They say being mayor of a large city is a thankless job, but it hasn’t stopped Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell from thanking himself — and seeking gratitude in the form of hard cash.

As most of us sit home for seven months now waiting for the pandemic to end, Caldwell skipped the governor’s COVID leadership meeting Wednesday to host a lunchtime “Mahalo Mr. Mayor!” fundraiser for his own expected 2022 run for governor.

The virtual event was billed as “a time for all of us to thank Mayor Caldwell” for his “courage and commitment” in addressing the novel coronavirus.

Putting a price tag on our appreciation, suggested donations ranged from $500 for a “plumeria” level of thanks to $2,000 for a “pikake” level to $6,000 for an “ilima” level. It takes a lot of those fragrant island flowers to mask the odor of this ill-timed money grab.

Profiteering off the health crisis was especially nervy following the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s recent Hawaii Poll showing that only 38% of respondents approved of Caldwell’s handling of the coronavirus while 49% disapproved.

Seems most folks aren’t in much mood to say “t’anks, eh, brah,” for his milking the crisis for TV face time, imposing confusing and ever-changing rules, deploying police to issue excessive and often trivial citations, closing public beaches and parks while leaving for-profit water parks open, or hosting super-spreader events in Waikiki and Chinatown.

Caldwell’s fundraising solicitation suggested he also be thanked for keeping other campaign promises.

Wonder whether this includes his No. 1 promise to “build rail better,” which he honored by presiding over a doubling of costs to $10 billion and an eight-year delay in completion, finishing with a last-ditch effort to blame the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation — whose directors were mostly appointed by him.

Muchas gracias, jefe.

But mere citizens who might take offense to the goofs weren’t the thankers Caldwell’s event targeted.

He sought cash tribute from specials interests still making money while so many suffer, thanks to city contracts and other municipal munificence. Think what he could do for them with the state treasury at his disposal.

You know who deserves thanks? U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, who saw us struggling in August and brought 60,000 nose swabs for a COVID testing surge that kick-started the turnaround of our case rate from more than 300 a day then to fewer than 100 today.

What thanks did he get? Caldwell’s police cited him for stopping at a park he didn’t know was closed to take a picture of an Oahu landmark. He’s paying a local attorney to try to avoid a $5,000 fine and criminal record.

I’ve covered Hawaii politics since 1968 and developed a pretty strong stomach for the hauna, but sometimes it still has the capacity to make me feel sick.

Reach David Shapiro at volcanicash@gmail.com.