HDP 2.3.4 with Phoenix 4.4 on Calcite 1.5; also Phoenix 4.6.0 on Calcite 1.3
select (char_col1) from table
select UPPER(char_col1) from table
select LOWER(char_col1) from table
select COALESCE(char_col1, char_col2) from table
The first returns an unpadded string as expected. The others returns a padded string