Have you checked out The Hot Seat? It's our opinion-page blog that brings in your elected leaders and people in the news and lets you ask the questions during a live online chat.

On The Hot Seat last week was Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona. (Names of questioners are screen names given during our online chat.)

Todd Benson: I typically vote for a candidate who promises and delivers in shrinking government and lowering taxes, because this country was founded on the idea that the people should determine their destiny free from as much government intervention as possible. Usually this candidate is a Republican candidate, but over the years I've realized that most Republicans no longer stick to these values. They spend just like Democrats, only not as much, but they still spend. My question to you is which kind of Republican are you? And do you believe that government should be much, much smaller today than it has been in the past?

Aiona: Todd, I am not a person who likes labels. I am a member of the Republican Party who believes that government has a legitimate role to play in protecting the safety of our community, educating our children and providing the social services that are necessary to assist them in becoming self-sufficient.

Bill Punini Prescott: Public schools in areas like Wai'anae are termed "disadvantaged," in large part because of the Hawai'i state teachers union's insistence on tenure rights in applying for position vacancies. They knew that these schools would be forever used as a place to get a job, for its students to gain experience, and a resource for supplying teachers to schools in desired areas. The results have been and are that approximately 40 percent of its students are not completing high school; numbers of those becoming dependents of the state are growing, as is homelessness, and those incarcerated. In view of this, would you work to hold the HSTA accountable and responsible for a solution? That failing to do so would be justification for revoking the tenure privilege?

Aiona: Education is everyone's responsibility, and our teachers play an important role in our children's education. It is my position that teachers must be fairly compensated for their work and held accountable for the success of their students.

Rolf Nordahl: Aloha, Lt. Gov. James Aiona. Do you share Gov. Lingle's enchantment with the Akaka bill, or do you believe that Hawaiians should decide their political future for themselves?

As governor, will you continue to impose your religious beliefs on the citizens of Hawai'i?

Aiona: The Akaka bill allows Native Hawaiians to determine their political future, and I support that. Rolf, I do not impose my religious beliefs on the citizens of Hawai'i.

Meheroo Jussawalla: Your efforts to eliminate drug use among teenagers are not too effective. What will you do to institute a policy to criminalize the suppliers of ice in the state and to educate teachers in public schools to instill a new ethic among the students that drug use is harmful to their own future and family values?

Aiona: This administration has increased the penalty for suppliers of ice from a B felony (10 years in prison) to an A felony (20 years in prison). We also have initiated the passage of laws that have increased the amount of drug crimes which are subject to mandatory sentences. We have over the past 4 1/2 years visited numerous high schools, middle schools and elementary schools, sharing our message of alcohol and drug use and its negative effects on our students' physical, emotional and mental health. This has been done through teach-ins, aloha card presentations and our drug-control policy.

Jackie: I am a young voter, and I was very proud to have voted for you and the governor in this past term. I am very excited that you are running for governor in 2010. I feel that you come across as down to earth and really care about the issues that affect the people of Hawaii ... from living a healthy lifestyle to drug addicts. My sister attended a "drug court" program on Maui, and it really helped her there. Are you folks considering implementing a similar program here on O'ahu?

Aiona: I am proud of the fact that I was the first administrative drug court judge here on O'ahu. As such, the Hawai'i drug court was started right here on O'ahu. Maui followed. I am also proud to say that we now have a family and juvenile drug court program here on O'ahu, which is helping many families salvage their lives. I appreciate your support and look forward to improving the lives of all the people of Hawai'i.

Kimo Q. Publico: This question assumes you are elected in 2010. If our (Honolulu's) current mayor and City Council officials (or their close family members) give up public service positions and take on high-paying consulting jobs with those involved in O'ahu's mass transit construction, will you order the Hawai'i attorney general to investigate any improprieties on the part of said officials related to City Council's approval of mass transit in light of the public's steadfast opposition against it, or will you ignore public outcry and support big business?

Aiona: The Lingle/Aiona administration has stood for the highest level of integrity and believes that public officials should not profit from their public positions.

Chris: Why are you forcing teachers to be drug tested but doing nothing to drug test students and their parents? Every time you talk about the new contract that only a slim majority of teachers ratified, you say that drug testing will protect our kids. Of the 1,500 or more teachers in Hawai'i, only three or four have been caught doing drugs.

Drug testing teachers will accomplish little, except the waste of taxpayers' money, because most teachers are drug free. We are drug free because we believe in children and the futures of children.

If you really want to fight the drug problem, then you should drug test students and their parents. Instead of doing the bare minimum to make yourself look tough on drugs, complete the job and drug test students and their parents. That would cut drug use in Hawai'i.

Aiona: We are happy that the majority of the teachers ratified the current contract that includes mandatory random drug testing. Although we agree that a majority of our teachers are drug free, for those who are in need of assistance, this is one tool which will help them in getting into a treatment program. This type of assistance is not a waste of money if it assists our teachers, students and parents in providing a safe and drug-free environment.

Janet: Can you name just three substantive accomplishments you have produced on behalf of Hawai'i's people since you became lieutenant governor more than six years ago?

By substantive, I mean measurable results achieved in salient policy areas such as housing affordability, economic diversification, self-sufficiency, energy, transportation, education issues.

What have you done besides moralize and pontificate about alcohol, drugs and other social problems?

Aiona: Over the last 4 1/2 years we have accomplished numerous substantive results in many areas including: turning around a budget deficit to a surplus, creating a sex-offender registry, building three homeless shelters within a year, and winning hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds to support our hospitals and mental health and substance-abuse programs. In addition, we have created the largest national marine reserve in the world, Papahanaumokuakea. There is more, but in the interest of time, I'll end here.

Andy: You have taken a tough stance against alcohol through proposals such as the one to ban alcohol at UH football games. How do you think this will affect your chances in running for governor, considering a large number of potential voters in Hawai'i work in the food and beverage industry?

Aiona: This is not a tough stance — in fact we are playing catch-up to many conferences across the country who have banned the advertising and sale of beer at their athletic events. The issue is a matter of public safety and underage drinking.

George: Your reply to Todd's comment was that, "I am a member of the Republican Party who believes that government has a legitimate role to play in protecting the safety of our community, educating our children and providing the social services that are necessary to assist them in becoming self-sufficient."

Could you define what you mean by self-sufficient? And exactly what services do you envision or currently implement that ensure a child's self-sufficiency?

Aiona: Self-sufficiency means a person's ability to earn a livable wage, provide their family with a home and not be dependent on government assistance. I am proud that we have reduced our public assistance rolls from approximately 16,000 to 8,000. Our children are entitled to a quality education which should provide them with a solid basis for their future well being.

Keoni Q. Public: Where do you stand on Native Hawaiian issues? Do you support the Akaka bill?

Being a Native Hawaiian, as well as being privileged, is it troubling for you to see how other Native Hawaiians and those less fortunate are displaced from their homes?

If it is troubling to you, what do you propose as a solution other than building more temporary shelters at Kalaeloa?

Will you back programs for Native Hawaiians? If you will, what types of programs do you envision, and where will your backing stop?

Aiona: Under this administration, we have awarded more Hawaiian homestead lots to Native Hawaiians than any of the other previous administrations. We have supported, and will continue to support, the Akaka bill. We also have supported all federal funding for Native Hawaiian programs. We also have been an advocate for more charter schools and its specific emphasis on our host culture.