PEARL CITY, Hawaii -- Mayor Mufi Hannemann and challenger Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi made a joint appearance at Leeward Community College on Tuesday, where their competing transit plans were of huge interest.

Traffic is a major concern for commuters who face hours on the road each week.

"This mayoral race is more important to me than the presidential race," Leeward Oahu resident Roland Aggabao said.

Aggabao wants traffic fixed now. It was a sentiment shared by many in the standing-room-only crowd.

Hannemann pitched his vision of a rail-connected university system.

"You never have to use your cars -- students and faculty members. There'll be bikeways and walking paths," Hannemann said.

He also reassured the crowd about federal funds by tying rail to Sen. Barack Obama's presidential candidacy.

"He is going to increase the funding for transit. In fact, he has gone on record to support our transit proposal, not more buses. He wants to support trains," the mayor said.

"I thought that he did a real good job of explaining his plan, and I think it is a well thought our plan," LCC student Raynette Quel said.

The campus suffers from traffic congestion and would be one of the first places served under the mayor's rail plan. However, Kobayashi still managed to impress some students with her ideas.

She said her plan can carry as many people as rail.

"It's the same thing, except it has rubber tire instead of steel wheels and it is much cheaper," Kobayashi said.

Her plan also has another option.

"If no one uses the elevated bus way, you can use it as a regular road. With track, you are stuck with it forever and you are paying for it forever," Kobayashi said.

"I support Ann because at least there is an alternative," Aggabao said.

"It's a huge tax expense that my family will have to incur as well, and I think Kobayashi's plan is significantly cheaper," Waikele resident Karen Araki said.

Hannemann and Kobayashi are billions of dollars apart in their cost estimates.