Mahalo

Mahalo to all of our candidates and campaigns, phone bankers, poll watchers, sign wavers, and other volunteers, contributers and supporters in what proved to be an historic election.
We congratulate our incumbents : Representatives Corinne Ching, Barbara Marumoto, Kim Pine, and Gene Ward, who retained their seats and Representatives Lynn Finnegan and Cynthia Thielen who were unopposed.
 
We are disappointed that Senator Gordon Trimble and Representative Colleen Meyer were not returned to serve another term.
 
With Senator Obama at the top of the Democrat ticket receiving 72% of the vote, it was a very tough year for Republicans in Hawaii; and the major reason that Senator Trimble and Representative Meyer, as well as our excellent slate of new candidates, were not successful.
 
We hope they will try again in 2010 and beyond.
 
Again, thank you all for your efforts and your continuing belief in the importance of a two-party system in Hawaii.
 
Finally, we congratulate President-Elect Barack Obama on his historic victory as Hawaii's first native son, and first African-American to become President of the United States. 

Willes K. Lee, Chairman
Hawaii Republican Party