The mayoral candidates gave new meaning to the phrase “roving reporters” Thursday. They had the press corps running all over town. Read all about it:

honolulu-politics:

Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle jumpstarted a caravan of roving reporters Thursday afternoon with a press conference about how much better his rail project is than the bus transit plan championed by former Gov. Ben Cayetano.

Carlisle read a short statement criticizing Cayetano’s plan to explore King and Beretania streets as dedicated bus lanes for the in-town phase. Carlisle pointed at the 2003 federal environmental study that Cayetano approved, which rejected King and Beretania from consideration because of greater business disruptions and impacts to traffic and on-street parking. 

“Nothing has changed in the last 10 years except traffic is worse,” Carlisle said before ending the short press conference inside his campaign headquarters at Ward Plaza. He then avoided follow-up questions. 

Minutes later, Cayetano called a press conference in response. Engines still warm, the caravan cruised up to his house in the gated community of Waialae Iki. 

Speaking in his living room, Cayetano opened by inviting questions from reporters. In answering them, he pointed at the same 2003 study which is serving as the basis for his bus plan.

Cayetano downplayed any potential impacts to businesses and traffic, and suggested parking is readily available on Beretania and King streets. 

“The thing about the bus is it’s flexible, it can go around things,” he said, adding that Carlisle is latching onto an inflexible plan. “It shows how inflexible he is. He should be looking for, I think, ultimate solutions, develop ideas on his own.”

Not to miss an opportunity, Kirk Caldwell called a press conference of his own. So back downtown the caravan raced, meeting him on the sidewalk outside his law office at Alii Place.

“Ben is saying, ‘No rail, absolutely not. Chase away $1.55 billion.’” Caldwell said. “Peter is saying, ‘Build the system as it’s been designed. I don’t want to hear from anyone else and if it requires taxing people I’m for that too.’”

Caldwell said he wants to do rail better and explore a bus system too.

“I’m not against bus rapid transit. I think there is a way to have bus rapid transit work with rail. But it’s not either or. You’ve got two candidates that it’s either or. And you’ve got me that I think is the combination of an integrated transit system.”

— Nathan Eagle