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Changing Hawaii
LAST Friday, I received a tough "assignment" from a longtime Star-Bulletin reader named John. Troubled by the low turnout in the primary election, he wanted to know why only 40 percent of registered voters showed up the polls, especially when the Honolulu mayor's race was on the line. People need to
re-energize this state"Find out what's happened to Hawaii," was the gist of his call. "Doesn't anybody care anymore?"
Don't laugh, John, but I got the answer Saturday night at a University of Hawaii football game. Being forced to bond with more than 30,000 strangers in a common public area like Aloha Stadium can bring revelation.
At first, it looked like any other Warrior home match-up -- smiling folks wearing green clothes, or shirts and caps with the distinctively bold "H" as adornment.
These fans were of different ages and ethnicities; they came from different careers and parts of the community.
But when the opening whistle blew, their variances merged into one thing: cheering for UH.
While I'll leave the logistical details to bona fide sportswriters, here's a brief synopsis of exactly what happened: We lost. Again. So now we're 0-3.
Yet, even in that nail-biting defeat to Tulsa, the overwhelmingly pro-UH crowd displayed more passion and unity than was ever witnessed this past campaign season and particularly on primary election day on Oahu.
Why? Want to know what's "wrong" with Hawaii? We need to be reminded whom we're cheering for.
These last 10 years have been a real pain for local residents.
We've been drowning in a decade-long recession while other parts of the nation are surfing the crest of prosperity.
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling has incited Hawaiians and threatens to ignite the already-smoldering sovereignty issue, despite non-Hawaiians' best efforts to ignore it.
Now add to this other uncontrollable day-to-day irritants like rush-hour traffic jams; the high cost of living; worries about drugs, crime and the public schools; and now the governor wanting to close your favorite public golf course.
Sheesh. If we were computers, our circuits would have shorted out long ago.
BUT since we're human, island residents have reacted to this overdose of local woes by simply shutting down. In mere mortal terms, most of us just don't care anymore -- except for ourselves and our small circle of loved ones.
It's a means of self-preservation, and an understandable one at that. It's come to the point where, in order to remain sane, we are directing our energies and efforts on what's happening to "me," so there's little to expend on what's good for "us."
So there's you have it, John. It's my take on why so few registered voters participated in the primary and, unless there's a major mind shift, won't vote in the general, either.
They are overwhelmed by what's on their plates and underwhelmed by their leadership (although going to the polls could certainly improve that).
It's easier to dwell on one's own existence than a seemingly endless line of troubles with no fast, easy solutions.
But, most important, we've forgotten what was so evident at Aloha Stadium this weekend -- that while we're all different, we undeniably want the same thing. We want Hawaii to be a winner.
Unfortunately, we mistakenly believe we don't have the strength to do anything about it.
Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
dchang@starbulletin.com, or by fax at 523-7863.