As Democrats emerged as the dominant political party in 1962, they sought to garner support from Native Hawaiians and other non-whites.

For decades, the party had little difficulty in winning local and statewide elections, with a significant number of Democrats running unopposed in certain years.

[2] State-level organizational meetings are held at the precinct, district, county, and state level, biennially, during even-numbered years.

[5] Due to the extreme geographical distance from the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in Washington D.C., the party is relatively independent in its affairs.

[6] The Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi was formed on April 30, 1900, by supporters of the queen in the wake of a plague quarantine in Honolulu.

The meeting brought together five men: John H. Wilson, son of Marshal of the Kingdom Charles B. Wilson; John S. McGrew, a doctor and supporter of Kalākaua; Charles J. McCarthy, a saloon owner and former Honolulu Rifle; David Kawānanakoa, prince of the House of Kawānanakoa; and Delbert E. Metzger, an engineer from Kaua'i.

The reformers became affiliated with the Republican Party for this support of Hawaii's annexation in contrast to the Democrats' opposition.

The party managed to elect Democrats Joseph J. Fern and Wilson as mayors of Honolulu, along with several other positions, but maintained a weak reputation throughout the territorial years.[which?]

After the overthrow of the monarchy and annexation, an oligarchy of powerful sugar corporations called the Big Five effectively controlled government in the Hawaiian Islands, making hundreds of millions of dollars in profits.

[7] The oligarchy of Castle & Cooke, Alexander & Baldwin, C. Brewer & Co., Amfac, and Theo H. Davies & Co. worked in favor of the Hawaiʻi Republican Party.

Democrats like McCarthy and Oren Long pushed a compromise of allowing migrant workers that would eventually return to where they came from rather than establish themselves in Hawaii.

Up to the Revolution of 1954, Democrats held a stronger pro-Hawaiian stance, resulting in anti-Asian sentiments based on fears Asian Americans would outperform Hawaiians in education and job performance.

The movement received its biggest boost when Burns successfully influenced Japanese American veterans who fought in World War II to become involved, notably incumbent Daniel Inouye.

[8] During the Burns movement, the party shifted towards egalitarianism, allowing an untapped Japanese voter base to bring them to power.

Burns' efforts culminated in his election to the governorship after attaining statehood, heralding a forty-year era of Democratic rule in Hawaiʻ.

For the first time, political representation was fully justified as newly elected representatives were allowed to cast votes.

[9] Democrats have held onto a solid majority since 1962, with near-complete control over the state's congressional delegation and its legislative and executive branch.

The party believes in the simplification of government processes on the local and state level, with integration of databases to promote efficiency in these areas.

The reduction of one's carbon footprint is reflected in the party's encouragement of using clean energy sources, also with environmentally friendly modes of transportation.

The party has expressed support towards single payer universal health care coverage with the inclusion of a public option in this plan.

Governor John A. Burns, a devout Roman Catholic, allowed Hawaii to become the first state to legalize abortion.