The most powerful instrument ever devised for breaking down and destroying the “terrible walls that imprison men because they are different from other men” is the vote, according to the late former United States President Lyndon Johnson, who led the country from 1963 to 1969.

But in the state of Hawai‘i, the “powerful instrument” that Johnson spoke of appears to have been collecting dust lately, as a recent report by CNN points the finger at Hawai‘i as the state with the lowest voter-turnout rate in the nation, with 48.8 percentage of voters living up to their democratic rights.

And the numbers recorded for the county of Kaua‘i is even lower than that. Read the full story here.

And here’s the latest in other neighbor isle gov’t and politics:

Repairs on 13 malfunctioning warning sirens under way

OHA candidates gather in Waimea for 3rd and final forum

Lahaina residential project moving ahead

Coffee pickin’ time in Kona

Diver bitten by shark off of Waiehu Golf Course

Shark bites surfboard as Kauai beach closes, too

High surf causes close calls on Kalapaki Beach

Big Isle election lawsuits going to court

Maui candidates Mulvihill, McLaughlin fined for late reports

Kauai Drug Court graduates 30th Class

Hilo cruise industry continues to grow

Connection to community key in race for Maui’s District 11

Parents say high school is needed in Kihei

Mulvihill: Mortgage reform supported by Baker a disaster

Cruise ship docking in Hilo, photo courtesy Bryan_Chan.