By David Shapiro

The best idea in this year's campaign for lieutenant governor is Republican candidate Dalton Tanonaka's suggestion that the office be abolished if the next lieutenant governor can't do more to earn his or her keep.

In a recent debate of Democratic candidates for governor, D.G. "Andy" Anderson noted that taxpayers have paid Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono three-quarters of a million dollars for her services in the past eight years. He pointedly asked her what she did to earn it.

The list of activities Hirono ticked off didn't measure up as high-priority needs in a time of tight state budgets.

It's not entirely Hirono's fault. Her predecessors didn't have much luck making a difference either.

We give the lieutenant governor no official duties except to step in if the governor can't serve and to oversee legal name changes. No lieutenant governor has played a significant role since George Ariyoshi assumed the top job when John A. Burns became seriously ill 30 years ago.

Without official duties, the lieutenant governor depends on the governor to provide meaningful work. It's often a long wait between phone calls across the top floor of the state Capitol.

Ariyoshi had three lieutenant governors after he succeeded Burns. Nelson Doi, the former Big Island senator and judge, quickly became bored and ran unsuccessfully for Honolulu mayor. His successor, Jean King, grew impatient and ran against Ariyoshi for governor. She was succeeded by John Waihee, who managed to quietly wait four years for his own shot at the top job.

For the hyperactive Ben Cayetano, his eight years as Waihee's silent-partner lieutenant governor was an excruciating political prison. He considered quitting to run for Honolulu prosecutor.

Cayetano stuck it out and was rewarded with two terms as governor. But his lack of patience as governor is probably explained by the lifetime supply he used up in the No. 2 job.

The office wouldn't be missed if it were abolished. As the counties do, a senior Cabinet member could be designated to keep the seat warm when the governor is out of town and hold down the fort until a special election can be held if the governor becomes incapacitated.

But since we're in the process of electing a new lieutenant governor, it makes sense to give the winner a final chance to make the job matter. There are actually some good candidates this year running lively campaigns.

On the Democratic side, Clayton Hee wants to use his experience with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to resolve long-disputed native claims, Donna Ikeda seeks to tap her experience from the Board of Education to fix our schools and Sen. Matt Matsunaga promotes his "Mr. Clean" reputation in a time of disturbing corruption.

Republicans feature attractive new political faces — Tanonaka, a former newsman who wants to use his contacts in Asia to bring new investment to Hawai'i, and James "Duke" Aiona, who offers impressive experience in criminal justice as a former Drug Court judge. Former state Rep. Cam Cavasso is campaigning on moral values.

Unfortunately, it's a campaign taking place under the political radar of most voters, who pay scant attention to an office of such little consequence — despite the fact that our last three governors were former lieutenant governors. The races will turn on image, name recognition and ethnicity more than issues.

And the grand dreams of the winner to do great deeds as lieutenant governor won't matter if the new governor doesn't offer support and juicy assignments. If history is a guide, that phone won't ring often.

David Shapiro can be reached by e-mail at dave@volcanicash.net.