The period 1945-1975 is often referred to as and "The Burns Years and " in Hawaii history books, and rightfully so. John A. Burns looms as Hawaii's most significant political figure of the last half of the twentieth century. Burns entered politics at the close of World War II, working closely with organized labor leaders and Japanese-American war veterans to forge a Democratic party that would be an instrument of social change in Hawaii. For twelve years, over the course of three successive terms as governor, Burns helped to shape many important elements of Hawaii's social and political structure that continue to this day.