KAHUKU

JOIN THE FIGHT FOR OUR HOSPITAL, GOVERNOR

Responding to the editorial (Dec. 13) Kahuku Hospital.

Reasons to save Kahuku Hospital are overwhelming. It would be absolutely unconscionable for any leader, elected or otherwise, to allow it to close.

As a longtime resident, I am proud of the united effort by our communities in our fight to keep it open.

Many people came to the rescue instantly. Dr. Nielsen initiated the first meeting. Rep. Magaoay who responded, attended and guided our efforts in the right direction. Sen. Hee summoned the responsible parties to the state capitol. Dr. Fukino from Gov. Lingle's office showed support. The mayor's office offered a plan for emergency care. It makes you proud to know we have responsible and caring elected officials. We hope and pray that our good governor can hear our cry and plea.

Please don't forget the natives down here. You have the power to release emergency funds.

TRASH

U2 CONCERT MARRED BY LITTER LEFT BY CROWD

I was among the 47,000 who attended U2's concert at Aloha Stadium. As my daughter and I walked our way to the entrance line, we were horrified and appalled at what we saw. It was an insult to see the trash and personal items strewn all through the area where fans had stayed overnight. Food, coolers, beer bottles, cans, chairs, blankets, pillows, mats, plastic bags; everything was just left "as is." It looked like a dump site. Even the trash cans were overflowing. If you are a Hawai'i resident — ho'ohilahila. If you came from away, shame on you for making ho'olepo our 'aina. And shame on the stadium "higher ups" for not having better control over the situation. There should be a "no entry to the inside until you clean your mess up" policy.

I hope to never see that again.

KAILUA

VACATION RENTALS NOT JUST ONE AREA'S ISSUE

It may comfort the residents of Kailua to learn that Hawai'i Kai has illegal short-term rentals also.

Last year my next door neighbor sold her house to a California investor who is renting the house one or two weeks at a time. One weekday night I was entertained by a group of 20-year-old drunks shouting obscenities and doing cannon balls in the pool until 2 a.m. when the police arrived.

Several weeks later, I asked another set of partygoers to quiet down at midnight. They told me they were on vacation and intended to have fun, and it was too bad for me that I lived next to a rental.

To those who don't live in Kailua, be warned. This delightful situation may be coming soon to a house in your neighborhood.

DRUG TESTING TEACHERS

MEDIA HYPE DISTORTS SUSPECTED DRUG USE

How infuriating that, in today's day and age, we still allow Americans to be tried and sentenced in the media long before their day in court. The two teachers who allegedly smoked marijuana off campus before a teacher work day (with no students) have already been painted as guilty, having their pictures plastered all over the front page of the papers and on news channels.

With their crucifixion accomplished, the media has now moved on (if you can believe) to wasting more time interviewing community members and politicians regarding their position on spending taxpayer dollars for mandatory teacher drug testing.

Now, with the outrage and hype, more and more letters pour in demanding drug testing. Let's hand it to the media for distorting the issues to create mass hysteria and paranoia when it is completely uncalled for. And let's not forget that there has not even been a trial yet. Heaven forbid these teachers should be treated as innocent until proven guilty.

Mandatory teacher drug testing: suddenly an absolute must when all of three public school teachers, of the nearly 13,000 in the state of Hawai'i, are linked, possibly, to drug use. Maybe three teachers out of 13,000: How does a ratio like that necessitate drug testing? Shouldn't we, instead, be praising our teachers?

How can we even consider spending time talking about mandatory teacher drug testing, let alone spending a single tax payer's dollar? The taxpayer costs would be phenomenal. But hey, maybe we could snare a fourth teacher.

There are so many other real problems that need our attention and financial support: homelessness, affordable housing, traffic solutions, real drug issues, etc.

Let's all help stop this teacher witch hunt and refocus our attention on real societal problems, not ones manufactured and cultivated by the media.

SYMPHONY

WORLD-CLASS MUSICIANS DESERVE CONCERT HALL

"Lion King," now scheduled to occupy Blaisdell Concert Hall from September to December 2007, is a terrific show and should have a successful run. I don't blame the show's producers for the situation whereby the city administration has chosen to summarily kick the Symphony out of its home.

As the Symphony's executive director in the early 1980s, I fought identical scheduling battles with the then-director of the Department of Auditoriums. Same arguments, same rationale. Deja vu, all over again.

I wonder if Mr. Quintal, Hannemann administration's representative, considered saying to the show's producers — "Our Symphony has first priority for the September, December time-frame, so that is not an option. But we'd be happy to consider June through August for you when our visitor count is at its highest and kids are out of school. Deal or no deal?"

The scheduling issue and City administration attitudes are not likely to change. Therefore, I believe it is time for the Symphony's Board to consider the construction of a world-class concert hall for Honolulu's symphony — really Hawai'i's symphony — which is world-class. It will be a long-range program with many obstacles, not the least of which are the HSO's ongoing financial problems. Let's think "Sydney Opera House" and what it has done for that city.

CELL PHONES

NEW BAN GOOD START, NOW LET'S ADD DRIVING

At last, cell phone use will be banned on TheBus. Now I can enjoy riding TheBus more without having to listen to family arguments, empty chit-chats or being awakened by cell phone rings or worse, walkie talkie. Unfortunately, as we "progress" toward an ill-mannered and rude society, more rules and regulation need to be legislated in order to stay civilized. One of them is a cell phone ban on TheBus. The next one should be a cell phone ban while driving.

Thank you, thank you and thank you.

MILITARY

'DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL' A FLAWED, UNFAIR POLICY

Even as America's top Army general Peter Schoomaker (Advertiser, Dec. 15) warns that the U.S. military "will break" under the strain of war zone rotations, and calls for lifting restrictions on involuntary call-ups of Army National Guard and Army Reserve troops, neither the White House nor the Department of Defense has shown any inclination to end the military's discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. This policy prohibits gays and lesbians from serving their country openly and honestly. According to the Servicemember's Legal Defense Network, from 1994 until 2005, there have been more than 11,000 forced discharges under this policy, including at least 50 Arabic language specialists. The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law has reported they estimate that at least 41,000 gays and lesbians would sign up for duty if the ban were lifted.

This flawed policy burdens all individuals in the military and their families. Service members are either kicked out for doing a fine job and being honest about their sexual orientation, or others are more likely to be called up for service, because the military is discharging qualified gays and lesbians who want to serve with integrity and self-respect.

When people such as President Bush or Gov. Lingle or Adm. Fallon of the U.S. Pacific Command tell you how they value the contributions of our men and women in uniform, ask them what they've done to end the burdensome and discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. And, if you are in the military or know someone who is, please contact your congressperson, the White House and others and ask for this policy to end.

UH FOOTBALL

WHY COLT BRENNAN SHOULD STAY WITH TEAM

Ten reasons Colt Brennan should return for his senior year:

10. He could lead his team to the WAC championship.

9. He could be part of an undefeated season, beating Boise State and Fresno State at home.

8. He could lead Hawai'i to a BCS bowl.

7. He could improve his strength and speed working with Mel Deloria and Rich Miano.

6. He would have another year to work with coach June Jones — an offensive genius.

5. He could break the NCAA record for touchdown passes.

4. He could win the Davey O'Brien Award, the Walter Camp and Heisman trophies.

3. He could be a top five pick in the 2008 draft.

2. He could become the greatest football player in Hawai'i history.

1. He could earn his degree, graduate with his classmates and continue to be a role model for the youth of Hawai'i.