Peggy Anderson said she could feel the anxiety of this year’s election subside within her as soon as she stepped out of her Honolulu Hale voting booth Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m absolutely sick of it,” she said of the presidential campaign pitting Republican Donald Trump against Democrat Hillary Clinton. “I’ve done my part now, and I can turn off the TV.”
Anderson was one of nearly 2,000 people who voted on Oahu on Tuesday on the first day of early walk-in voting in Hawaii.
“That’s a pretty heavy day for the first day,” Honolulu City Clerk Glen Takahashi said. “We’ll see if it continues like this.”
Early walk-in voting will continue at Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Satellite City Hall through Nov. 5. The general election is Nov. 8.
Jim Cortez of Manoa said he came on the first day of voting to get his civic responsibility out of the way.
“I’m sick and tired of it already,” he said of the rancorous election season.
Cortez said he voted for Clinton because “the other guy is insane.”
Richard Smerz declined to say who he voted for but did say he was disenchanted with a presidential race he described as mostly devoid of issues-based campaigning.
“The mudslinging has been absolutely atrocious. I don’t think it has served the country well,” said Smerz, 70, of Kailua.
Frank Stepo, a 65-year-old retiree from Makiki, said he was voting Tuesday for “the least-worst” presidential candidate. His choice: Clinton.
“Trump is too crazy. He doesn’t make any sense,” he said.
But Ling Qu, a dentist originally from China who said she was voting for the first time as an American, said her candidate was Trump.
Qu explained that she doesn’t want the policies of President Barack Obama to continue, especially in the area of health care.
“I really think America needs a change,” she said. “I’m not sure (Trump) can change it, but at least he can try.”
Christina Simmons of Kaneohe said she was “excited to get the presidential ink off my pen.”
She voted for Clinton because of her proven track record and support of early childhood education and health care reform, among other things.
On the local level, she said she was satisfied with the job Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is doing. She said she wants him to finish rail and do it with a minimum of issues going forward.
Some people appeared to be taking their time voting Tuesday, apparently unprepared for the numerous constitutional and charter amendment questions on the ballot.
But Simmons and several others said they had no problems at all, with the help of the booklet compiled by the Charter Commission that was sent out in the mail.
Carol Cambareri of Waikiki said she voted early to escape the crowds and vote for Clinton. A former New Yorker, Cambareri said she respected Clinton when she was her U.S. senator.
“The other one is a cretin and a demagogue and a misogynist and a xenophobe. He’s filled with hate, and all he does is divide the people,” she said.
Cambareri voted for Caldwell, too, and she hopes he can get a better handle on the city’s homeless problem. “He’s got to do something,” she said.
Tom Loomis of Kailua said he voted for Caldwell but that he wasn’t exactly happy about it. He said the mayor has some ethical issues in regard to his paid position on the board of Territorial Savings Bank.
But, Loomis said, he just couldn’t bring himself to vote for Charles Djou because of the former Republican U.S. congressman’s conservative stances on social issues.
“So I held my nose and voted for Caldwell,” he said.
Steve Anthony, 57, of Hawaii Kai said he was happy to finally get the election in the rearview mirror. He said he voted for Clinton.
“Trump is Trump. He’s not respectful of women. He doesn’t really have a plan, other than to be a complainer and whiner,” he said.
A 42-year-old health care worker from Honolulu said she voted for Trump but declined to give her name. She said she works in an office full of Clinton supporters, and she fears backlash.
“I’m excited to get a new president and vice president,” she said, describing herself as a conservative. “I think the country is going in the wrong direction.”
The woman added that Honolulu needs a change as well. She said she’s hoping Djou puts the reins on rail and shortens the route with connections to the city’s buses.
EARLY-VOTING SITES
The following early-voting sites are open to registered voters through Nov. 5 unless noted otherwise. Qualified Hawaii residents who are not registered can now go to any walk-in location in their county to register and vote. To be eligible to register, the person must be a U.S. citizen, a Hawaii resident and at least 18 years old.
CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU
>> Honolulu Hale, 530 S. King St.; Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
>> Kapolei Hale, 1000 Uluohia St., Kapolei; Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.
HAWAII ISLAND
>> Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi St., Suite 1, Hilo; Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
>> West Hawaii Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona; Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
>> Waimea Community Center, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela; Monday- Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon
>> Pahala Community Center, through Nov. 3, 96-1149 Kamani St., Pahala; Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (closed from noon to 1 p.m.)
MAUI COUNTY
>> Office of the County Clerk, 200 S. High St., Room 708, Wailuku; Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
>> Mitchell Pauole Center, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai; Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. (closed from noon to 1 p.m.); Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon
KAUAI COUNTY
>> Lihue Neighborhood Center, 3353 Eono St., Lihue; Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
