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Do you think that President Obama's just-concluded visit to China will: Prove beneficial for both countries? Prove more beneficial for China than the U.S.? Prove more beneficial for the U.S. than for China? Prove beneficial for neither country? View All Results Read/Post a comment	What do you think of Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to tap the rainy day fund and use noninstructional days as time without pay for teachers to end Furlough Fridays next year? It's a good plan and should be put into effect. It's a bad plan and should be rejected. It's a good start but needs to go further. Some option other than those listed above. View All Results Read/Post a comment
Whom do you credit with acting most responsibly so far in dealing with the state's budget crisis? The governor State lawmakers The public worker unions All of the above None of the above View All Results Read/Post a comment	How would you classify the Fort Hood massacre? An act of terrorism. The act of a lone, mentally disturbed individual; not terrorism. It's too early to say; more information needed. Some option other than those listed above. View All Results Read/Post a comment
How do you think the shutdown of pineapple will affect Maui's economy? Significantly harmful and long-lasting. Harmful in the short term, but no long-lasting effect. No noticeable effect. It will be beneficial. Some option other than any of those above. View All Results Read/Post a comment	Do you expect the state and the unions to agree on a solution that would eliminate the school furlough days? Yes No No to this year but yes to next year Yes to some furlough days, but not all View All Results Read/Post a comment
What should County Council Member Sol Koho'ohalahala, who holds the council's Lanai residency seat, do now that the Hawaii Supreme Court has ruled that he's not a Lanai resident? Continue to serve his full term even though he doesn't live on Lanai. Continue to serve his full term only if he immediately moves to Lanai. Resign his seat. Some other option. View All Results Read/Post a comment	Do you support the proposal in the health care reform package that would require all Americans to carry health insurance and to possibly fine them if they don't? Yes No Yes to mandate, but no to fines Need to know more details before deciding View All Results Read/Post a comment
What should the state water commission decide about the waters of Na Wai Eha? No change; leave stream diversions in place. End all diversions; return to free-flowing streams. Restore less than 50 percent of diverted water to streams. Restore more than 50 percent of diverted water to streams. Some option other than any of those above. View All Results Read/Post a comment	Should Maui County pass a bill now before the County Council that would ban Styrofoam containers such as those used for plate lunches? Yes No Don't know enough about it View All Results Read/Post a comment
Do you think President Barack Obama deserved the Nobel Peace Prize? Yes No Don't know View All Results Read/Post a comment	Should the Legislature be called into a special session to find a way to reduce or eliminate the 17 furlough days planned for public schools? Yes No Don't know enough about it. View All Results Read/Post a comment
Whom would you like to see elected as mayor of Maui County in 2010? James "Kimo" Apana Alan Arakawa Gladys Baisa Charmaine Tavares Shan Tsutsui Wayne Nishiki Mike Victorino Someone else View All Results Read/Post a comment	What's your opinion of the 17 furlough days that public schools will be closed on consecutive Fridays starting Oct. 23? It had to be done given the current budget crisis. It had to be done, but that's too many days. There should be more furlough days to realize more savings. There should be no furlough days; find other places to cut. Some opinion other than any of those above. View All Results Read/Post a comment
Do you favor making Kahului Airport an international airport? Yes. No. Need to know more details before deciding. View All Results Read/Post a comment	One year after the financial industry's meltdown, has the federal government put enough safeguards in place to prevent its happening again? Yes, no more regulation needed. No, the financial sector needs stricter controls. The government shouldn't be regulating the industry at all. Don't know. View All Results Read/Post a comment
How do you think President Obama's speech Wednesday night affects the odds of getting health care reform legislation passed? It increases the odds It decreases the odds It will have no effect Don't know View All Results Read/Post a comment	When it comes to Hawaii and the recession, do you think: The worst is behind us and things are getting better? It will continue as it is now with no improvement for a year or longer? Things will get even worse before they get better? Some option other than those listed above? View All Results Read/Post a comment
