The race for the 1st Congressional District has been quiet since May’s special election, as both Republican Charles Djou and Democrat Colleen Hanabusa appear to have all but wrapped up their party nominations. (That general election matchup presumes Djou and Hanabusa survive their respective primary battles with Republicans C. Kaui Jochanan Amsterdam and John “Raghu” Giuffre and Democrat Rafael “Del” Del Castillo.)

Now, with the Nov. 2 general election less than two months away, Djou is kicking his re-election campaign into high gear. On Monday, he officially blessed and opened his campaign headquarters in Kakaako, and today a new TV ad is going into rotation.

In a Monday night e-mail containing a link to a Facebook photo slideshow of the headquarters grand opening, Djou also offered his supporters a “sneak peek” at his first commercial for the general election. He said the “positive” advertisement “highlights our historic Special Election victory and my work over these past few months as your Congressman to bring a new season of change and progress to Hawaii.”

How it does so is subtle. The ad, titled “Vote,” relies on visuals and music more than any concrete statement.

The commercial opens with a male announcer saying, “All across Hawaii, there’s a new feeling of hope and progress.” Then, 17 seconds of the 30-second spot pass without another word being spoken. As synth music fills your ears, a dizzying array of clips of Djou and his supporters dance before your eyes.

The costume changes would make a Broadway producer jealous. By my amateur count, the congressman wears no less than eight distinct shirts in just a few seconds: hula shirts in green, blue, red, and a different green, two polo shirts, one with a U.S. Army logo, a shirt and tie and full Army fatigues, complete with a beret.

Djou is seen waving signs on the side of the road, laughing with friends in a restaurant, speaking with constituents on a boat, and walking down a sidewalk. Other video clips of the open ocean, swaying palm trees, sandy beaches and crashing waves are interspersed in the montage.

“Making the difference for Hawaii, Congressman Charles Djou,” the announcer intones, just before the congressman himself chips in the signature line: “I’m Charles Djou. I approve this message.”

Watch for yourself:

Blogger Eric Kleefeld at the left-leaning Talking Points Memo asks if the commercial is a campaign spot or a tourism ad, noting that it contains “no narrative of any accomplishments or substantive issues whatsoever.”

“One has to wonder about the ‘making the difference’ line,” Kleefeld writes. “Did the palm trees and beaches not exist in Hawaii until he was elected?”

A Djou spokesman did not respond to a request for information about the circulation of the advertisement.

The commercial is clearly not focused on any issues, but instead seems designed to help voters associate Djou with the things they treasure about Hawaii. Will it work? Will Djou sharpen his knives or puff out his chest in subsequent spots?

We’re now in the home stretch in the race to represent Honolulu’s congressional district. This ad is just the beginning.