One of Hawaii’s most familiar faces in politics has been decidedly absent from Honolulu Hale in recent years. Gov. Linda Lingle‘s office at the state capitol is a short walk from city hall, but her chilly relationship with former Mayor Mufi Hannemann meant the two didn’t drop in on one another with any regularity.

Two days into the new mayoral administration’s leadership, that dynamic shifted.

Lingle visited Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle at Honolulu Hale before the new mayor left on a brief city trip to Washington D.C. to discuss Honolulu’s rail project with federal transit officials. But Carlisle insists that wasn’t why she dropped in.

“She stopped by the office because she’s willing to talk to me but this was not a discussion whatsoever about rail,” Carlisle said. “She’d always made her views completely apparent to me. Nothing she has said has led me to believe she will change her opinion.”

Carlisle usually refers to the governor as “Linda,” and has said in the past they have a close working relationship. He said they had a “fruitful discussion” about a planned Kamehameha Schools multi-generational learning complex in Makaha. Carlisle publicly pledged the city’s support for the complex during his first address as mayor after taking the oath of office Monday afternoon.

Carlisle alluded to the difference in his relationship with Lingle, as compared to interactions between the governor and the previous city administration.

“She talks to me,” Carlisle said. “As opposed to, you know, she’s willing to do that with me.”

DISCUSSION What kinds of collaborations do you hope the city and state will pursue? Join the conversation.