A stack of Star-Bulletin final editions sat next to the cash register at Columbia Inn Thursday afternoon. The headline, ''Liberty House files bankruptcy,'' stopped one woman in her tracks. She scanned the page and announced to no one in particular, ''Well, I guess this means we'll have to change our voting strategy.'' Becoming part of the problem
Last Monday, the Stan Sheriff Center public address announcer introduced Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono to a sell-out crowd at the Hawaii-Gonzaga NIT game. The response was a weak spatter of polite applause followed by surly boos.
The Linda Lingle gubernatorial campaign's early polls show her doing well against a Ben Cayetano re-election bid. In fact, the Maui Republican enjoys a meaningful lead. Of course, we're a long way from election day.
Cayetano has been willing to make tough decisions but unsuccessful at selling them. Even faithful Democrats have balked at following Ben's lead. Sometimes, as in the case of his Economic Revitalization Task Force's tax package, he himself seems unconvinced and uncharacteristically willing to waffle.
There's a sample copy of a newsletter called Salesmanship posted on the Internet. It bears the headline ''Build loyalty by solving problems.''
Hawaii's once-loyal voters are weary of seemingly insoluble economic problems and governance by budget cut. Their impatience will make this election very interesting indeed.