The simpler explanation is that when little else is known about a candidate folks naturally vote for someone of their own ethnic background. Because absent any other clues, ethnic background stands in as a proxy for a vast array of life experiences, attitudes and beliefs. And if nothing else, you want someone representing you who tends to have had your experiences and holds your approach to life. The other explanation for the appearance of ethnic block voting is pure statistical probability. Yes, Wai'anae tends to send Hawaiians to the Legislature while Kalihi sends Filipinos and Waikiki Caucasians.
Human nature is human nature even in the Islands.
But ethnicity is not destiny in the Islands. For that, we should be eternally grateful. The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co .