Military spending is very addictive so I can understand why politicians become addicted to it.   It is about the only spending where you don't have to worry much about if the end product actually working.  I mean who is going to care if a missile is off by 10 ft? or if a bomb didn't explode?  Major difference between it and non military spending.  The non military is very concerned about what their products do.  

Yes an over dependence on military and tourism  has been created but this is hardly only limited to Hawaii and sadly the options are limited.  For example, the state should have been leading the nation in Marijuana but instead is  falling behind.  No telling what advances could have been made if we had pushed for it instead of just caving decades ago.  

It is easy to criticize a " swollen government bureaucracy" but just what bureaucracy would you get rid of if any?  I think it will be the bureaucracy that will save us from the Donald.