HOMELESSNESS

WEB READERS DISCOVER O'AHU'S DIRTY SECRET

Last week on the Internet, MSN featured a story about the homeless problem on O'ahu. What seems like a dirty secret, hidden away from the eyes of the tourists, has just made it to front-page news for millions of users nationally and internationally.

As I read the article, it left a horrible taste in my mouth. The stories of littered beaches, drug use, rising crime and families with many children living on the beaches... definitely not a place that tourists would find comfortable or feel safe visiting.

There was no talk of rehabilitation, no talk of family planning, no talks of tougher laws on criminal and drug offenders.

To simply put these people into hidden housing will not solve the problem and will prove an ever-rising funding strain on the state. Rehabilitation, jobs and tough rules is the only way to go.

The more welfare a state gives, the more welfare recipients it will create. This is a never-ending cycle.

As a tourism state, this can not go on — or we will lose our true source of income.

ELECTION 2006

OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON GOOD VOTER TURNOUT

The mid-term election this year is a very important step in determining the direction of America's future.

The direction will depend on which political party wins. So if you believe in what President Bush has done so far, then vote Republican. If you have a different view, vote Democratic.

If the Democrats succeed, they will make sure that the president is accountable for every action of his decisionmaking process.

We need a president who will speak and represent all Americans at every level of society. It is very important for all Americans to be registered and vote.

Your vote does make a difference.

LINGLE NOT TO BLAME FOR PREVIOUS 40 YEARS

Regarding Connie S. Patton's letter (Sept. 17) blaming Gov. Linda Lingle for the homeless, traffic and lack of school books for our children: It may behoove her to consider that it may take a little more than four years to reverse 40 years of one-party rule.

I for one can't wait to see what four more years of Lingle will bring to Hawai'i.

EACH VOTE DOES COUNT, MAKE SURE YOURS DOES

There have been some notable elections in the past few years at the local and national level that should remind everyone that their vote counts.

Two years ago, Washington state held one of the closest gubernatorial elections in our country's history. The race was decided by 129 votes.

A local school board election in Salt Lake City was decided by one vote.

Closer to home, in the 2004 Democratic primary election for the 23rd House District here in Hawai'i, Rex Saunders won by 36 votes.

Please remember to vote in the general election! It's our duty as Americans to ensure our voices are heard in government.

VOTERS SHOULD SET OWN AGENDA FOR THE FUTURE

It seems like the state Democratic Party has its own "timetable" and probably its own plan to fill the offices of our aging senators Akaka and Inouye. They are trying to tell us voters when we need to replace a member of our congressional delegation. We can think for ourselves, thank you!

We are not sheep, and they are definitely not our shepherd. Democracy means that anyone with the minimum requirements can run for office, and we the voters have to make up our minds whom we prefer.

People need to vote with their minds and hearts and think about those generations that will follow us. Akaka and Inouye have done a good job for the state of Hawai'i, but we have to start grooming someone younger to transition from our aging delegation to a younger one.

Don't let the state Democratic Party tell you what is good for you — make up your own mind.

SOLUTIONS NEEDED

WE'RE HAPPY TO BE RID OF GAS CAP'S INSTABILITY

The governor was right to push for a repeal of the gas cap. The gas cap raised gasoline prices and cost consumers much of their hard-earned money.

But almost worse, it made prices volatile. Every week the price of gasoline changed, sometimes by a few cents and other times by larger amounts.

If the price was forecasted to go up, long lines of cars would pile up on each other at gasoline stations on Tuesdays to get their fill before the increase. If the price was thought to go down, people drove their cars sometimes nearly empty, getting stranded on the freeway and causing more traffic snarls, just to hold out until they could get their fill of the cheaper gas.

It created instability in the market and our lives, ultimately costing consumers money and headaches. I am happy the gas cap is a thing of the past, and the governor has stepped forward to focus on real solutions, such as energy self-sufficiency.

It'll take time, but it's worth it, because it will really make a difference.

VOLCANIC ASH

AIONA HAS TAKEN LEAD ON MANY INITIATIVES

This responds to David Shapiro's Volcanic Ash column (Sept. 20). While Mr. Shapiro is, of course, entitled to speculate about who would be a viable candidate for Hawai'i's governorship in 2010, he is wrong in his assertion about Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona's leadership.

In addition to working in close partnership with Gov. Lingle, the different levels of government and the community to find solutions to the challenges facing the state and develop new opportunities for our residents, Lt. Gov. Aiona has taken the lead on a number of initiatives, including Hawai'i's war on drugs. With recent news of the supply of ice decreasing, and its and other drugs' demand among our youth at new lows, one need not look far to see that Aiona's front-and-center leadership on the matter is timely, successful and critical to improving the lives of our youth, families and communities.

Mr. Shapiro continues to, once again, cast aspersions to Lt. Gov. Aiona's faith. As a Catholic, Aiona fully lives his personal faith with no apologies. As a retired judge and elected official, however, Aiona believes strongly in respecting the legal boundary between church and state; and the constitutional right of everyone, whatever their religious view, to live their faith.

ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE RIGHT TO LIVE OUT FAITH

This letter is in response to David Shapiro's column (Sep. 20). Just because one runs for public office, gets elected by the people and dedicates himself to serve the community doesn't mean he must give up his right to publicly live out his faith and participate in his religion.

Does Mr. Shapiro suggest that all elected officials hide their faith and worship in secret?

Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona and his family proudly, regularly and humbly participate in the practice of their faith.

Certainly this open-minded paper does not desire that all elected officials practice their faith behind closed doors.

The only shadow Lieutenant Governor Aiona is under is the shadow of the cross.

TRANSPORTATION

ESPERO ADVOCATED FOR 'EWA NORTH-SOUTH ROAD

I am compelled to respond to Jeff Alexander's misstatements about my record on transportation (Letter, Sept. 19).

In 2000, I started strongly advocating for the north-south road. Since then, more than $140 million has been appropriated to build this new road for the 'Ewa region.

Groundbreaking was in February 2005, and four lanes should be completed by 2008.

Phase 1 of the Fort Weaver Road widening is completed, and phase 2 should be completed by 2008.

This project was also funded during my first term in the Senate. When the local funding mechanism for a rail system was debated, I voted in support, because a rail system will provide major benefits to West O'ahu. The Legislature also appropriated more than $8 million for design and planning funds for UH West O'ahu. Next session, expect a tsunami of testimony to support construction funds for UHWO because this project will help the traffic situation.

SHON DISMISSAL SCHOOL BOARD HAS SHOWN IT CARES MORE ABOUT POWER

The Board of Education has now totally discredited itself as an agent of improvement for Hawai'i's public schools.

It's not about kids, it's about power.

Nowhere in their back-room, closed-door hidden vote did an evaluation of Jim Shon by charter schools, parents, or kids come up.

Never mind that charter schools are doing well, with above-average test scores and No Child Left Behind standing, high levels of parent and student satisfaction and long waiting lists.

Jim Shon was a system-building centrist, not some radical. He brought accountability and stability to the previously rocky world of charters in Hawai'i. He even (gasp) entertained the notion of getting other "authorizers," the agencies which grant schools the actual contract to operate, rather than rely on the single existing entity of the BOE.

I guess that was going too far. How dare he think of what's best for charters and the kids they serve and not how to help the BOE keep its monopoly?

No evaluation, no due process, just boom, pack your bags.

I predict this arrogant action will come to haunt the BOE for a long, long time. At the very least, it shows that they are incapable of credible charter school oversight and should lose that authority.