In the bitter labor negotiations between the Lingle administration and leaders of the public worker unions, who do you think is behaving more responsibly? Lingle administration. Union leaders. Both are behaving responsibly. Neither is behaving responsibly. View All Results Read/Post a comment	What do you want the U.S. to do about the war in Afghanistan? Stay the present course including some increase in troop levels. Employ a surge policy with a massive increase in the number of troops. Begin a gradual drawdown of troop levels. Withdraw all troops as quickly as possible. Some option other than those listed above. View All Results Read/Post a comment
What do you think of Council Member Wayne Nishiki's display of an upside-down Hawaiian flag at his desk in Council Chambers? He has the right to do so; there's nothing wrong with it. He has a right to do so, but not in the Council Chambers. It's not important; other issues deserve more attention. Some option other than those listed above. View All Results Read/Post a comment	As Hawaii commemorates 50 years of statehood this week, do you think: Hawaii should remain a state just as it is today? Hawaii should remain a state, but Native Hawaiians should be allowed self-governance? Hawaii should secede from the U.S. and become an independent nation with a democratic form of government? Hawaii should secede from the U.S. and revert to an independent nation ruled by a monarchy? Something other than any of the above? View All Results Read/Post a comment
What do you think of the protests mounted by the opposition to President Obama's health care overhaul? They are appropriate and raise legitimate issues. They are over the top and ill-mannered, even if the issues are legitimate. They are manufactured by right-wing extremists who only want to see the president fail. It makes no difference because it's not important. Some option other than those listed above. View All Results Read/Post a comment	Since the poll comments section is repeatedly being abused by mostly the same group of unsavory posters, should the comments section again be shut down? Yes No Some other option View All Results Read/Post a comment
Should Maui County pass a law restricting cell phone use while driving? Yes, ban all cell phone use while driving Yes, but allow hands-free cell phones while driving No; all cell phone use should be allowed while driving View All Results Read/Post a comment	What is your view of President Obama's response to the arrest of a Harvard scholar and questions of racial profiling? His response was appropriate. His response should have been more forceful. His response should have been less forceful. He should have stayed out of it and left it in the hands of local authorities. Something other than any of the above. View All Results Read/Post a comment
How would you grade President Obama's efforts to enact health care reform? A-plus Passing Barely passing Barely failing Failing badly View All Results Read/Post a comment	How would you rate Gov. Linda Lingle's approach to dealing with the public employee unions in light of the state's financial crisis? Excellent Good Fair Poor View All Results Read/Post a comment
How concerned are you about North Korea's missile launches? Very concerned Concerned but not alarmed Somewhat concerned Not worried at all View All Results Read/Post a comment	Should marijuana be legalized in Hawaii in a manner similar to alcohol -- taxed and barred for possession by anyone under 21? Yes No Some other option View All Results Read/Post a comment
The Maui County Board of Ethics will not make public its conclusions in the review of a complaint against County Council Member Wayne Nishiki. Should it? Yes No It doesn't make a difference View All Results Read/Post a comment	The Legislature passed a resolution declaring Sept. 24 as "Islam Day" in Hawaii. Do you think that's: A good thing for Hawaii? A bad thing for Hawaii? Neither a good nor a bad thing for Hawaii? View All Results Read/Post a comment
What's your opinion of Gov. Linda Lingle's order that state employees must take three days of unpaid leave each month for the next two years? Good decision because it strikes right balance. OK decision, but cuts need to go further. OK decision, but cuts should be less. Bad decision because no cuts should be imposed. Something other than any of the above. View All Results Read/Post a comment	What do you think of President Obama's nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for the U.S. Supreme Court? Excellent choice; could not be better. Satisfactory choice; as good as most other candidates. Wrong choice; someone else would be better. View All Results Read/Post a comment
Are the Obama administration's national security policies making the country: More secure than those of the Bush administration? Equally as secure as those of the Bush administration? Less secure than those of the Bush administration? Or is it too early to tell? View All Results Read/Post a comment	Who do you think will be the next governor of Hawaii? Rep. Neil Abercrombie Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona Sen. Colleen Hanabusa Mayor Muffi Hannemann Someone other than those listed above View All Results Read/Post a comment
The Maui Police Commission on May 20 is scheduled to select a new Maui police chief from among three candidates. Who would be your choice? Police Lt. Bobby Hill Deputy Police Chief Gary Yabuta Former Police Capt. Paul Winters Any of the three would be acceptable None of the three; more candidates needed View All Results Read/Post a comment	How would you rate the Legislature's performance in dealing with the state's financial crisis? Excellent Good Fair Poor Abysmal View All Results Read/Post a comment
