And so it begins, this frenzy of selecting the major candidates seeking the toughest job on the planet.

If the obstacles facing the president of the United States have ever been more mountainous, it's hard to remember when.

This is a nation at war, confronting economic turbulence, rising fuel costs and a healthcare system struggling to meet the needs of its population.

International terrorism will require stronger security measures at home and abroad, as well as diplomatic acumen in an increasingly complex political reality. There are global environmental concerns, with the world looking to the U.S. for leadership.

That's a lot for voters to consider, while watching the presidential primary season lurch ahead. The results of Thursday's Iowa caucuses haven't really thinned the field that much, either, even though former Hawai'i resident Sen. Barack Obama posted an impressive lead over his closest rivals, and former Gov. Mike Huckabee rode a wave of support from the Christian right to take the lead.

Nor should anyone be surprised at the crowded field. There's no incumbent, and there are a lot of issues in play. It's still anyone's game.

So how should Hawai'i regard all of the spectacle?

Ordinarily, Isle voters feel somewhat disenfranchised from the presidential primaries because the system gives small, remote states very little influence over the final outcome. That hasn't changed.

But this time, it's crucial that voters become engaged in the process. The issues are complex and it will take every day between now and the general election to get a clear picture of each of the candidates who remain in the race.

One reason the electorate in the 50th state is already paying closer attention: the rise of Obama, who has ties to Hawai'i, has piqued our interest. But as election-watchers know quite well, the leaders of the pack in Iowa often fall behind in other states, where a different set of priorities dominate. Stay tuned for further developments, Hawai'i.

With the competition so fierce, the political spotlight is sure to shift among the candidates, giving voters a chance to evaluate each hopeful's platform and his or her grasp of the national concerns.

Surely, at this point in history it's crucial to find a president with firm footing in foreign policy matters. A chief executive with skill at consensus-building rather than one bound by partisan divisiveness is needed in the White House if the country is to navigate this century's treacherous waters successfully.

And certainly, anyone who presents a simplistic analysis of the state of the nation or favors only one or two issues on the stump should be regarded with suspicion. These are not simple times, and brains count: America needs a critical thinker with clear vision.

Let's keep eyes and ears open wide to understand the facts. The stakes are too high to rely on mere talking points.