Talking to politicians and advisers is one thing, but it’s always more enjoyable to get the thinking of real voters.
I spent Wednesday morning talking to about 20 of them while they were walking out of the Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale polling places after having just voted.
I had the chance to talk with Pearl Harbor Shipyard workers, federal firefighters, a retired high-level state planner, two retired nurses, a baggage handler, a high school teacher and a public school custodian, among others.
The one thing that stands out is that voters are mostly OK with how Hawaii is doing.
Our voters are not part of the dark view of a country in crisis, so often decried by the national Republican Party.
When asked what was the most important thing that should be changed, one voter simply said, “I don’t have any complaints.”
It is not a complaint, but the issue at the top of everyone’s list is rail and what the next mayor will do.
A retired University of Hawaii academic support staffer said she would be voting for Mayor Kirk Caldwell because “he’s doing a good job with rail” and because the city paved Beretania Street, in front of her apartment.
“Caldwell said there are many issues facing the city, and I think he has done a good job,” she said.
A former Castle Medical Center worker said she was voting for the incumbent “because Caldwell has been dealing with the problems, so he has the experience and should continue.”
Several voters, however, said they supported former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou because he wants to cap the rail costs and also would look for other ways to deliver a less expensive mass transit system.
A high school teacher who lives in Waianae said Djou’s suggestions, including a rejiggered bus system, are good.
“I hear we don’t have the money to complete the system. I think Djou has come up with an alternative: Just put the buses on it. That’s a great idea,” he said.
The former state planner also said he voted for Djou because,“I would like rail to be completed within the budget there now. Not extend the half-percent (general excise tax surcharge) or increase property taxes.”
Although the presidential campaign is not on the August ballot, when asked about it, Honolulu voters mostly reacted with horror at the idea of Republican Donald Trump as president.
“I would leave the country,” a retired social service director said.
“Oh, that would be too scary,” a nurse responded.
But, two voters who said they usually vote Republican said they were toying with the idea of voting for Trump.
“The old saying goes, ‘You can’t trust politicians,’ but the guy has no political affiliations; he’s a business person,” said one voter.
“I am sort of leaning toward Trump. He sounds intriguing, although he goes off on tangents, but he has very good ideas,” said a retired city firefighter.
Walk-in voting runs through Aug. 11, with the primary election on Aug. 13.
Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.