How confident are you in the state government's readiness to deal with swine flu should it occur in Hawaii? Extremely confident Somewhat confident Not confident at all Don't know enough about it View All Results Read/Post a comment	As President Barack Obama approaches his first 100 days in office, how would you rate his job performance? Excellent Good Fair Poor View All Results Read/Post a comment
The salary for the chief of the Maui Police Department is currently $113,100 a year. Should that pay rate: Be raised? Left where it is? Be reduced? View All Results Read/Post a comment	What action should the state take to balance the budget? Raise taxes. Cut spending, but no worker layoffs. Cut spending, including worker layoffs. Use a combination of tax hikes and spending cuts. Some action other than any of the above. View All Results Read/Post a comment
Should the Maui County Council pass a bill prohibiting future "superstores," or those of more than 90,000 square feet, from being built in the county? Yes No Doesn't make a difference View All Results Read/Post a comment	Do you agree with the state Senate's decision to reject the effort to force a vote on same-sex civil unions, essentially killing the measure this session? Yes No No opinion either way on the issue View All Results Read/Post a comment
Is it important to Hawaii for the Superferry to remain in business? Yes No Doesn't make a difference View All Results Read/Post a comment	How much of an effect is the global financial crisis having on you and your family? Major effect, including job loss. Significant effect, but no job loss. Some effect, but nothing major. No effect. View All Results Read/Post a comment
General Motors has already received $13.4 billion in government loans and now says it needs $30 billion more to avoid bankruptcy. Should the government: Give GM the $30 billion? Give GM something less? Give GM nothing; let it go bankrupt? Some option other than those listed above. View All Results Read/Post a comment	Did President Barack Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress cause you to: Have more confidence about the future of the country? Have less confidence about the future of the country? Have no more or less confidence about the future of the country? View All Results Read/Post a comment
Should the state of Hawaii allow same-sex civil unions and/or same-sex marriage? Yes to both No to both Yes to civil unions; no to marriage No to civil unions; yes to marriage View All Results Read/Post a comment	Do you favor the legalization of marijuana use? No, it should be illegal with no exceptions. Yes, but only for licensed medicinal purposes. Yes, but only by those 21 or older. Yes, with no restrictions. Some option other than those listed above. View All Results Read/Post a comment
Hawaii lawmakers started collecting a 36 percent annual pay hike on Jan. 1, from $35,900 last year to $48,708 this year. It was their first raise in four years. As they look to cut millions from state spending, what should they do about their pay? Freeze it at its current levels, forfeiting already scheduled future increases. Keep it where it is and let the scheduled future raises take effect. Roll back at least 50 percent of the latest increase. Roll back the entire increase to last year's levels. Some option other than those listed above. View All Results Read/Post a comment	What do you think of the federal government's $700 billion bailout plan and $800 billion-plus stimulus bill? They definitely will end the recession and get the economy back on track. They may help some but the recession won't be going away anytime soon. They're a waste of taxpayers' money and will only make things worse. View All Results Read/Post a comment
There are proposals before the Hawaii Legislature to bar the state from selling the 1.2 million acres of former monarchy lands. Do you think: The state should be barred from selling these ceded lands until the claims of Native Hawaiians to those lands are resolved? The state should be allowed to sell these ceded lands because they belong to all the people of Hawaii, not just Native Hawaiians? No action should be taken until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on a Hawaii Supreme Court decision that halted the selling of ceded lands? Some option other than those listed above? View All Results Read/Post a comment	As the state's economic crisis deepens, proposals are surfacing to legalize gambling as a way to raise revenue. Would you favor some form of legalized gambling in Hawaii? Yes No Need to know more details before deciding. View All Results Read/Post a comment
Who do you think should succeed the late state Rep. Bob Nakasone in the 9th House District seat, which serves Kahului and Lower Paia? Kehau Filimoe`atu Lance Holter Gil Keith-Agaran View All Results Read/Post a comment	How does the current economic meltdown affect your upcoming vacation travel plans? Still planning to travel to the Mainland or abroad for vacation. Won't be leaving Hawaii, but will vacation on another island. Will vacation at a Maui hotel or condominium. Will spend vacation time at home. Won't be taking any vacation time. View All Results Read/Post a comment
