Oh, also to address your comment that insinuates that I'm a political insider. I, too, am just a resident. A fairly recent college grad and now a small business owner. I volunteer because I want a Honolulu that works to make life better for residents, not harder. I am volunteering because I don't think you should have to be a political insider to have a voice in our community.

My friends are volunteering because they can't afford to move out of their parent's house, but they see the mayor making $200k for an hour a month's work. Because they see that rail is 5,000 million dollars over budget and they know that money will be coming out of their pockets, when they're already struggling to pay back student loans.

I encourage you, too, to volunteer... no matter your views. It's the most important thing any of us can do in order to have a strong democracy. Picking on one another for volunteering or being involved is simply not the way to do it.