and US$64.3 million from sugarcane.They are the senior and junior United States
Hawaii is known for its relatively high per capita stateSenators, the representative of the First
tax burden. In the years 2002 and 2003, HawaiiCongressional District of Hawaii and the
residents had the highest state tax per capita atrepresentative of the Second Congressional District
US$2,757 and US$2,838, respectively. This rate canof Hawaii. Many Hawaii residents have been appointed
be explained partly by the fact that services such asto administer other agencies and departments of the
education, health care and social services are allfederal government by the President of the United
rendered at the state level — as opposedStates. All federal officers of Hawaii administer their
to the municipal level as all other states.duties locally from the Prince Kuhio Federal Building
Millions of tourists contribute to the collection figure(Kuhio) near the Aloha Tower and Honolulu Harbor.
by paying the general excise tax and hotel room tax;Hawaii is primarily dominated by the Democratic Party
thus not all the taxes collected come directly fromand has supported Democrats in 10 of the 12
residents. Business leaders, however, have oftenpresidential elections in which it has participated. In
considered the state's tax burden as being too high,2004, John Kerry won the state's 4 electoral votes
contributing to both higher prices and the perceptionby a margin of 9 percentage points with 54% of the
of an unfriendly business climate [4]. See the list ofvote. Every county in the state supported the
businesses in Hawaii for more information onDemocratic candidate.
commerce in the state.The Prince Kuhio Federal Building also houses agencies
Until recently, Hawaii was the only state in the U.S.of the federal government such as the Federal
that attempted to control gasoline prices through aBureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service and
Gas Cap Law. The law was enacted during a periodthe United States Secret Service. The building is the
when oil profits in Hawaii in relation to the Mainlandsite of the federal courts and the offices of the
U.S. were under scrutiny, and sought to tie localUnited States Attorney for the District of Hawaii,
gasoline prices to those of the Mainland. The lawprincipal law enforcement officer of the United States
took effect in September 2005 amid priceDepartment of Justice in the United States District
fluctuations caused by Hurricane Katrina. The HawaiiCourt for the District of Hawaii.
state legislature suspended the law in April 2006.Unique to Hawaii is the way it has organized its
The state government of Hawaii is modeled aftermunicipal governments. There are no incorporated
the federal government with adaptations originatingcities in Hawaii except the City & County of Honolulu.
from the kingdom era of Hawaiian history. As codifiedAll other municipal governments are administered at
in the Constitution of Hawaii, there are threethe county level. The county executives are the
branches of government: executive, legislative andMayor of Hawaii, Mayor of Honolulu, Mayor of Kauai
judicial.and Mayor of Maui. All mayors in the state are
The executive branch is led by the Governor ofelected in nonpartisan races.
Hawaii and assisted by the Lieutenant Governor ofThe officers of the federal and state governments
Hawaii, both elected on the same ticket. Thehave been historically elected from the Democratic
governor, in residence at Washington Place, is theParty of Hawaii and the Hawaii Republican Party.
only public official elected for the state governmentMunicipal charters in the state have declared all
in a statewide race; all other administrators andmayors to be elected in nonpartisan races.
judges are appointed by the governor. The lieutenant