Gambling? Lingle Opens to the Possibility

[peteadams]

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Gambling is so antithetical to Hawaiian values I don't even know where to begin.

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Hopefully you mean the modern, air-conditioned version of gambling. Otherwise, I don't think you're even close regarding the old Hawaiian culture. I've seen a lot of references and checking the index in the first book I pulled from the bookshelf, Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii (S.M. Kamakau), a classic, I found this on p. 11 regarding 'Umi, a famous chief:

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[Pai'ea] knew all the surfs and the best one to ride. It was one directly in front of Laupahoehoe, facing Hilo. It was a huge one...Gambling on surfing was practiced in that locality. All of the inhabitants from Waipunalei to Ka'ula placed their wager on 'Umi, and those of Laupahoehoe on Pai'ea.

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The old Hawaiians had board games, holua runs and, I'm pretty sure, cockfights too, all subject to gambling. In addition, in the Asian cultures that many of us are heir to, gambling is a passion that makes Las Vegas look a little understated. But that's not the air-conditioned variety either.