An important side effect of the heavily contested race for the 2nd Congressional District (Rural O'ahu - Neighbor Islands) has been a heightened focus on the day-to-day needs of these areas.

One striking theme has emerged: Issues of traffic, congestion and urbanization, long thought to be the province of Honolulu, are now clearly just as powerful on the Neighbor Islands.

This is a signal to policy-makers that should reverberate long after this campaign ends.

Increasingly, the strain of growth and development that affect our quality of life are the same whether one comes from Lihu'e, Hawai'i Kai, Kona or Kapolei.

At the federal level, as many of the congressional candidates have recognized, this means battling for federal "infrastructure" dollars that traditionally went primarily for a more urbanized O'ahu.

At the state level, it means rethinking the calculus that says since O'ahu has 80 percent of the population, it must have 80 percent of the problems that demand solving.

Understanding the pressures of development on the Neighbor Islands now could help reduce the chances of those communities having to grapple with some of the problems we now face on O'ahu. From jam-packed highways to contentious battles over shoreline development, the importance of thinking now about future growth cannot be overstated.

While roads and traffic congestion are the primary concerns for many Neighbor Islanders, the infrastructure challenges go far beyond that. Sewage treatment, harbor improvements and basics such as schools and hospitals are also part of the equation.

The good news is that the Neighbor Islands have an opportunity to avoid some of the worst "growth" mistakes made by O'ahu. That will take sensible long-term planning that strikes the right balance between development needed to keep the economy strong and the importance of open space and agriculture that preserves Hawai'i's natural beauty.

This year's election should be a wake-up call for anyone concerned about maintaining a quality future for our island state. It's an opportunity to thoughtfully manage our growth on the Neighbor Islands — an opportunity we can't afford to miss.