LEADERSHIP

CONFERENCE EMPOWERS YOUNG WOMEN IN ISLES

Amid a week of presidential debates, anxieties with the financial underpinnings of our economy and the daily needs of a million souls in paradise, Gov. Linda Lingle, her staff and a host of volunteers presented the fifth annual International Women's Leadership Conference on Sept. 24 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.

Mahalo to the generous sponsors, including American Savings Bank and the American Association of University Women, who provided the opportunity for the women of Hawai'i to recognize and realize their individual potential and collective strength for community support and leadership.

More than 1,100 women, including many students, were treated to a vibrant chorus of successful women from nine nations and many, many professions, all making an exciting difference in our global world.

As an educator, I am acutely aware how critically important it is to inspire leadership in young women. I was extremely gratified that so many Hawai'i businesses provided scholarships for more than 100 high school and college students to attend the conference, enabling them to see the compatibility and necessity of women in leadership.

Students left convinced that women have the power to bring change to their lives, motivated to pursue leadership positions, and empowered to view leadership in a positive light and as a tool to create a better life and a better future for their families, for Hawai'i and for the world.

Thank you to the governor's team for enabling and encouraging women, especially our high school and college students, to reach for the stars.

ECONOMY

DECREASE ROOM RATES TO INCREASE TOURISM

In all of the stories I have read about tourism being down from last year, a variety of reasons were given for the decrease.

Not one of the stories listed the increases in hotel rates.

I just came back from three months on the Mainland. I traveled to Washington, Oregon and California. During my travels, I had the opportunity to talk to numerous travel agents. In discussing the decreasing tourist traffic to Hawai'i, every one of them mentioned the current economic situation, higher airfares, loss of jobs, savings, etc. However, every one of them also mentioned the higher room rates in Hawai'i. I wonder why none of the newspaper writers has ever mentioned these rising rates?

The next time you see a chart in the newspaper that shows occupancy rates, notice what the room rates have done. It is time to start advertising reduced room rates on the Mainland.

PRESIDENTIAL RACE

SEN. OBAMA OFFERS LEADERSHIP WE NEED

In Friday night's debate, Barack Obama presented the kind of judgment and leadership Americans need if we are going to really change our country. He promised to bring our troops home from Iraq and invest our resources in things that will help middle-class families and our communities — schools, roads, healthcare, clean energy.

Meanwhile, McCain stubbornly doubled-down on George Bush's Iraq policy.

He again refused to set a timetable to bring our troops home — standing by his policy of indefinite occupation. Not only is this bad for our men and women in harm's way and their families, but the war is costing us $10 billion each month.

At a time of economic crisis where Americans are losing their homes and jobs, that is money that we should be investing at home, not in Iraq. John McCain sounded like he was running for George Bush's third term. Barack Obama clearly stood for change.

On everything from tax cuts to foreign policy, McCain offered the same old Washington politics while Obama stood up for regular Americans. We need him as our next president.

OBAMA PRESIDENCY WILL DO MORE FOR ISLES

I am saddened by Gov. Linda Lingle's decision to campaign nationally for Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin.

I say this because of our state's enormous support for Sen. Barack Obama and his ties to the Islands.

Hawai'i will benefit from an an Obama presidency and having two senior senators in Congress chairing major committees.

The needed help will be coming while Gov. Lingle is in office. It would have been a smart choice for her to sit this one out, because I believe a McCain presidency will not benefit us as much as an Obama presidency would.

TRANSIT

RAIL A WHITE ELEPHANT, NOT TRAFFIC ANSWER

Something needs to be done about the Leeward traffic problem, but rail is not the answer. No one will ride it. Our transportation needs are more than just getting to work and back. So what do we do?

First, move the University of Hawai'i to Kapolei. Also, professor Panos Prevedouros has a great plan for a double-decker freeway.

True, it is just as ugly as a rail. But let's take it one step further. Allow only buses and electric vehicles on the top deck. The buses would get people to town faster than rail.

By the time it's built, electric cars will be going 45 mph. They will cost a lot less and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

People would start buying electric cars to get to work cheaply and quickly. Honolulu would be on its way to being the greenest city in the U.S.

What will be your legacy, Mr. Hannemann? A big, long, graffiti-ridden white elephant or having been the greenest mayor in the U.S.?

MAYORAL RACE

HANNEMANN IGNORES CONCERNS OF VOTERS

The Advertiser seems overinvested in its endorsement of the mayor and pundits' predictions that the mayor would get re-elected in the primary.

David Shapiro's column ("Voter concern came through loud, clear," Sept. 24) was a welcome relief as he described factors affecting the primary and why the re-election of Mufi Hannemann is not "inevitable." I agree that voters in the primary sent a message to the mayor loud and clear: "You did not convince a majority of us that you should be re-elected."

What would have been inevitable was the re-election of Ann Kobayashi to the City Council, because she was unopposed. I admire her dedication to the people of Honolulu that she would forsake certain re-election because she feels so strongly that the mayor is ignoring voter concerns.

That is just one of the reasons I am voting for Ann Kobayashi. I believe that the people have a place in democracy. I want my elected representatives to feel the same.

After reading that the results of the primary have dulled the mayor's "luster as the invincible Democratic star who can stroll into the governor's office or the U.S. Senate," maybe we should have yet another movement in this election, "Stop Mufi Now."

OHA

BOARD HAS IMPROVED IMAGE AND CONDITIONS

As a trustee for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs from the island of Maui, I wish to take issue with malcontents who resort to all manner of nonsense to belittle the substantial accomplishments achieved by OHA in the last six years.

OHA has been accused of myriad incidents of misfeasance, but those who throw 'opala usually have soiled hands themselves.

Previously, the OHA board suffered a severe case of egomania evidenced by frequent swearing, fighting, yelling, demanding and embarrassing public displays seen on TV regularly. The staff and others appearing before the board were intimidated and even fearful.

The current board has worked diligently to not only improve the conditions and image of OHA, but also has accomplished considerably more under our current administrator in the last six years than in the previous 23 years of its existence.

More Hawaiians have received more from OHA. The people of Hawai'i have benefited in numerous ways from the preservation of legacy and pristine lands to helping with homelessness, charter schools, business loans, health, education, outreach, etc.

Hawaiians on Hawaiian Home Lands have been assured of $3 million per year to help them get homes and lots.

In the meantime, OHA has led the legal battle in the courts and in Congress to preserve the identity of Hawaiians.

If we're going to hana lima, (work with our hands), let us do so together and constructively and continue to holomua (move forward), not i hope (backward).