It’s not clear whether the folks in Washington D.C. known what a “chickenskin” moment is, but they surely experienced one this week during the funeral for respected television journalist Tim Russert.

Hawaii Congresswoman Mazie Hirono reports that the emotional service concluded with a playing of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s ukulele version of “Over the Rainbow.”

As the song played, she said, an unusual double rainbow appeared over Washington to the astonishment of  just about everyone.  Hirono said the double rainbow, familiar to folks in Hawaii, is just never seen in the Nation’s Capital.

After the service, Hirono said, people came up to her to talk about Israel’s song, ask where they could get it or who the artist was  and to share their wonder over the double rainbow.   Hirono has that song and others on her iPod for long plane rides back and forth to Hawaii, so she was more than familiar with it.

You can see an msnbc report on the funeral and the rainbow HERE.

To learn more about Israel and his music, go to The Advertiser’s special report on the artist HERE 

The 2008 Democratic convention draws out more than a little “back to the future” memories from delegates who have been around for a while.

Memory No. 1: The 1972 state convention in which young, progressive and anti-war Democrats made an impressive run against the ruling lords of the party — at that time the Burns Democrats loyal to Gov. John A. Burns.

The anti-war group gained numbers by forging a marriage of convenience with supporters of maverick Democrat Frank Fasi to form “Coalition ‘72.” The group made its mark at the convention but in the end were largely out-hustled by the cannier and more disciplined Burns troops.

But seeds planted often take time to fully take root.

One of the young anti-war delegates in 72 is back this year, but this time not as an outside challenger but rather in a position of spotlight prominence: U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono.

It’s taken a little time, Hirono admitted, but the party has evolved. “Our hopes and aspirations (then) are embedded today in the candidacies of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton,” Hirono said.

Is that another way of saying the young turks have become the establishment, or is this now a political movement finally in full bloom?

Update (Monday):Sen Dan Akaka has emerged from his polite reticence to announce he, too, is endorsing Hawaii-born Barak Obama for president. He made the announcement Monday, which means all four high-profile elected superdelegates from Hawaii have made their choice. Three are for Obama while one, Sen, Daniel Inouye, remains loyal to Hillary Clinton.

Akaka said he is convinced Obama is the man to end the “plague” of partisan politics in America.

Also, while it didn’t make as big a news splash, Obama gained yet another superdelegate from Hawaii Monday when National Committeewoman Dolly Strazar also announced her vote for Obama. In a statement, Strazar said that while she held out on an uncommited stance as long as she could, he concluded it was time for the party to “pull together behind a single candidate.”

Strazar said she also likes the fact that Obama, who grew up in the Islands, instinctively knows the importance of “getting along” in a multicultural setting.These have been stressful days for Strazar, who has been fielding regular calls from both the Obama and Clinton camps as they scoured the nation for superdelegate votes.

Here’s what we said earlier on the superdelegate hunt in Hawaii: (more…)