The word “unity” doesn’t spring to mind when thinking of Mufi Hannemann and Neil Abercrombie.

But the loser and winner — respectively — of the Democratic primary election for governor put on a good show Sunday morning at the Japanese Cultural Center in Moililili for the traditional morning-after-the-primary “unity event.”

“We are supporting you for your governorship,” Hannemann told Abercrombie.

“Thank you, Mufi,” Abercrombie responded.

Now, can a party that seemed seriously split over the past year or more come together to defeat a Republican nominee who is like Nixon in ’68 — tan, rested and ready?

The short answer is, absolutely.

Abercrombie’s nearly 22 percentage point spread over Hannemann shows that the nominee won’t be pressed to kiss up to supporters of his vanquished opponent.

Labor union members, torn over their endorsements, can breathe easier now that they have one candidate to vote for. No way they’re going to vote for a Republican.

Hannemann’s strong business support is a different story, and some may decide to give a new look to Aiona and the GOP — traditionally a pro-business party, after all.

But business likes a winner — you think Walter Dods is going to throw his weight behind a Republican? — and Abercrombie won by large margins on Oahu, the Big Island and Maui County.

On Kauai, Hannemann won .. but only by 19 votes.

In a statement, GOP Chairman Jonah Kaauwai said, “While a stunning percentage victory over Hannemann, Abercrombie garnered fewer votes than Randy Iwase did in the 2006 Democrat Primary for governor. Democrats will now have to fight to unify after a bitter primary while Republicans are already unified and ready to hit the ground running in the weeks leading into the General Election.”

But Kaauwai had his numbers wrong.

Abercrombie’s take in 2010 was 136,321 compared with Iwase’s 119,058 four years ago.

Democrats’ strength in the primary was clear: More than 220,000 people voted for either Abercrombie or Hannemann.

Yes, there may have been crossover votes, despite the pleading of Kaauwai and Gov. Linda Lingle not to do so.

But Duke Aiona only picked up about 41,000 votes.

That’s 9,000 more than Lingle received in the 2006 primary, but the governor was comfortably on her way to a landslide in the general. And, anyway, everyone had their eyes on the primary showdown between Ed Case and Sen. Daniel Akaka.

Mufi: Magnanimity in Defeat

The Democrats unity event would be repeated later Sunday in Kahului on Maui and Hanamaulu on Kauai, followed by stops in Kona and Hilo on the Big Island Monday afternoon.

Just as on Oahu, Party Chairman Dante Carpenter wants his gubernatorial ticket of Abercrombie and lieutenant governor nominee Brian Schatz to heal any divisions with party leaders on the neighbor islands.

The healing, the bringing together of the party, was the theme Sunday at the Japanese Cultural Center.

While Hannemann has a reputation as a bully, he’s also a bit of an emotional softy — the man was not afraid to cry after the elections results came in.

“Gail and I want to unite behind a gentleman that was every bit the warrior, the fighter that he’s been all his public life,” Hannemann told his fellow Democrats, who rewarded him with several standing ovations. “He certainly proved that to the people of Hawaii, and they have spoken.”

“I am feeling very deeply right now a relationship that has endured over a quarter of a century,” said Abercrombie, noting that the media has focused too much on the “bifurcation” of the 1986 congressional race between the two and neglected to point out when they have worked together.

“Believe me, Mufi and I know what it’s like to be on both ends of victory and defeat, wining and losing,” he told the party faithful.

A Future in Politics for Mufi?

Hannemann and Abercrombie, at least publicly, did not display the harsh animosity between, say, Jimmy Carter and Teddy Kennedy in the 1980 presidential election — the one that saw Ronald Reagan elected.

And it’s not the first time the party has weathered a tough primary for governor.

Sympathy for defeated candidates was a repeated theme Sunday.

“Let me tell you, I how it is is to be on the short end of a vote,” said party chair Carpenter. “But the load does come off the shoulders, there is relief, you grow an inch.”

Hannemann shared the same table as Abercrombie, his wife Gail sitting close to her husband and softly rubbing his back.

Schatz and U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono sat at the same table, which was positioned right next to the media table — “Look at us! We’re friends!” seemed the clear intent.

Ed Case and Ben Cayetano didn’t show. But Kirk Caldwell did. So too did John D. Waihee and George Ariyoshi.

“It’s wonderful seeing Neil and Mufi together — that’s what this is all about, that is what defines us as Democrats,” said Colleen Hanabusa, who compared the moment to Case’s magnanimously withdrawing from his expected primary battle with Hanabusa for the 1st Congressional District.

Hanabusa observed that her primary opponent Rafael Del Castillo got more votes than Republican Charles Djou — 1,181, to be precise.

Hanabusa lost several congressional races before winning Saturday night. Case seems poised for a comeback after losses for senator and Congress.

How about a future race for the U.S. Senate between Hannemann and Lingle?

GOP Has Unity, Too

As Democrats were busy patching up their differences, Republicans held back-to-back events to show their style of unification.

First up, with running mate Lynn Finnegan at his side, Aiona challenged Abercrombie to six “topic-specific” debates in the six weeks before the general election.

“The issues I am talking about are too important to have them discussed in the manner I have seen done in the primary,” Aiona said at his Nimitz Highway campaign headquarters. “I haven’t heard anything of substance from Mr. Abercrombie on these issues: Jobs and the economy, education, the budget, Native Hawaiian issues, health and and human services and energy.”

At noon, at Hawaii Republican Headquarters on Kapiolani Boulevard, local GOP candidates on both the winning and losing side held their own unity gathering.

“We started telling a message to the Democratic Party and the establishment, that they do not own this state, they do not own D.C.,” said U.S. Rep. Charles Djou, who faces Hanabusa in the 1st Congressional District.

There was talk about what GOP leaders call a “taking back our country” movement, though the Tea Party was not mentioned. Nor was there any mention that the biggest victims of Tea Party anger on the mainland thus far this year have been Republicans.

But, as for Democrats, the charge of the day was pulling together.

“This is about unity,” said the term-limited Lingle, who for the first time in decades was not a candidate for office. “Our candidates are superior. The Democrats are nice people, but they just vote wrong.”

The Republican House Caucus took the unusual step of unveiling of a 2011 legislative action plan on the economy, education and government.
“For the past eight years we’ve brought balance to the executive branch of the state government,” said Kaauwai. “Now, we need a responsive, effective and balanced state Legislature.”

Will One-Party Dominance Stand?

Unlike in the U.S. Congress, Hawaii’s Democrats are not at risk of losing control of the Legislature.

The Hanabusa-Djou race is deemed a toss-up that could turn toward the Democrat.

There’s not much Tea Party anger here, no throw-the-bums-out mentality. Only one legislator and a handful of County Council seats lost re-election.

If Hannemann campaigns for Abercrombie, the solidarity message would be reinforced.

“Neil and I, you say we had differences, but at the end of the day he and I remain committed to the important issues that affect us,” said Hannemann. “So, Neil, we are ready to hit the road for you. Four letters, Mufi and Neil, Neil and Mufi.”

“We are both committed Democrats,” said Abercrombie. “The plain fact is we both understand what competition and ambitions is, and we recognize a common humanity and vision. His parents were immigrants — I ‘immigrated’ from Buffalo” — (pause for big laughs).