In most states, even during election time, most of the people seen by the side of the road are hitchhikers and can collectors. But not in Hawai`i, where political candidates crowd the highways and the byways before elections, trying to
In most states, even during election time, most of the people seen by the side
of the road are hitchhikers and can collectors.
But not in Hawai`i, where
political candidates crowd the highways and the byways before elections, trying
to catch the attention of the mobile electorate.
John Barretto, who served
on the Kaua’i County Council for two terms in the mid-1980s before running
twice – losing both times – for mayor, is back on the hustings as a council
candidate, waving his big, homemade sign in search of votes in this Saturday’s
primary election.
“It’s a Hawaiian tradition. I’ve got $250 worth of sign.
You can see it from a quarter mile away,” Barretto said.
Most people are
friendly and, according to Barretto, some even stop.
“Once in a while,
people pull off the road and talk story,” he said.
Not everybody is
friendly and verbal, though.
“Every once in a while I get the one-finger
salute,” Barretto said, laughing. “But I just think, well, they recognize my
name.”
Councilman Randal Valenciano, in his 10th year on the council, said
he’s become a local attraction while out campaigning roadside.
“Tourists
will stop and want to take a picture,” he said.
If Valenciano has gotten
rude reactions, he chooses not to talk about it.
“Most people are pretty
courteous,” he said.
Valenciano said he has had one or two people come out
to him and say, “Why are you guys doing this, Mr. Tokioka?” They mistake him
for fellow Councilman Jimmy Tokioka.
“But,” Valenciano continued, “I’ve
never said anything rude. They’d never vote for Jimmy again.”
“One kid gave
me the bird, but that’s part of what we do,” the real Tokioka said.
Tokioka
said he likes roadside campaigning.
“I’ve been to eight states on the
mainland and I’ve never seen it anywhere else,” he said.
“I get a lot of
self-satisfaction” from the road campaign work, said Councilman Daryl
Kaneshiro. “People are waving and smiling. They’re really happy to see you. I
recognize a lot of them.”
Kaneshiro, who’s involved in ranching on Kaua`i,
even gets the animals involved.
“Sometimes I bring the horse out. People
really enjoy that,” he said.
According to local politicians, stumping for
votes on the road shoulders is almost a win-win situation. But not
quite.
“The potential for accidents is worrisome. It’s important to stay on
the side of the road and not stand in the road,” Tokioka said.
“I worry
about that,” Barretto agreed. “Keeping the people safe is the most important
thing, much more important than winning an election.”
Staff writer
Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and
dwilken@pulitzer.net