How would you rate the job politicians in Washington are doing in addressing the economic meltdown? Excellent. As good as could be expected. OK, but could be better. Having no effect. Only making things worse. View All Results Read/Post a comment	Incoming Council Member Sol Kaho'ohalahala currently lives in West Maui, but he won election to the residency seat for Lanai, his native island. His election win is being challenged in court by dozens of Lanai residents. What should Kaho'ohalahala do? He should take his council seat to which he was duly elected. He should immediately resign after being sworn in and a special election should be held to fill the Lanai seat. He should not take his council seat until all the legal challenges have been resolved. He should move to Lanai before being sworn in and the legal challenges then dropped. Some option other than those listed above. View All Results Read/Post a comment
In light of incoming Council Member Wayne Nishiki's earlier acceptance of a $100,000 loan from developer Everett Dowling, which did not become public until after Nishiki won the election, what should happen now? Nishiki should take his South Maui residency seat on the County Council and the matter should be dropped. Nishiki should resign immediately after being sworn into office and a special election should be held for his seat. If Nishiki takes his seat on the County Council, the Board of Ethics should instigate some sort of sanctions against him for filing his financial disclosure form well past the deadline. Something other than the options above. View All Results Read/Post a comment	If you voted for incoming Council Member Wayne Nishiki, would you have changed your vote had you known about the $100,000 loan he obtained from developer Everett Dowling, which didn't come to light until after the Nov. 5 election? No, I still would have voted for him. Yes, I would not have voted for him; I would have left my ballot blank. Yes, I would not have voted for him; I would have voted for Don Couch. View All Results Read/Post a comment
Big Three auto executives are asking Congress for $25 billion in new loans that they say is needed to keep the industry afloat. How much should Congress give them? All of the $25 billion. Some portion, but not $25 billion. Whatever they need, even if more than $25 billion. None of it; let them fend for themselves. View All Results	There is a move afoot in the County Council to fast-track the Makena Resort expansion project, which would consume about 600 acres and include a spa, restaurants and about 1,000 luxury an affordable homes and condominiums. What's your opinion? The project should be approved. The project should be rejected. More discussion is needed before any action is taken. View All Results
Every Maui incumbent running for state or county office won re-election on Nov. 4, and the two County Council races without an incumbent were won by former council members. What message do you see in that outcome? The state of the county and state is good and we should continue the same policies. None of the opponents offered anything better than what the incumbents are doing. Too much of the electorate is uninformed and doesn't take voting seriously enough. Incumbents get all the special-interest money, leaving challengers at an unfair disadvantage. Some message other than any of the above. View All Results	There is an effort under way to circulate a petition to recall Mayor Charmaine Tavares. Do you think the mayor: Should be recalled? Should be allowed to finish the last two years of her term but not be re-elected? Should finish her term and be re-elected in two years if she chooses to run? Should resign? View All Results
Hawaii voters will be asked on Nov. 4 if they want to convene a Constitutional Convention to make changes to the state's constitution. Do we need a Constitutional Convention? Yes. No. Don't know enough about it. I won't be voting. View All Results	Now that the presidential debates are over, do you think the present format proves helpful for voters or are changes needed? Present format works well, should be continued. Changes are needed to make debates more meaningful. Formats can't be fixed and debates should be scrapped. View All Results
Going into Tuesday night's presidential debate, Barack Obama appeared to be widening his lead over John McCain in the polls. Do you think the debate outcome: Helped Obama increase his advantage? Allowed McCain to narrow the gap? Did nothing to help nor hurt either candidate? View All Results	Who do you think fared the best in Thursday's vice-presidential debate? Joe Biden Sarah Palin Both were equally good Neither was especially good View All Results
Who do you think fared the best in Friday's presidential debate? Barack Obama John McCain Both were equally good Neither was especially good View All Results	With economists forecasting that the state will run a $162 million deficit this year and $903 million by 2011 if nothing is done, Gov. Linda Lingle is asking all government employee unions to agree not to seek pay raises. How should the unions respond? Agree not to seek pay raises between now and 2011. Insist on pay raises in each year of the contract. Agree to no pay raises for the first year, but seek raises in subsequent years of the contract. Some option other than those listed above. View All Results
