HONOLULU — The presidential race will get Hawai'i voters to the polls, but once they're in the voting booth they'll likely find a slate of familiar names running with little opposition for state offices.

Democratic Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann have money in the bank and slim competition so far this year. There is no statewide race for any high office.

Few opponents will dare to mount significant campaigns against any of the top incumbents, which could make for a dull election year.

"There doesn't seem to be any reason to think that any of the local races are going to be interesting," said University of Hawai'i political scientist Neal Milner. "Everybody's preoccupied with the presidential race."

The Hawai'i governor's office and U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye won't be on the ballot against until 2010.

The best possibility for a competitive contests will come in state legislative races or if a surprise candidate like former U.S. Rep. Ed Case jumps in to try and reclaim his old job.

Case abandoned his safe seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 to mount a failed Democratic primary challenge against U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.

Hirono, who had more than $530,000 saved as of Dec. 31, said she's ready for any unforeseen challenger and will emphasize in her campaign a timeline for bringing troops home from Iraq.

"I've always had opposition, so I never take anything for granted," she said. "We won't know until or unless he files."

Case has said he wants to run for Congress again, but he hasn't announced when or for what seat. He didn't return a phone call seeking comment.

Abercrombie probably won't face much significant opposition from his own party or the GOP as he tries to be re-elected for his ninth consecutive two-year term.

"I'm running the same way I always have, by going all out. I'm always on offense," said Abercrombie, who had more than $1 million cash on hand as of Dec. 31, according to the Federal Election Commission. "I'm working hard, particularly with the Bush-McCain recession upon us."

So far, only Republican Daniel Brackins, a 28-year-old economist from Honolulu, has entered the race against Abercrombie. Brackins wants to repair the economy by ending the Iraq war and improving the nation's monetary policy.

"It's going to be an uphill battle, but I'm in it to win," he said.

In a reflection of how difficult it will be to defeat an incumbent Democrat in Congress, Honolulu Councilman Charles Djou has already filed federal papers to run against Abercrombie — in 2010.

Explaining why he's not running this year, Djou said, "To run a serious campaign for higher office, unfortunately a reality of American politics is you need decent financial resources. You have to start early."

No one has stepped forward to attempt a run at Hannemann, who now has more than $2 million to seek re-election. Djou said he doesn't plan to run for mayor, nor does Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, D-Nanakuli-Makua.

"I plan to run like I'm an underdog," Hannemann said. "We're going to run on our record. I love my job." Hannemann is a Democrat but the race is nonpartisan.

The most compelling races may be for power in the Legislature, where Democrats hold all but 11 out of 76 seats in both houses.

Republicans hope to pick up ground lost since two of their members switched to the Democratic Party since the last election.

In one contested race, Republican Ted Hong is running against Rep. Dwight Takamine, D-Hawi-Hilo.

But Democrats want to further solidify their overwhelming majority as Rep. Josh Green seeks the seat of Sen. Paul Whalen, R-Miloli'i-Waimea, who is not running for re-election. Also, former state Democratic Party Chairman Brickwood Galuteria is trying to upset Sen. Gordon Trimble, R-Downtown-Waikiki.

"Our focus is on the state Legislature, where we could have the most impact to support the initiatives the governor and lieutenant governor put forward," said Hawai'i Republican Party Chairman Willes Lee. "It's always a challenge in a state like Hawaii that's been so lopsidedly one-party for decades."

Republican Gov. Linda Lingle changed that in 2002 when she became the first Republican elected governor since statehood, but her coattails so far have proved to be very short.