"It's really exciting," said Shackelford, a data department manager for the Hawai'i Undersea Research Laboratory at the University of Hawai'i. "I think it's probably not going to hit me until I get there, but more than anything I'm real excited to meet the other delegates. These are going to be the movers and shakers in their own communities to a large part or just the steadfast Democrats in their communities.

"On both ends of the spectrum I think it will be really interesting to network with these people and learn from them. ... Overall I hope to come back with a lot more knowledge and tools to work here locally."

Shackelford, who describes herself as more left-leaning than most Democrats, is one of eight delegates pledged to vote for former presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. Kucinich, a longshot candidate, captured 30 percent of the votes in Hawai'i's Democratic presidential preference poll in February. Kerry won 46 percent of the Hawai'i votes.

It was Kucinich's platform that drew Shackelford, a Palolo resident, into politics and ultimately into the Hawai'i Democratic Party. Although Kucinich formally endorsed Kerry last week, Shackelford, who said she gets a "thrill off of the honor of voting" on matters concerning the party, is still excited to participate in the national convention.

She is looking forward to debating issues on the party platform, making a statement to established, mainstream Democrats, and leaving an imprint on the party.

"It's a general feeling that it's not our job to promote 100 percent party unity," Shackelford said. "It's more to try to put some depth into the party and try to appeal to a lot of the people who might not vote otherwise.

"If we can get a large number of delegates who agree with us on issues, then, by default, the core of the party is going to agree with us to a certain extent so it lays the ground for future work."

Shackelford also doesn't count on getting much sleep during the four-day convention, but that's OK with her.

"I'm quite excited to try to work within the party and see what we can do," she said.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.