This article really highlights the overall message and problem with politics/ Hawaii's politics in particular. 

Here you have Cedric Gates. The type of person you WANT as your legislator. Young leader, inspiring, not a typical lawyer/real estate agent lawmaker and he actually cares about the people. Now he is taking heat for trying to improve the dire situation in D44. It is no secret that District 44 is in NEED of some revitalization. 

Gates wanted to run in 2014 as a Dem. Certain party rules at the time (6month membership for party to run for elected office) barred him from doing that. So not being deterred and realizing the threat his community faced he decided to run on a diff party. Which is very similar to Democratic platform mind you. 

2016 rolls around and again D44 needs someone who will stand on principle and not be swayed by factional party politics (i.e. Jo Jordan SB1, voting against same sex marriage because of her factional alliance and against what was right)