Politically active Christians get ready for next election

After losing several major races in the last two years, Hawaii’s politically active religious community hopes to slip back into gear with a rally tomorrow at the state Capitol.

Billed as the "Rally for Religious Liberty," the afternoon event is co-sponsored by the Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Family Advocates and the Hawaii Catholic Conference.

For a state shaped in many ways by missionaries, Hawaii has not become the political kingdom for conservative Christian politicians.

Former Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona lost to Neil Abercrombie by 65,000 votes in the race for governor, with Aiona’s strong support from and for the religious right as one of the issues in the campaign.

Earlier in the last primary, state Rep. Blake Oshiro, the prime mover behind the civil union bill, defeated former City Councilman Gary Okino, who ran on a platform opposing same-sex marriage and civil unions. Okino had supported Democrats and Republicans against abortion and civil unions, and whom he said showed "closeness to God."

After the election, the state Republican Party turned out its chairman, Jonah Kaauwai, a socially conservative minister. Kaauwai resigned in the face of calls from GOP moderates for him to be replaced.

Kaauwai had triggered his own controversy when during the governor’s race he wrote to local ministers, telling them to exhort their congregations to vote for Aiona because "Duke will win because the Church has been behind him the entire time operating in the POWER and the AUTHORITY of the NAME OF JESUS!"

Aiona spoke to a Hawaii Family Forum meeting earlier this year and joked that he used to think God was a Republican.

"I was of that belief until I got into office. I try to practice aloha; I said ‘I swear to God that he was a Republican. I am convinced he was a Republican," Aiona said in a video of his speech.

"When we get to the pearly gates, the first question I am going to ask is ‘Are you a Republican or a Democrat?’ Aiona said, adding that the audience should take his comments "lightly."

The former state judge and two-term lieutenant governor then told the crowd that they had a more serious mission.

"We are the last bastion in regards to traditional marriage and traditional families and things that are principled," Aiona said.

Tomorrow’s rally is called a time for people to "stand for your faith," but fliers and Internet posts do not make clear what specific concerns are to be addressed.

Allen Cardines, executive director of the Family Forum, did not return phone calls regarding the rally, but had a video posted on the event’s Facebook page.

"This is not about theology; we may disagree about theology. The problem is bigger then that. It is about an attack on Hawaii’s families and religious freedom," Cardines says in his video.

Coupled with the rally is a voter registration. The Family Forum has been the most politically active of the Hawaii faith-based community organizations, but has stayed away from outright candidate endorsements.

Instead, the forum distributes a candidate information pamphlet showing candidates’ stands on various issues.

With the election season about to kick into high gear, the forum is starting late and will need much more organization if it is going to have an impact in the November elections.

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Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.