Anderson back for hana hou?

By Bob Dye
Kailua-based historian and writer

The handsome entrepreneur usually skips lunch. And I can no longer hide that I should, too. Nevertheless, he agrees to talk politics with me over coffee at Chili's in Kahala.

In 1972, Republican Andy Anderson ran for Honolulu mayor with the backing of many Democrats. Is he now going to run for governor as a Democrat? Advertiser library photo • Nov. 8, 1972

The 71-year-old grandfather of six is giving "serious thought" to challenging Mayor Harris and Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono for the Democratic nomination. And that surprises some GOP loyalists who wish "Mr. Republican" would come home.

Andy resigned from the Republican Party "in utter frustration" after the failed Pat Saiki bid for governor in 1996. He now considers himself independent, although he freely admits contributing only to Democratic campaigns since he left the GOP.

John Henry Felix, Andy's Republican running mate in the 1986 governor's race, would rather see Andy run against Linda Lingle in the Republican primary.

"A contested primary is healthy," the veteran city councilman explains.

Hana hou? As a Republican, Andy ran third in '82, behind Frank Fasi, the Independent Democrat, and winner George Ariyoshi. And in '86, he lost to John Waihee. So what makes Andy want to run again?

Andy is concerned that the governor's office has lost the trust of the people: "Gov. Cayetano, inheriting a bad situation from the previous administration, has not been able to achieve the respect and confidence necessary to lead this state."

Nor has Ben Cayetano led his party into the 21st century. "It's my feeling that if the Democrat Party does not refashion itself and broaden its image by showing concern for all the people of Hawai'i — workingman and businessman, kamaaina and newcomer, young and old — it shortly will lose its dominant position in Hawai'i politics."

"The Republicans are hungry," he warns his Democratic friends. The Bishop Estate imbroglio, corruption charges and convictions of prominent Democrats all fuel Republican chances of retaking control of the Legislature. But he doesn't believe Lingle can get elected as governor "unless Democrats hand it to her on a silver platter."

"If it comes down to Lingle vs. Harris, I think Jeremy can win. Linda had her chance, and by all odds had she run an aggressive general election, she would have won. She goofed and failed."

What about support from labor?

"I have old friends in labor, and have worked well with them. Yes, I've talked to them about the possibility of my entering the race. I didn't ask for their endorsement at this time. But I did ask them to hang loose."

Would Andy, the successful private-sector CEO, be comfortable running a state bureaucracy?

"In all my years in government, I have to say my most fun and enjoyable time was as the managing director of the City and County of Honolulu, serving with Mayor Fasi. As he trusted me without question, and I never once misused that trust, we really had the city humming in those years."

As a former "Mr. Republican," Andy wonders if Democrats would be comfortable with him as their candidate for governor.

To find out, he has shared his political thoughts with some "leading" Democrats and others. And the response has been warm, he thinks. Although he has not yet asked for it, the next step will be to get their up-front support.

If it's not forthcoming?

"While a run for governor would be fun," he explains, "I'm not about to make a fool of myself. I am certainly not your father's Democrat."

Felix questions, as do others, if Andy has the "fire in the belly" necessary to beat Harris and Hirono in the Democratic primary. If Andy had been fired up, Felix believes their team would have won in '86. "But his spirit was luke-warm," he recalls. "Too bad, because we would have changed the course of Hawai'i for the better."

Warm and personable, brimming with ideas and exuding the confidence of a winner, if "Andy" Anderson met each voter one-on-one, he would be elected by a landslide.

Andy will make a final decision in September or early October. "I won't play a spoiler role," he promises. If I go, it'll be an all-out effort to win."

A lot of people are saying, "Hana hou!"