After a wild 2012, here’s to a tranquil 2013

Wow. What a year 2012 was, for Hawaii especially. Political turnover in Washington, political fights at home. Lawsuits winding down, rail project construction revving up.

Then there was the looming prediction of the end of the world, according to the Mayan calendar. Whew, good thing that one didn’t come to pass, anyway.

So, what’s ahead for 2013?

Hmm. Not much on the horizon, at least not yet. No elections. No new big projects. And, as far as this evening goes, not much in the way of fireworks, either.

Know what? A nice, quiet year would be, well, nice. Welcome, 2013.

Hawaii’s religious diversity in Washington

Turning a page in the chronicles of our Washington delegation, here’s another observation. Hawaii, you’ve just outdone yourself — again! — in the diversity department.

Over in the Senate, Brian Schatz is Jewish and Mazie Hirono is Buddhist. And in the House, there’s another Buddhist, Colleen Hanabusa, teaming up with freshman Rep.-elect Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu in Congress.

The stats still show that Christianity dominates among Hawaii folk who identify themselves as religious. But there must be the ghost of a Hawaii missionary or two fretting away, somewhere in the great beyond, because none of their flock have made the leap to D.C. this time.