UNPAID HOLIDAYS MAKES MORE SENSE

Gov. Lingle has instituted furloughs to achieve payroll savings. This action results in the closing of schools, prisons and offices with disruption of government services. Instead of furloughs, why not have unpaid holidays for all state and county workers?

During the holidays all schools, state institutions and offices are already closed so there won't be any disruption of services and alternative child care won't be an issue. Under the unpaid holiday system, the workload remains the same without compressing the work to four day work weeks under the furlough system. If they are going to cut your pay anyways, do it so it's less painful for everyone with the least disruption of government function.

Eliminating the state's executive mansion and vehicles for the governor and university president will also be cutting the fat. They should be able to afford to pay for their own housing and transportation like the rest of us. Other hidden perks and benefits need to be scrutinized.

Opening-day ceremonies for the Legislature should be considered a serious work day instead of being a "party day."

The message is clear: We as a state are broke — so shape up and lead by example.

harvey chan | Hilo, Hawaii

TAP INTO HURRICANE FUND FOR OUR SCHOOLS

As a parent, school volunteer and taxpayer, I strongly urge our leaders to work toward using the Hurricane Relief Fund to allow our children to remain in school rather than sitting out "Furlough Fridays."

While I agree that another devastating hurricane will happen eventually, and we need to be prepared, this education catastrophe is happening right now. We can never replace the lost days of education — the drain needs to be stopped immediately!

What can be more important for the long-term well-being of our state than the education of our keiki? After police and firefighters, this should be our first priority.

At the very least, furlough days should be added on to the end of summer break. I've heard that the teachers union doesn't want to do that, since teachers are eligible for benefits only during months in which they work a certain number of days.

Surely it would be easier to rewrite that provision than to implement this crazy plan. We tell our children that they have to go to school, that it's the law. Will somebody please explain that to the adults in charge?

margaret gill | Hanalei, Kauai

ADJUST HOURS OF ZOO, LIBRARY, ETC. FOR KIDS

If the governor has furlough days for state workers, could it be arranged so libraries, the zoo, park personnel and museums are closed on Mondays? This way when the students are out of school due to teacher furloughs they can still take advantage of educational opportunities. If all the furloughs occur on Fridays, then parents will be really caught in a dilemma.

michael rohr | Hilo, Hawaii

HOME SHOULD BE BIG PART OF EDUCATION

After reading editorials on the teachers' furloughs, maybe it's time the parents got a little involved.

It seems that a lot of pressure is put on the teachers about their children's education. True, teachers are educators, but the foundation of the children's education comes from home, not school.

So, how about if parents, instead of pressuring the teachers about their children's education or lack of, use the furlough days to spend some quality time with their children and educate them about daily life?

The bad things that are happening today is not because of the teachers. It comes from the lack of control and discipline at home.

kenneth ikenaga | Pearl City

OBAMA

NOBEL PRIZE A PROUD HIGHLIGHT FOR ALL OF US

No matter what you may think of our president's politics, surely a leader that the world thinks of as a peacemaker is not only a proud highlight in America's bloody history, but also a warm preferable story to tell our children.

Surely, as we travel across the planet visiting other cultures and peoples, we'd rather be known as American peacemakers.

Imagine, America the land of folks who do all they can to make peace with our planet and her people.

rob kinslow | Honolulu

NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AWARD IS A MOCKERY

As an Obama critic from the left, I am appalled at his being selected for the Nobel Peace Prize. He is about to sign the largest war budget in the history of the world. He is continuing an illegal and tragic war in Iraq and greatly expanding the unwinnable war in Afghanistan. He has called for a hurried production of a monstrous "bunker busting" bomb for use against Iran. He has been eloquent about nuclear non-proliferation while remaining silent about Israel's nukes and maintaining the U.S. arsenal in top shape for use on demand.

Obama has talked much about peace, but has only the opposite to show for it. This Nobel award is a mockery.

larry jones | Waipahu

IT'S TIME TO TEND TO MATTERS AT HOME

President Obama is to be congratulated for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. But but now it's more urgent than ever to get back to the business at hand at home.

Here in Hawaii, we cannot afford to have our children go to public school five days a week. Meanwhile, our federal government has recommended $1.9 million a minute or 57 percent of the budget for 2010 discretionary spending for military (departments of defense, war, veterans' affairs) and only 4 percent for education.

If one of our "very own" (are you listening, Mr. President?) could help cut just one hour's worth of this spending for the whole year, there would be enough funding to have our keiki back in school full time, and Gov. Lingle would not have to keep haggling with unions about furlough days.

S.A. Jones | Captain Cook, Hawaii