The Mayor’s new eTransit began service Thursday. I checked it out Sunday.

As you know, this thing is the skeletal remains of the Bus Rapid Transit system which is now dead, thanks to poor planning and weak support from the local government. The BRT, which would have added a mass-transit option for Honolulu’s beleaguered commuters, lost funding and rapidly lost support, due in large part to grouchy drivers whose drives through Waikiki were inconvenienced.
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With the number of World War II veterans dwindling every day, and with an unprecedented deployment of Hawaii troops to modern conflicts overseas, Thursday brings a powerful opportunity to remember and honor the dedication and sacrifice of our armed forces. The islands have strong ties to the military, and Veterans Day observances will take place all over the state.
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Tonight was the First Thursdays poetry slam at Studio One. First Thursdays is a monthly event and typically draws a huge, enthusiastic crowd. The event was founded by a poet named Kealoha, who is a real inspiration to me. When First Thursdays was just starting up, Kealoha used to stand on street corners handing out fliers, doing anything and everything he could to get people to come. Now First Thursdays is the largest registered slam competition in the world. For what it’s worth, I hope First Thursdays loses the “largest in the world” distinction while simultaneously retaining its attendance. It would mean that slam poetry as a whole is gaining popularity.
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I was grateful for the chance to read Wendell’s experiences on election night, because I was so toasted after working at the precinct all day that all I had the strength to do was crawl home, cover my head, and hope the printouts looked better in the morning.
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I voted for the democrats today. After work, I headed on down to Senator Daniel Inouye’s campaign headquarters in Dole Cannery. Inouye’s headquarters was also doubling as the local Kerry campaign headquarters. Going in, there was an enormous amount of energy in the air.

Right inside the door, I found U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie giving an interview to the local FOX news team. Neil’s been a fixture in Congress for years, failing to win re-election only once. Tonight he secured yet another 4-year 2-year* term in the House of Representatives. He’s also shorter than me, which is kind of cool. I like to think of him as Hawaii’s congressional hobbit.
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