Who knows, we may have an actual two-party system within the next decade?

Although it's good to have the Republican Party beginning to flex its muscles, I have reservations about the current party leadership. Linda Lingle has often been called the 20th member of the Republican Caucus in the House. There have even been allusions that she calls the shots for many of the current Republican legislators and that they can't think for themselves.

Lingle has also been very vocal in her attempt to tap certain people for a run at Congress in 2002. Although as chairwoman she's supposed to remain neutral, it's obvious she's pushing for Mayor Maryanne Kusaka of Kaua'i to run against Patsy Mink, thus slapping Rep. Bob McDermott in the face.

It's time for Lingle to realize that the Linda Lingle Party (oops, I mean the Republican Party) will function better in the long run without her autocratic and heavy-handed leadership.

Todd Bishop
Kailua

Sen. Hogue was wrong in hurricane bill letter

Regarding Sen. Bob Hogue's May 4 letter, "Democrats are trying to raid fund": Even though I am a Republican, I was very disappointed in the bias and inaccurate information contained in Hogue's letter.

Hogue was one of only a few "no" votes for matching grants to homeowners who install hurricane clips and window storm panel protection, despite getting the final bill he said he wanted.

My company is one of those small businesses in Hawai'i providing storm panels (folding and roll-down shutters) to protect homes from damage caused by windows being blown out or exploding from flying debris. I testified before him and other committee members three times this session on the benefits of hurricane protection, keeping the Hawai'i Hurricane Relief Fund intact and not siphoning off money for unrelated areas or projects. That is exactly the bill we now have.

How can Hogue say the bill is a special-interest handout when he knows that it's the homeowners who get the money. He heard a number of small Hawai'i companies, the building industry and others all testify about building up employment as it will take a number of contractors, distributors, retailers and small businesses like mine to service the homeowners on every island.

Does his no vote mean he's against storm preparation, increasing employment and small business? I hope not.

T.R. Bongartz
Hawai'i Security Shutters

HECO doing everything wrong with power line

When will the HECO bosses give up their environmentally disastrous Wa'ahila Ridge 138-kV power-line project?

They must realize this community-opposed, scientifically unfounded, view-destroying monster is a public relations black hole for them.

Their shameful performance at the recent PUC hearing (busing in uninformed "seniors" from the North Shore, manipulating hundreds of their employees to show up with yellow T-shirts and trotting out some high-paid hacks from the electric industry from the Mainland, such as Kurt Yeager) make it clear to all Hawai'i residents that HECO, the state's largest corporation, favors hard-ball, deceptive tactics instead of honest negotiations with its ratepayers.

We all know that savaging beautiful Wa'ahila Ridge conservation park lands is an assault on nature and people. We all know that archaic and harmful energy technology will only lock us into dependence on fossil fuels. We all know that renewables, like solar, wind and fuel cells, are the alternatives of the future. And, we all know that protecting the beauty and livability of our 'aina requires undergrounding of all utilities.

How sad that the hardened minds of a few HECO executives can inflict such a scar on our community.

Nancie Caraway

'Former Marine' is the proper terminology

"Semper Fidelis" (Marines' motto, which translates to "Always Faithful") and congratulations to former Marine Joseph Momoa "Pineapple" Kamaka for the well-deserved and belated Bronze Star.  

To Marines, the term "ex-Marine" is derogatory and disrespectful. Hence, "former Marine" is more proper and of course denotes respect for Lance Cpl. Kamaka.

It would have been nice to have published the exact reading of the award citation and a brief biography of Kamaka. Again, "Semper Fidelis" and "Once a Marine, always a Marine."

1st Sgt. Greg Casler, USMC (Ret.)
Kailua

Nude dancers don't get needed protection

On May 7, Stephanie Darrow wrote, "I teach young women, and encouraging them to exploit their bodies for money is the last thing on earth I would ever do." Such a lesson would not only discourage nude dancing, but also singing, sports, modeling, acting and numerous other "respectable" professions.

Can it be true that people exploit themselves when voluntarily accepting payments from customers?

Darrow asserts that women in the nude-dancing industry "are raped, beaten and even made slaves." Wow! Where are the police? To the extent that these crimes against women happen, it is because women who choose this line of work don't get the protection from authorities that is routine for every other profession.

