It appears that there are more young people at Ben Cayetano’s party than there were at the one during the Aug. 11 primary.

That assertion is based off observations, but it could be a reflection of more people coming out to vote during a general election.

Cayetano has said he would feel better about his chances if more people went to the polls today.

Last time Barack Obama was on the ballot, youth voters in Hawaii largely turned a blind eye — only a third of voters aged 18-25 showed up at the polls, far less than the national average.  

It’s hard to say whether that statistic has changed, but a visit to several Oahu polls today suggested that more youth may care enough to cast their ballots.

Benson Gonsalves, a 22-year-old student at Kapiolani Community College, said he said he wanted to vote in 2008 but that he missed the registration deadline.

He went to the polls today with one of his friends vote for the first time, and was pleasantly surprised that he didn’t have to wait in line.

“I actually thought it would be a lot more difficult [to vote] but it was really easy,” Gonsalves said.  “That’s the only reason I was kind of nervous and hesitant coming here, just because I didn’t know how long the line would be.”

He said he thinks other people his age may feel the same.

“I think that’s why a lot of young people have challenges because they’re not used to coming here and standing in line,” he said.  “They just need to come out and experience it for themselves.”

Lovely Bayani, a 21-year-old student at Hawaii Pacific University, said she voted for the first time in the 2010 gubernatorial election as part of a requirement for her anthropology class.

This year she went to Waimalano Elementary School to cast her vote in favor of Kirk Caldwell because she supports rail and thinks it’s important for young people to be engaged.   

Maile Makekau, a 26-year-old sales associate who also voted in Waimanalo, said most of her friends aren’t voting.  But she said she wanted to exercise her right to participate.

Gonsalves agreed.

“I want my opinion to be heard,” Gonsalves said.  “I don’t want to be upset with the candidates that got voted in when I could have said something about it.  I want to make a difference.”

— Anita Hofschneider, Alia Wong and Nick Grube