The Hill’s gossip blog has this item about the delegations from the 49th and 50th states. Excerpt:

Lawmakers from the two last-to-the-party states share not only unique geographic ties (neither is directly connected to the Lower 48; both boast treacherous terrain), sometimes they also break bread together.

They did so Monday night, during a collegial get-together hosted by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

Per our tipster, Alaska Republicans Dan Sullivan and Don Young bonded with Hawaii Democrats Tulsi Gabbard, Mazie K. Hirono, Brian Schatz and Mark Takai over plates of fresh halibut and king crab (flown in by Murkowski), reindeer sausage (provided by Young), frosty Ice Bay IPAs from Alaskan Brewing Company (Sullivan’s treat), kalua pig (a big hit at last summer’s “Taste of Hawaii” event on the Hill), house-made saimin salad (Hirono’s contribution) and lau lau (a traditional dish featuring taro leaf-wrapped proteins).

According to congressional aides, the “Pau Hana” shindig — which roughly translates to “after work” — continues the relationship-building fostered by late Sens. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, and Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawaii.

“They want to make a point of doing another one. It’s all a matter of scheduling,” our source said of plans to make the bicameral, bipartisan hangout sessions a regular thing. …

Of note: Sen. Hirono actually made somen salad, I’m told, and not “saimin salad.”

Grinds, brah.

Flickr: Gregg Tavares