Taking to the streets

LIHU‘E — As election day grows near, both Republicans and Democrats took to the streets Friday evening.

About 30 Trump supporters set up their banners and flags at Kukui Grove Center near the intersection of Kaumuali‘i Highway and Nawiliwili Road. The gathering, originally planned Kapa‘a, was moved into Lihu‘e in hopes to avoid protesters.

“Do we have Black Lives Matter people here?” Freddy Levinthol, a small Trump flag discretely tucked in the handlebars of his motorcycle, wanted to know. “The Trump supporters knew they were going to have protesters in Kapa‘a so they moved their sign-waving to outside the Kukui Grove Center, even if it rained for a little while.”

Across town the Democratic Party of Kaua‘i organized a “Be Like RBG! Walk With Purpose” remembrance memorial. About a hundred people attended the gathering on the lawn of the Historic County Building Friday, where attendees were mindful of the COVID-19 face-mask and social-distancing guidelines.

Kaua‘i County Council candidate Dr. Addison Bulosan said Kaua‘i has not really had any event to remember the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

A flier for the event states “this is a time to honor Ginsburg’s legacy, to reflect, refresh and inspire our sense of purpose to uplift others and our nation.”

The gathering encompassed remembrances not only of Ginsburg, but civil-rights leaders, victims of violence and people who have been claimed by the COVID-19, bound through oli and prayers in Hawaiian provided by kumu Sabra Kauka, and Kaua‘i County Council candidates Jade Wai‘ale‘ale Battad and Bernard Carvalho Jr. leading the doxology.

“As voting begins for Hawai‘i, we also walk to reaffirm aloha as a core value to be embraced by our elected public servants in their critical roles at this difficult time,” the flier continues.

Event organizer Mina Morita, a former state representative, was joined Kaua‘i Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar, winning his office during the primary election by virtue of being unopposed, led the group by donning blue Biden/Harris shirts as they led the group around a circle encompassing ‘Umi, Hardy, and ‘Eiwa streets that were dotted with inspirational and motivational words attributed to Ginsburg and other political leaders.

“I thought I knew a lot about Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” said Tiffany Sagucio, reigning Miss Kaua‘i Filipina and a University of Hawai‘i at Manoa student who is currently at home doing distance learning and working under the Rise to Work program with the Rice Street Business Association that live-streamed the event beyond the 100-person audience. “But I’m learning a lot more about her while I interview people.”

Democratic party candidates for various offices in the upcoming general election also took advantage of the RBG event to hold a sign-waving rally of their own along Rice Street in the area surrounding the Historic County Building.

“We don’t do it for too long,” said a supporter of Kai Kahele, a candidate for U.S. Representative. “Usually we’re at the Kaua‘i Community College, and even there, we usually are gone after about an hour. Kai was smart because he started campaigning early.”