This country faces some significant challenges and needs real leaders, not simply office holders.

AARP VOTES 'YES' ON JUDICIAL AMENDMENT

AARP Hawai'i urges you to vote yes on constitutional amendment 3 on the ballot to remove the mandatory retirement for judges from our state Constitution.

Mandatory retirement for judges is age discrimination. It shouldn't be tolerated, any more than we can accept discrimination based on race, gender, disability or sexual preference.

Age should never be the sole criterion limiting a person's ability to serve. Our judicial review system has adequate safeguards to ensure the fitness of judges. Unlike federal judges, who have no age limit and are appointed for life, Hawai'i judges have either 10-year terms or six-year terms. Voting yes does not change this. They still must reapply and undergo the merit-based performance review.

The trend among states is toward longer service. Hawai'i is one of 21 states that require judges to retire at age 70.

Society's understanding of aging has made significant strides in the half century since the Hawai'i Constitution was written. When this provision was passed in 1959, the average life expectancy was 71. Today, older workers remain active and productive much longer in life.

In a state that reveres its kupuna, voting yes to remove age discrimination reflects the values of our community and is good public policy.

This election day, vote yes on question 3 and don't leave your ballot blank — that will count as a no. End age discrimination in Hawai'i.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, DRUG TEST OUR TEACHERS

Hawai'i State Teachers Association Executive Director Joan Husted hit all the great buzz words to scare us into submission — witch hunt, teacher shortage, sacrificial lamb, etc. — regarding possible drug testing for teachers.

She also said "teachers are furious at the suggestion that their ranks contain drug users." Really? Most teachers I know, and in fact most rational human beings, will agree an organization as big as HSTA will undoubtedly have its share of users just by sheer odds.

Many professions require random drug testing due to the sensitive nature of a particular job. As HSTA reminds us every time contract negotiations come around, our teachers are professionals in charge of our most valuable resource.

I agree, let's protect our resources.

MILITARY

MAHALO TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR US

The death of any U.S. service man or servicewoman diminishes me. The ultimate sacrifice paid by my fellow Americans tears at my heart. But, when a Marine from Marine Corps Base Hawai'i or a soldier from Schofield is killed, it hurts immeasurably more and with it comes a bit of guilt as well.

Did I pass this young man at Windward Mall? Did she smile at me as I walked into the Subway on base? Was he the one bodysurfing with his friends at Makapu'u? Throwing a football in the parking lot at a University of Hawai'i game? Did I have the chance to say "Howzit" or, more importantly, "Mahalo?"

These are "our guys." They died for us in Hawai'i as much as for anywhere else. And I never even said, "Thanks!"

HAWAI'I'S IMAGE

NO ALOHA SHOWN FOR TOURISTS AFTER QUAKE

Forgotten in the parade of political analysis and finger-pointing were thousands of tourists stranded in Waikiki following the earthquake. For 12 hours, well into darkness, tourists were in long lines outside convenience stores because they had nowhere else to go and because their hotels had no contingency plans for power outages longer than three hours.

Sure, the tourist population is an easy, nonvoting segment to forget. Sure, people from California and Japan are accustomed to earthquakes and other natural disasters. But they are here without their home emergency kits, having been lured by promises of paradise and aloha. We can't guarantee perfect weather and utilities every day, but we can always fulfill our kuleana to our valued guests.

A little consideration, in the form of donated snacks and candles, would have gone a long way toward enhancing Hawai'i's image to the outside world. Unfortunately, our state agencies and political parties were too busy either covering their own behinds or kicking someone else's.

EARTHQUAKE

CIVIL DEFENSE SIRENS WEREN'T NEEDED OCT. 15

I've just read where Rep. Neil Abercrombie has announced that the failure of the emergency sirens to sound following the earthquake "is a complete failure on the local level."

Good grief, Neil, get real! Considering O'ahu, what was the imminent danger that would have justified blasting the sirens and rousing 700,000 citizens out of bed? To announce a power outage? If predicting earthquakes was possible we could have sounded them before the event and warned everyone to stand-by for a little shaking. But then again, that would be better to do the day before on the news so that anyone that wanted to sleep in could still do so.

The sirens are best kept where there is a real threat of imminent danger and emergencies, not for disseminating information. People don't need to be told to turn on their radios to find out what's going on. By the way, I think Michael Perry and Larry Price and their whole KSSK team did an outstanding job of keeping us informed.

OUTAGE

HECO NEEDS NEW PLAN FOR RESTORING POWER

Hawaiian Electric Co. needs a new plan! When a HECO spokesman comes on the radio 12 hours after the blackout and proudly announces that they had "cycled-up" 25 percent of their system, the existing plan is a failure.

The need for automatic shutdowns to prevent damage to the generators and incrementally restoring power over a period of time is acceptable. However, if the computerized shutdown system is working properly it should take no more than an hour or two to confirm that all is well. "Cycling-up" only 10 to 15 percent of the system each hour (in this case starting at 9 a.m.) would have restored power to everyone between 3 and 6 p.m.

The Public Utilities Commission should investigate and require a better response.

EARTHQUAKE

HECO THANKS O'AHU FOR PATIENCE IN OUTAGE

On behalf of everyone at Hawaiian Electric Co., I want to thank each of you for your patience and understanding during the islandwide blackout on Sunday, Oct. 15, following the earthquake.

You have our pledge to continue our look at what happened and why, using experts from Hawai'i and elsewhere to make sure we do a thorough and complete review. We will work with Public Utilities Commission and the consumer advocate to find the best answers for our customers.

We also need to improve the way we communicated with you that day. Not enough information got out fast enough and getting information to you is critical. Finally we will work with the state and counties and with the media to help create a system of response that better serves our community.

All of us at Hawaiian Electric feel a personal responsibility in providing service to our customers and we deeply regret the frustration and inconvenience we know folks had to endure during those long hours without power.