ROYAL HAWAIIAN BAND

OFFERS HAWAIIAN AND A DIVERSE REPERTOIRE

The Royal Hawaiian Band continues to promote and perpetuate the music of Hawai'i, from the monarchy to the present, and does indeed reflect that in its consistent programming of featured Hawaiian vocalists and hula performers at concerts all around O'ahu.

From time to time, the band performs a more diverse concert program to reflect a particular theme or culture as the occasion warrants, and audiences have expressed their appreciation.

In addition to traditional, hapa haole and instrumental Hawaiian music (such as Hawaiian polkas and marches, which some may not realize are "Hawaiian"), the band also occasionally features songs of other cultures to reflect the ethnic diversity that makes up our Island's population as well as songs to honor certain sports or military events.

From the blowing of the pu (conch shell) with the opening oli (chant) to featuring our wonderful local Hawaiian talent and award-winning hula practitioners, the Royal Hawaiian Band provides a unique concert experience like no other band in the world.

CHANGE

WHY ARE DEMOCRATS SO AFRAID OF CONCON?

Did anyone else find it ironic that on the very same day that Barack Obama's sister came to the Big Island to support a state Senate candidate and her brother, the Hawai'i Democratic Party announced it strongly opposed a Constitutional Convention?

How can a surrogate for the candidate of "change" support people who are so dedicated to preserving the status quo? Many things could result from holding a ConCon, but the one thing that is for sure is that there would be change.

What is the Democratic Party so afraid of? They mention cost, but the truth is a ConCon would not cost any more than the legislative session that is held every year. Did you know it costs Hawai'i taxpayers about $40 million every year for the Legislature to meet? If the Democrats are so worried about cost, I have an idea — let's skip the legislative session next year and just hold the ConCon.

It is disappointing that the same party that is so proud of its homegrown presidential candidate is opposed to the same thing he has based his campaign on in their own state.

After this move, I have a new slogan idea for the Democratic Party in Hawai'i. How does "Status Quo You Can Believe In" sound?

PALIN

2 VIEWS ON SUDDENLY BECOMING PRESIDENT

Two views on suddenly becoming president of the United States:

"When they told me yesterday what had happened, I felt like the moon, the stars and all the planets had fallen on me." Harry Truman, to reporters after the death of Roosevelt in April 1945.

"I'm ready." Sarah Palin, to Charles Gibson in September 2008

HISTORY

IT'S CLEAR BUSH WILL NOT BE JUDGED FAVORABLY

On Sept. 19, Charles Kraut-hammer's column was titled "History will revise current verdict on Bush," and Leonard Pitts Jr.'s column was titled "An abundance of lies, a shortage of the truth."

After reading both columns, it is clear that the titles should have been reversed.

Krauthammer states: "The surge then effected the most dramatic change in the fortunes of an American war since the summer of 1864." This statement is an insult to military history and certainly places it in the lies and shortage of truth category along with most of his other recollections.

Pitts writes: "Indeed, truth hardly seems to be the point anymore. Lies serve just as well." The rest of the world has passed judgment on President Bush, and the American people are learning more and more from each new publication about his decision-making. And, it is apparent that President Bush will not be viewed favorably by history.

TEACHERS

RANDOM DRUG TESTING INFRINGEMENT ON RIGHTS

L. Inouye's letter (Sept. 16) epitomizes how indifferent we've become to infringements on our constitutional rights since the tragedy of 9/11. Encroachments on freedoms that our forebears fought and died for and that are at the core of what it means to be an American, are now considered nothing more than a "minor inconvenience."

It's a sad commentary on the current state of our democracy that requiring teachers to surrender their Fourth Amendment rights and submit to random drug testing can be dismissed in such a cavalier fashion, and by a fellow educator no less.

The truth is the danger to our civil liberties far outweighs the grossly exaggerated danger to our keiki claimed by Inouye and the drug-testing advocates in the Lingle administration.

No teacher is opposed to drug testing for cause. But random testing is a clear abridgement of our rights, and we should resist it with all our energy. Our principled stance might be the best civics lesson we ever give our children.

Ronald Reagan once said: "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." I couldn't agree more with this man I never voted for.

If we teachers submit to random drug testing, our generation will have moved a few steps closer to that extinction against which President Reagan warned so eloquently. Is this the legacy we want to leave our children?

ECONOMY

RICH GETTING RICHER WHILE POOR GET POORER

While millions of Americans are losing their homes, their jobs, their savings, their retirements and worse; remember that the economic crisis, the recession, the depression, and the Wall Street crash are not bad for everyone.

Remember, the oil companies are still posting record profits — in billions of dollars. Although they have already been paid back many times over for their support of Bush and Cheney in 2000 and 2004, their profits continue to roll in, four and eight years later. And we're paying for it, at the pumps, at the stores, at the bank, and yes, to those who control our government.

The CEOs of major American companies are still making record salaries in hundreds of millions and yes, even billions of dollars.

The companies that manufacture ships and planes, guns, ammunition, uniforms, other equipment etc., for the Bush war machine continue to make billions in profits.

The private companies that won all of the non-bid contracts in Iraq continue to make billions as long as Bush, Cheney, McCain continue the Bush war.

Companies that are being bailed out by our government leaders are still doing very well, thank you.

The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.

And how about the millions who are already homeless, and the 45 million without any medical insurance, and those who live too far from the Canadian border to escape to our stronger, healthier neighbor to the north?

IS MCCAIN JUST SAYING WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR?

I read a Washington Post article in Wednesday's Advertiser that said, "A decade ago, Sen. John McCain embraced legislation to deregulate the banking and insurance industries, helping to sweep aside a thicket of rules established over decades in favor of a less restricted financial marketplace."

Now look at the mess we're in: Wealthy business leaders get tax breaks and walk away with huge severance packages from the financial messes they've made. Meanwhile, the little guy pays for it.

Well, McCain did say that he knows nothing about economics.

But has he truly reformed his hands-off philosophy? Can we trust him to put appropriate regulations in place? Or is he just saying what we want to hear?