hawaii lawmaker beth fukumoto oust last month republican leader state house representatives publicly criticize president donald trump resign wednesday party seek membership democrat fukumoto 33 young hawaii legislator serve house minority leader say divisive campaign rhetoric 2016 elections convince republican party long reflect political value interest state diverse population election saw members party marginalize condemn minorities ethnic otherwise make demean comment towards women say open letter resignation republican party fukumoto mix japanese irish ancestry say find trump comment ban muslim immigrants possibility establish registry muslim-americans especially trouble want badly see republican party denounce comment happen tell reuters say muslim registry strike one step away internment camp issue really change felt self-described political moderate fukumoto first republican 26 years represent largely middle-class central oahu district outside honolulu capital predominantly democratic state say originally join republicans sense democrats status quo party grow gradually disillusion republicans recount fellow republican caucus member admonish last year consider party middle america despite hawaii diverse demographics make switch fukumoto send questionnaire constituents seek opinions reply 76 percent say would support regardless remainder oppose change party say first elect state legislature 2012 fukumoto become leader state tiny house republican caucus two years late remove peer february year speak trump women march hawaii day inauguration wednesday fukumoto become lone independent among 45 democrats five remain republicans state low house launch process apply membership state majority party hawaii lawmaker resign republican party join democrats