Of the two major-party candidates for the vice presidency, which one is the most qualified to step up to the presidency should the need arise? Sen. Joe Biden Gov. Sarah Palin Both equally qualified Neither is qualified View All Results	Now that the Republican Party's national convention is over, do you think that John McCain: Is more likely to be elected president? Is less likely to be elected president? Neither improved nor hurt his chances of being elected president? View All Results Read/Post a comment
Now that the Democratic Party's national convention is over, do think that Barack Obama: Is more likely to be elected president? Is less likely to be elected president? Neither improved nor hurt his chances of being elected president? View All Results Read/Post a comment	More than 100 college presidents have signed a statement urging consideration of lowering the legal drinking age, saying current laws drive drinking underground. Do you think the legal drinking age should be: Kept at 21? Lowered to 18? Lowered to 19 or 20? Raised? View All Results Read/Post a comment
At this stage of the presidential campaign, do you think Barack Obama's taking a vacation in Hawaii: Will have a negative effect on his chances of being elected? Will have a positive effect on his chances of being elected? Will have no effect either way on his chances of being elected? View All Results Read/Post a comment	Seven of the nine incumbents on the Maui County Council are seeking re-election and two of those are unopposed. Now that the field of candidates is set, what outcome do you hope to see in the County Council elections? The current council is doing a good job and all the incumbents deserve to be returned to office. Some of the incumbents should be retained but others should be voted out. All the incumbents should be voted out so the council can chart a new direction for the county. The council needs to chart a new direction for the county, but the field of challengers is unimpressive and not up to the task. View All Results Read/Post a comment
Vigorous debate is taking place on Oahu over the proposal to build a light-rail mass transit system on that island. What is your opinion? Light-rail mass transit should be built on Oahu only. Light-rail mass transit should be built on Oahu and Maui. Some other form of mass transit should be built on Oahu. Some other form of mass transit should be built on Oahu and Maui. No mass transit is needed on either island. View All Results Read/Post a comment	Maui Land & Pineapple Co. is cutting 274 positions, or about 25 percent of its work force. This follows the elimination of 120 jobs last year and the closing of its cannery. What does the future hold for the nearly 100-year-old company? The company is now in better shape to effect a turnaround and will be profitable in both farming and real estate. The company will stop farming all together and focus only on real estate and tourism. The company will continue to bleed financially and will be sold either as a whole or in pieces. Some other outcome. View All Results Read/Post a comment
Rodeos, including those in Hawaii, have been coming under increasing pressure from animal-rights activists with allegations of animal cruelty. What is your opinion? Rodeos should be banned. Rodeos should be allowed to continue, but certain events should be banned. Rodeos should be allowed to continue as is. Some other option. View All Results Read/Post a comment	What action, if any, should be taken by the county to reduce the number of dog attacks on humans? Particular breeds of dogs should be outlawed. Dogs should be banned from all beaches and parks. Leash laws should be more strictly enforced and fines increased for violations. No further action needed; just enforce the laws we have. Loosen the present laws; dogs should be allowed to run freely in more places. View All Results Read/Post a comment
The decision by the Maui County Cultural Resources Commission to deny permits for the LahainaTown Action Committee to conduct a Halloween program is: A good thing; it may lead to the end of the partying, which has no place in Lahaina. Irrelevant; it will have no effect on the Halloween revelry. A bad thing; with no organization, the partying could get out of hand. View All Results Read/Post a comment	In a historic ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court, on a 5-4 vote, affirmed the right to have guns for self-defense in the home by striking down the District of Columbia's ban on handguns. Do you agree with the court's decision? Yes No Undecided View All Results Read/Post a comment
California this month became the second state to allow same-sex marriage. Do you think Hawaii should legalize same-sex marriage? Yes No, and same-sex marriages in other states should not be recognized as legal in Hawaii. No, but same-sex marriages in other states should be recognized as legal in Hawaii. View All Results Read/Post a comment	Do you think that adding Hillary Clinton to the Democratic Party ticket as vice presidential nominee would: Greatly strengthen the Democrats' chances for winning? Slightly strengthen the Democrats' chances for winning? Have no effect either way on the Democrats' chances for winning? Slightly weaken the Democrats' chances for winning? Guarantee the Democrats would have no chance of winning? View All Results Read/Post a comment
