By Bob Krauss
Advertiser Columnist

Early last Wednesday I sat with a cup of coffee grimly studying pages A12 and A13 of The Advertiser, like a D- student cramming for an exam he knows he'll fail. On the pages were the names and pictures of 25 senators and 51 representatives in the state Legislature opening that day.

What made it so embarrassing is that most of them were born after I came to Hawai'i. Good grief, I must have passed every one of them on the street. But the faces were a blur.

I remember Rep. Bob Herkes from when we were young and wild. I loaned him a raincoat on a motorcycle expedition to the top of Mauna Kea. Sen. Willie Espero showed up at a homeless veterans housing project at Barbers Point recently. So I can remember him and some others like that.

With the pages stuffed in my pocket, I set out to study legislator recognition. There was one in the atrium; dark suit, tie, shined shoes, carrying a lei. Might as well get started. I introduced myself. He turned out to be a lobbyist. Maybe I'd better get some advice.

Bill Brown, president of Bishop Museum, was on his cell phone lining up appointments. "I have two tips for you,' he said. "Shake hands and say, 'It's always nice to see you again.' Also, put your name tag on your left shoulder so it will show better when you shake hands."

David McClain, vice president for academic affairs at the University of Hawai'i, launched into a scholarly spiel about how important the university is to the economy.

Kealii Bright, teacher at Halau Lokahi charter school, was more helpful: "I recognize faces from the media and others from sign waving. It's the names that give me trouble."

Freelance writer Jerome Tabor, munching on teriyaki steak, said he is doing a piece for a gay magazine, Dakine, about the lobbying efforts of a group called Civil Union-Civil Rights. They have legislator recognition down cold. At every meeting they put out a chart showing how each legislator voted on bills that affect gays.

Kiki Hugo, who drives the pilot boat in Honolulu Harbor, gave the shortest answer: "I remember those who pass good legislation. There aren't many."

Jimmy Chong remembers legislators because he lobbies for Civil Defense, the Manoa Chinese Cemetery, the American Legion and one other group I can't remember.

Big Island ILWU political action official Lloyd Matsubara said he remembers about three-fourths of the legislators because they are invited to speak at ILWU political action meetings. His problem is getting union members to vote.

Schoolteachers Kathy Murphy and Deborah Dahl, members of the Keiki Caucus, said they remember legislators by thanking them for what they do for children.

By that time I was hungry and Sen. Russell Kokubun invited me to his chow line. How does he remember politicians? "The key is personal relations. It's a pleasure to be associated with people who care about what happens to our state."

Reach Bob Krauss at 525-8073.