A couple of thoughts on this. It was mentioned in a radio show yesterday that Governor Ige was nothing more than a benchwarmer while the Democratic Party geared up and put forward a "real leader" candidate that they could control. Considering that statement, it would prove a point that the "Daniel Inouye faction" of the Democratic party has just started up the V16 campaign engine designed by the Senator itself, and is putting forward a person which, according to a letter just before he died, is the "chosen heir" to the Inouye political dynasty. 
With that, the race from the start here is shaping up to be a battle between two Democratic philosophies that have vied for influence in this state, especially since Sen. Inouye's passing - the more liberal progressive wing that has individuals like Abercromibie, Schatz, Chris Lee, Kaneala Ing and, to some degree, Gov. Ige itself. And then you have the more just-left-of-center party now personified by Hanabusa and possibly even Tokuda.