On the November ballot Hawaii voters will be asked: "Should there be a convention to propose a revision of or amendments to the Constitution?" If approved, the Constitutional Convention will be held in 2010. How will you vote? Yes No I won't be voting. View All Results Read/Post a comment	The state Legislature passed by a wide margin a proposal to publicly fund some Big Island elections as a pilot program. Would you favor a law that would establish publicly financed elections in Maui County? Yes No It depends on how the pilot program works. View All Results Read/Post a comment
The Maui Humane Society is taking a "zero tolerance" approach to leash law violations, issuing citations carrying a penalty of up to $500. Do you agree with this policy? Yes No View All Results Read/Post a comment	With the shutdown of Aloha Airlines and the fact that the Hawaii Superferry is adding more runs between Maui and Oahu, are you more likely to use the Superferry? Yes, I will be using the Superferry more often. No, but I may use the Superferry on occasion if it's convenient for me. No, I would never use the Superferry. View All Results Read/Post a comment
What do you think is the best solution to the Hawaiian rights issue? The Akaka Bill should be passed to allow Native Hawaiians to have a form of sovereignty similar to that of Native Americans. Hawaii should secede from the United States and once again become a sovereign nation. There should be no recognition of Hawaiian rights separate from the rights of any other United States citizens. None of the above; some other solution must be found. View All Results Read/Post a comment	Who would be your choice for next president of the United States? Hillary Clinton John McCain Barack Obama Someone else View All Results Read/Post a comment
Were Maui police justified in using deadly force in the shooting death of George Brittain Jr.? Yes No Not enough information to say View All Results Read/Post a comment	Do you approve of Mayor Charmaine Tavares' signing of the Honua`ula land-use bills? Yes No View All Results Read/Post a comment
How will the shutdown of Aloha and ATA airlines most impact tourism in Maui County? Fewer seats on airlines will mean not as many visitors will come to the islands. Higher ticket prices will discourage visitors from coming. Less convenient flights will hurt tourism. Not much impact; the carriers were not major players in interisland or overseas travel. Not much; other airlines will pick up the slack. Not much; visitors will come regardless of higher prices, fewer seats or less-convenient flights. View All Results Read/Post a comment	Molokai Ranch has announced that it will cease operations and lay off 120 employees, blaming, in part, opponents to the ranch's development plans. Do you think: The ranch had no other choice given its ongoing economic losses? The ranch is using this action only as a ploy to get the community to accept its development plans? The ranch's opponents are to blame for continually raising objections to the ranch's plans? Instead of being blamed, the ranch's opponents should be thanked as the ranch never had Molokai's best interests at heart and the island will be better off without it? View All Results Read/Post a comment
Beginning in May, taxpayers will receive "economic stimulus" payments from the federal government of up to $600 per person, with parents receiving an additional $300 per child under 17 years old. What do you plan to do with your money? Save it Pay a bill Donate to a charity Use it for travel Spend it on miscellaneous purchases Other View All Results Read/Post a comment	The Hawaii County Council recently voted to ban smoking at Big Island parks and recreational areas. Should Maui County institute a similar ban ? Yes, in all beach parks and recreational areas. Yes, but only in designated beach parks and recreational areas. No, smoking should be allowed in all beach parks and recreational areas. View All Results Read/Post a comment
A dog running loose on a Paia beach recently bit and seriously injured a 7-year-old boy. The fine for allowing an unleashed dog is $500. Do you think: The fines should increased? Dogs should be banned from all beaches? Dogs should be allowed on only designated beaches? Some combination of tougher laws and limited beach access should be enacted? View All Results Read/Post a comment	Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares recently gave her second State of the County speech. As she starts her second year in office, how would you rate the mayor's performance? Excellent Good Fair Poor Too early to judge View All Results Read/Post a comment
Do you support a proposal currently before the Maui County Council to ban plastic shopping bags? Yes No Need more details View All Results Read/Post a comment	Do agree with County Council's decision to approve Honua`ula? Yes No View All Results Read/Post a comment