Crosscurrents of the Pacific

Hawaii's four electoral votes are reliably Democratic; the last Republican to have won the Presidential vote was Ronald Reagan in 1984. Neil Abercrombie, the current governor, was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Given Hawaii's liberal bona fides, one would expect that Governor Abercrombie's bill to legalize same-sex marriage would sail through without much opposition. One would be wrong.

5,100 people registered to testify at the House hearings on the issue, and over 1,000 did speak, most of them against the bill, over five days.

Gay marriage has proved a contentious issue in the solidly blue state of Hawaii, which has large Christian and Mormon congregations.

The people of Hawaii are strongly pro-labor, but they're also strongly religious. Asians and Pacific Islanders, groups that are temperamentally (but not necessarily politically) conservative, comprise the majority. Given their culture's traditional deference to leaders, it's still likely that same-sex marriage will be approved, but it's no slam dunk at the Crossroads of the Pacific. © 2013 Stephen Yuen

[Update, Headline on 11/13: "Abercrombie Signs Same-sex Marriage Bill Into Law":

Gay couples can get married in Hawaii as soon as Dec. 2. Clergy can refuse to perform gay weddings. Churches and other religious organizations can deny goods, services and facilities for gay weddings and receptions if it violates religious beliefs.

Abercrombie said the bill may not be a "perfect vehicle" but it was the product of the deliberative process. He said the debate recognized both equality and religious freedom.]