Mufi sightings stir musings about his political future

The Okinawan Festival just before Labor Day is more than just a great place for food. It is also the "go to" place to spot politicians.

The annual Waikiki event is something of a coming-out party for politicians either trying on a new office or doubling down on their current job.

So what is to be made of our former Honolulu mayor happily towering over all the others in the bon dance line?

If former Mayor Mufi Hannemann showing up at the Okinawan Festival wasn’t enough of a hint, then his appearance at the annual Labor Day picnic the next day would tell you that the 59-year-old Democrat is not ready to let the spotlight go dark.

The past two election cycles have not treated Hannemann well, but it appears that despite two election losses, Mufi-watching is still a sport with some life left in it.

Hannemann, however, is not helping the sport and is refusing to clarify any future plans.

"I have no comment to make at this time," Hannemann said in response to a text message query.

Hannemann’s No. 1 perch would be Hawaii’s Congressional District 1, now occupied by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who is going to leave it open because she is running for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Sen. Brian Schatz.

Hannemann has run unsuccessfully for both CD 1 and 2 several times. Most recently, he lost a Democratic primary to now-U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in 2012.

But, Hannemann won both City Council and hard-fought mayoral elections, and has a group of loyal supporters.

Neal Milner, the emeritus University of Hawaii political scientist, says another congressional campaign by Hannemann would be challenging.

"The only way he is a viable candidate is in a race where he has just enough name recognition compared to the relative unknowns in the race so far to pull it off," said Milner.

"Mufi remains a flawed candidate who might, just might, sneak in by the skin of his teeth. But definitely not for sure," Milner added.

The field is already crowded with four candidates with some political experience. State Rep. Mark Takai, state Sen. Will Espero and City Councilmen Ikaika Anderson and Stanley Chang have all said they will run. The quartet of Democrats each has some following, but little name recognition outside of their own districts.

The lure for Hannemann is that he easily has a much higher public profile and the public name recognition that comes from being a two-term mayor.

The Hannemann problem is that his own political image is in need of more than a little polishing. He lost his last two races, managing to get less than 40 percent of the vote.

Along the way, his campaign for governor against Neil Abercrombie was especially bruising as Abercrombie supporters said Hannemann crossed the line in making ethnic and local appeals. Hannemann denied it and apologized, but many said his own mailings lost the race for him.

Another, more-complicated speculation has Hannemann running for the City Council seat now held by Breene Harimoto, if the first-term councilman decides to run for state Sen. David Ige’s seat. If Hannemann won that seat, which covers portions of his old Council district, he would have two years to mount a campaign against incumbent Mayor Kirk Caldwell and attempt a return to the Honolulu mayor’s office.

Either way, Hannemann should not be counted out.

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