For Mayor Mufi Hannemann, think caffeine.

For challenger Ann Kobayashi, think milk and sugar.

Few events better illustrate the difference in leadership styles between Hannemann and Kobayashi than campaign coffee hours.

These intimate klatches, long critical to political campaigns, take place in private houses or maybe a high school cafeteria and are meant to give potential voters face time with candidates.

Hannemann, typically more aggressive, spends most of his time talking into a microphone, touting his accomplishments. The mayor, clearly determined to raise voter turnout after a poorer-than-expected showing in the primary, exhorts supporters to vote and to encourage their friends to do the same.

Kobayashi, much quieter, typically speaks for just a few minutes, thanking her supporters, and then lets others press for contributions.

At his Dole Cannery headquarters, Hannemann recently talked about the issues facing the city and took questions from nearly 50 leaders of Hawaii's school athletics departments.

“;It seems to me that you, in many ways, hold the key to shaping the youth who will be the leaders of our community,”; Hannemann said.

Nguyen Le, 39, of Diamond Head, said he follows local politics closely but was undecided about the mayor's race until after he attended Hannemann's coffee hour.

“;He said all the right things,”; Le said. “;He demonstrated an understanding of the community. It was the first time I heard him speak and I was pleasantly surprised. He's really forward- looking, especially with the rail transit system.”;

Sheila Watumull, a former Hannemann supporter, hosted a small coffee hour for Kobayashi during the first week of October in her stylish Diamond Head home for about 30 friends. It wasn't an entirely typical coffee hour because some widely known politicians attended, including Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and Sen. Sam Slom (R, Diamond Head-Hawaii Kai).

Kobayashi shmoozed, shaking hands, eating only after she had said hello to everyone.

Most of her speech was spent criticizing Hannemann's $4 billion rail transit plan and his record as mayor. At that time, Kobayashi had not yet unveiled her own mass transit plan.

One of the speakers was Al Masini, an Aina Haina resident and the creator of “;Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”; and other television shows.

“;I'm a resident here, and I'm very concerned about Honolulu,”; said Masini. “;This is the most critical time we're going to face. The more I watch Mufi, the more concerned I am that we would be on a disastrous track for all of us. I didn't think we had an alternative, so I'm very glad we have Ann.”;

The attendees included some supporters of former candidate Panos Prevedouros, who opposes Hannemann's rail system,

“;In a perfect world, we would be co-mayors,”; Kobayashi said, standing next to Prevedouros, her campaign's adviser for infrastructure. “;We'll be standing together a lot, solving the problems of the city.”;

But while there was a lot of talking, there wasn't a lot of substance.

“;I'm not sure what the objective of tonight was,”; remarked Leon Williams, 42, of Kailua, but he added: “;I think it's always nice that someone opens up their home to promote interaction.”;