HAWAII: First Vote

After an uninhibited campaign of hula rallies, motorcades and TV speechmaking, Hawaii (pop. 600,000) went to the polls last week to pass on 1) statehood, as proffered by the U.S. Congress, and 2) party-primary nominations for two U.S. Senators, Governor and a Congressman-at-large. Results: 1) a rousing 18-1 endorsement—with 85% of the electorate voting—for statehood, which clears the way for Hawaii’s admission to the Union by presidential proclamation after the July 28 general elections, and 2) a heavy numerical vote margin for the Democrats, partially offset by the fact that most Republicans were running unopposed.

For the two U.S. Senate vacancies the Democrats nominated Oren E. Long, 70, a Territorial Senator and onetime Territorial Governor, and Territorial Senator Frank Fasi, 38, who upset William H. Heen, venerable 76-year-old Territorial ex-Senator, who had come out of retirement to make the race. The Republicans nominated Businessman Hiram L. Fong, 52, and Territorial Senator Wilfred Tsukiyama, 62.

For the single House seat, Hawaii’s fast-rising Democrat Dan Inouye, 34, who lost his right arm in action with the famous Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team in World War II, resoundingly beat Mrs. Patsy Takemoto Mink, 31. He will run against Republican Charles H. Silva, 55, Hawaii’s Territorial Director of Institutions.

Biggest individual vote went to Hawaii’s Territorial Delegate to the U.S. Congress, John A. Burns, 50, who beat his primary opponent 10-1 to win the Democratic nomination for Governor, outpolled Territorial Governor William F. Quinn, 39, unopposed for the Republican nomination, by a resounding 3-2.