Dozens of O'ahu residents gathered at the state Capitol yesterday to express their frustration with government spending and protest the burden they bear as taxpayers during a time when money is tighter than usual.

The national grassroots movement TEA helped organize seven rallies yesterday on O'ahu, Hawai'i, Kaua'i and Maui to express taxpayers' opinion that they're "Taxed Enough Already."

From Washington, D.C., to Atlanta, and Chicago to Santa Barbara, Calif., the group held more than 1,000 "tea parties" yesterday, organizers said.

The group has organized similar rallies in the past, including one on O'ahu in April.

Most of the protesters at the state Capitol took issue with federal taxes, but said they were unhappy with the state's as well.

The most common grievance among protesters was the federal economic stimulus plan and bailouts approved earlier this year. Many argued the federal bailouts were socialist legislation and the wrong way to address the current state of the economy. Others were concerned for future generations, and the tax burden they're going to have to bear.

"Every morning I turn on the television, and there's (President) Obama, talking about more ways to spend money that we don't have," said Waikiki resident Anne Warmus. "It's going to come from you, and it's going to come from me."

LOCAL FEE INCREASES

In Washington, D.C., an estimated 2,000 protesters expressed outrage at the $787 billion economic stimulus plan, saying the bill racked up a huge national debt that will be passed on to their grandchildren, CNN reported. Protesters said Obama's push for a health care overhaul is "socialism," and believe it would negatively affect the quality of care.

"They are wasting all of our money," said Sean Albert of Richmond, Va. "They're not running our government like we would run our own checkbooks. When I'm out of money, I stop spending the money."

In Hawai'i, the first day of the fiscal year Wednesday marked the start of a number of city and state fee and tax increases on items such as cigarettes, parking, bus fares, zoo admission, hotel rooms, property sales and municipal golf course use.

One of the organizers of yesterday's protest at the state Capitol, Pearl City resident and townhouse manager Phil Nasca, 56, said he thinks it's unlikely Hawai'i legislators will respond to the protest, but he continues to participate in events like this so his voice will be heard.

"We're trying to hold our government leaders accountable according to the Constitution," he said. "They're killing our economy."

LAWMAKERS ABSENT

Many stood along Beretania Street with signs such as "Don't spread my wealth, spread my work ethic" and "Obama: One Big Awful Mistake America," and received honks and shakas from passers-by. Some listened to speeches or political band Stratus Blue, which came to play and support the rally.

No legislators made appearances, but some Republican lawmakers may be present during a tea party on July 15, said organizer Jeff LaFrance.

"They couldn't spare one speaker for Independence Day to support their constituents," said LaFrance, 53, a real estate broker from the Big Island. "It's very disappointing to me. That's why I'm no longer a Republican."

LaFrance and Nasca contacted people through phone calls and e-mails to get the word out. Many participants contacted LaFrance and Nasca on their own, after hearing about the TEA protest and finding them through the organization's Web site.

Other activist organizations came out to the rally, such as People Opposed to Indifference and Restore the Republic.

Wahiawa residents and computer technicians Josh Beigel, 22, and Andrew Ulett, 25, heard about the tea party rallies in the news and looked up the one at the Capitol online. They came to observe, they said.

"There's a lot of optimism," Ulett said. "People still have faith in the system. They just feel their voices need to be heard."