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Together for the last time this election season, Mufi Hannemann and Neil Abercrombie exchanged platforms and a few barbs before an attentive audience on Maui Tuesday evening.

At stake was Maui County‘s 86,000 registered voters.

Neither candidate scored a knockout punch — though Hannemann, the former Honolulu mayor, tried several times to get Abercrombie, the former congressman, off his game.

In the end — “At the end of the day,” as Hannemann likes to say — the forum may not impact the election that is just three days away. But it was a great exercise in civic responsibility nonetheless.

The town hall meeting — sponsored by the Maui Chamber of Commerce, the Realtors’ Association of Maui and The Maui News — was held at Iao Theater in Wailuku and streamed live on Akaku: Maui Community Television.

(According to the Chamber’s , “Candidate Duke Aiona was also invited to participate, but is not available as he will be on the mainland for official business at that time.”)

The tourism downturn that began some two years ago in South and West Maui has since spread to the rest of the island, and unemployment is in the 8-9 percent range.

Traffic, roads, water, harbors, real estate, the Hawaii Superferry and agriculture remain at the forefront of issues important to Valley Isle residents. So does a lingering gripe that the state’s seat of government in Honolulu remains firmly Oahu-centric.

Not surprisingly, questions from moderator Ed Tanji, the retired Maui News journalist, and from the audience addressed many of those issues.

But the bulk of the questions addressed issues facing all Hawaii residents: health care, energy, education, jobs and taxes. Others, like Hawaii civil unions and the Akaka bill, would affect homosexuals and Native Hawaiians more directly than others, yet ultimately touch everyone.

You don’t need to read the by-now familiar responses to questions on these issues. Let’s cut to the chase on what was different, and useful.

Hawaii Superferry

Hannemann made a spirited argument for bringing back the Superferry, saying how he would do the environmental impact statement he believes the administration of Gov. Linda Lingle failed to do.

He received hearty applause for making an analogy between inter-island sea transport and Oahu rail, tying in jobs, commerce and connectivity.

Abercrombie, however, tempered his previous enthusiasm for bringing back the Superferry. While continuing to believe it is glaring that Hawaii remains the only major chain of islands without a ferry system — there’s a Fact Check for you, Civil Beaters — he said financing for the projects and questionable operation costs make the effort almost doomed.

Federal Recognition for Hawaiians

Both candidates scored points with the audience in describing how central the host culture is to the islands.

Hannemann talked about his efforts working with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, for example, to preserve Oahu’s Waimea Valley and with Native Hawaiian trusts to foster more education for children.

Abercrombie reminded the audience that the Admissions Act that brought Hawaii into the union mandated ceded land revenue go to help Hawaiians with education and health care, among other issues. He spoke movingly about working in the state Legislature to create a program to bring kupuna into elementary classrooms to share their knowledge and culture.

It was Hannemann, however, who brought up the most salient point concerning a governor’s responsibility should the Akaka bill become law: That the governor would be “the chief negotiator” between the state and a Native Hawaiian governing entity. That may well be the most important task facing a future governor.

Gambling

Abercrombie again stated his opposition to legalized gambling while remaining open to the possibility of a mega-lottery that other states use.

Seeing an opening, Hannemann accused Abercrombie of “revisionism”, arguing that Abercrombie in a recent televised debate said he was open to having a lottery if funds go to education.

“You can take some of my time (to answer),” Hannemann said.

“I’d be happy to give that time back for you to reflect on what I just said,” replied Abercrombie.

Point, Abercrombie.

“How can you change your answer in less that a month?” countered Hannemann.

Too late. Moderator Tanji said the audience could check the record on its own.

A Casual Affair

Hannemann looked tired and puffy, as well as weary of hearing Abercrombie say the same things over and over again. He drank a lot of water.

But Hannemann also sprang alive in his answers, gesturing smartly with his arms and hands. Despite repeating hackneyed phrases as often as Abercrombie, Hannemann once again demonstrated his command of the issues and ability to stay on point.

It’s ironic that Hannemann initially was the candidate who seemed to be avoiding public appearances with Abercrombie. His latest attack vehicle — questioning the cost and feasibility of Abercrombie’s 43-page plan for Hawaii — is entirely appropriate and showed how there are still many unanswered questions for both candidates.

Abercrombie, meanwhile, was comfortable, enjoying the moment, aware of the history in the making and — whatever Saturday’s outcome — his place in it. His voice rose several times, in that inimitable Abercrombie style, as it neared the end of sentences, bringing the audience along with him.

This being Maui, it should also be noted that Hannemann wore a tie but no jacket and Abercrombie an aloha shirt. Ed Tanji wore blue jeans and spoke with the monotone of a high school math teacher. Forum volunteers casually walked right up to Tanji during the forum to hand him hand-written questions.

As Tanji acknowledged, there were many, many questions but not enough time to get to them all.

Maybe it doesn’t matter.

As one Hannemann supporter said to another after the forum ended, “That was a good debate, wasn’t it?”

Her friend agreed, but shrugged.

“I already voted absentee,” she said.