We all play the "remember what used to be here" game. What was on the corner before the Hawaii Prince Hotel came, what did 404 Piikoi used to be, or where was Chunky’s?

Today the game is slightly different. We stare at a vacant building or storefront and try to remember what used to be there before the business gave up, went bankrupt or was unable to make the new lease payment.

The sign of the times is a "Closed for Business" sign.

Hawaii’s economy is far from vibrant and last week’s stock market did nothing to send a reassuring message.

Success or failure for Hawaii’s economy is always laid at the feet of Hawaii’s governor. When Hawaii banked a $700 million surplus, then-Gov. Linda Lingle’s approval rating neared 70 percent. And when the economy tanked, so did Lingle’s reviews.

So it is something of a reversal to see The Maui News editorial page, always one of the state’s most conservative, discover a new friend helping Hawaii: Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

"We have not always seen eye to eye with the governor, but the tone of his speech (to the Maui Chamber of Commerce) can be boiled down to one line in it: ‘We are going to conduct the business of Hawaii government like a business’," the editorial of last Wednesday read.

When the paper endorsed former Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona for governor last year, its editorial said: "We can’t afford Neil Abercrombie’s vision of government.

"The sheer scope and size of government that Abercrombie’s ‘A New Day in Hawaii’ presents is scary," the paper said.

Abercrombie apparently is now in something of a Maui love fest, as the Valley Island’s biggest paper said a capacity crowd "applauded loudly" as the liberal Democrat vowed, "This state is going to be fiscally stable, the state is ready to pay its bills."

If you can’t cut taxes, the best way to win over a conservative is to cut government and Abercrombie’s forced budget-cutting has made The Maui News his new BFF.

"Sacrifices were going to have to be made by all and state government was going to have to get by with less.

"He told the chamber audience that the traditionally huge largess Hawaii gets from the federal government would be much less in the future, that the ‘gravy train is coming to a halt,’" the editorial said of Abercrombie’s speech.

Although Abercrombie promised during the campaign not to raise taxes, he was halfway through the last legislative session when he flatly said he wanted a tax increase to help balance the state budget.

A series of increases to taxes, fees and exemption deletions resulted and Abercrombie is still navigating a budget that must be cut another $50 million, so if he is to win the hearts of conservatives, he still has time.

The state’s economy, however, is not any better than the rest of the country and it appears to be in the middle of another drop.

A speech may win friends, but this economy will keep any incumbent from winning votes.

Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.