The tectonic plates of the national and local economies have shifted in recent months. Particularly this past week, the rumblings of financial quakes unnerved everyone, from the steely stockbroker on Wall Street to the Hawai'i residents worried that their retirement fund would bottom out or their critical business loan would fall through.

It's into this changed landscape that Island voters should return to office their two U.S. House representatives: Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono. In the minefield of setting America's economy back on a healthy course, it becomes all the more important to elect the most qualified and strongest candidates. Abercrombie is seeking his eighth full term; Hirono, her second.

However, even before the Hell Week of debating the "bailout bill" — over which both Isle representatives first voted "no" and ultimately changed positions — the incumbents accrued legislative records that kept Hawai'i interests paramount.

It's on the basis of their performance over the past two years, not the drama of the past week, that they deserve support.

None of their campaign rivals came to the race with experience in public office, which is essential for anyone on the national political playing field.

Abercrombie, who chairs the House subcommittee on armed services, is positioned to oversee projects important to Hawai'i's military.

In addition to shepherding funding for the National Guard, he has advocated for accommodations of training needs that can be sustained in an island state with competing demands on the limited land resources. He needs to continue that advocacy, balancing the interests of the Hawai'i military sector with interests of other communities.

He and Hirono agree on the importance of renewable energy development to their home states, both as a means of lessening Isle dependence on oil and of spurring a new industry sector with its potential for job creation.

Abercrombie points to elements from his own energy bill that were encompassed in the version that passed the House. In it, he championed a mix of initiatives that enabled further development of fossil fuels, reinvesting some of that asset into alternative and renewable energy development.

Hirono also places a high priority on supporting such initiatives as extending tax credits for research and development of alternative energy.

She also lists her membership on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure as key to securing important funds for Hawai'i's highways, transit, harbor, aviation and wastewater infrastructure improvements.

Along those lines, she favors an economic stimulus package containing $222 million in infrastructure capital for Hawai'i, a bill that now awaits Senate consideration.

In addition, Hirono sits on the House Committee on Education and Labor, which passed her bill providing funds for early-education programs. That's an important component of the drive in Hawai'i to strengthen public education.

Looking ahead, however, the challenge for Hawai'i's House members remains in accomplishing these goals in a hobbled economy.

Their "no" votes contributed to the disappointing failure of the House bailout package; they cited improvements for individual account holders and tax relief as reasons for their reversal on Friday. Still, the final package was nonetheless weighed down by extra spending, much of it needless.

The job now, however, is to press ahead with other efforts to strengthen the economic "ship" now that the most precipitous leak was plugged. Both have signed on to bills that pass some of the cost of the bailout to Wall Street with the restoration of a securities transfer tax, restrict short selling of securities and establish a "Net Worth Certificate Program," which would free more capital and head off a further credit freeze in the marketplace.

Hirono added her resolve to examine other initiatives aimed at easing loan terms for resident homeowners, keeping them in their homes and staving off further erosion of home values.

There's a long road ahead for everyone bound for Capitol Hill on Nov. 5. It's crucial that Hawai'i's delegation maintain vigilance over economic rescue and stimulus efforts — with the knowledge that voters are paying strict attention, and will hold them accountable in 2010.