Indeed, these dancers are more likely to be harassed by legislators, regulators, police and courts than to have their lives and liberties protected.

I respect Darrow's right to scorn any profession she dislikes. But in a free society, I expect the authorities to remain impartial — respecting the choices that people make for their own livelihood.

Ken Schoolland
Waipahu

Condemning golf course would be theft by city

City Councilman Steve Holmes' plan for Luana Hills Golf Course is government theft disguised as environmental do-goodism.

We have a legal, privately owned golf course business designed by world-class golf architect Pete Dye, and Steve, not being a golfer, wants to convert it to something he wants to do. If the owner doesn't want to go along, he says the city should condemn the property by eminent domain.

What is the overwhelming "necessary public use"? Horse trails and hiking? Those certainly don't warrant eminent domain. "Necessary public use" is the criterion, and many more golfers use this on a daily and weekly basis than would hikers and horsemen.

At present, there are trails around the periphery. Maybe not to the extent Holmes wants, but some are there. I'm not against horsemen and hikers. I'm against taking something that doesn't belong to you because you like it. We all learned that's not the right thing to do when we were little kids. It still stands.

Right now Luana Hills is a grass farm with 18 holes in it that draws hundreds of people daily across the entire course. Many are from around the world. President Clinton and Jerry Rice are just two of the past users.

The golf course provides private-sector jobs and pays taxes. That would stop with condemnation. The city would need an outlay of around $10 million to acquire the property. And hundreds of thousands of dollars per year would be required to maintain the land and the clubhouse. Once it starts, it can't stop. Aren't we trying to curtail the size of government?

Jim Slavish
Kailua

Let the cheerleaders, band members in

Seems strange that the Rainbow men's volleyball coach is calling for more students to attend home games, but he won't allow cheerleaders or band members, who are students, to participate at the games?

The University of Hawai'i charges the highest per-game price for volleyball in the country, but can't get around to giving Wilton a contract like all the other top schools until the last moment. Is that because it is waiting for other applications to come in or because it is treating him the same way he treats the cheerleaders and band members?

If Wilton wants more students at the games, why doesn't he start off with all the cheerleaders and the band members? The others will follow.

And, maybe he will get his contract renewed for more than one year and on time, although UH can be as contrary as he is.

Wanta bet who blinks first?

Bob Cole

ADB protest march could have turned ugly

The ADB protest march is now over. Most of us are very relieved. I guess some, like columnist Mike Leidemann, would have felt more justified about all the money spent on protection if a few people had been seriously injured or had we at least incurred extensive damage to our community.

How can people be so naive to think that the riots in Seattle and at other previous venues for similar groups could never happen here? We were fortunate this time, but had things gotten worse, we were prepared for it.

The money spent this time was well worth it. Police Chief Lee Donohue prepared his department well for any possibility, as he is paid to do. He doesn't deserve Leidemann's childish comparison to Humpty Dumpty or a king.

Leidemann should realize that he is afforded the luxury of giving his one-sided views because people like Donohue and the police are here protecting everyone's rights to free speech and to assemble freely and safely.

David Eber

'Gay extremists' aren't behind Gabbard action

In his May 10 letter to the editor, Mike Hinchey did not get the point that Carol Gabbard did not report her connection with certain organizations such as Alliance for Traditional Marriage, just to mention one rather controversial organization. This omission is against the guidelines for all candidates running for office: plain and simple.

In past elections, I have been advised to down-play my connection with PFLAG-O'ahu (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) when I ran for office. I am not ashamed of my gay son or my connection with this grass-roots organization. I simply stated it: plain and simple.

Carol Gabbard never denied that she did not follow the guidelines. She quietly amended the state-required documents. End of subject.

For Hinchey to call those pro-active voters "gay extremists" is to misrepresent the character and ethics of Mitch Kahle, a heterosexual young man who is a wonderful role model for other voters who only sit back and complain about election outcomes. He did the community a service by attempting to bring justice and accountability to the endless forms required in the election process.

Carolyn Martinez Golojuch
President, PFLAG-O'ahu

Schools' support positions are vital

Gov. Ben Cayetano's letter to the Board of Education and The Advertiser's May 11 editorial about requiring certified teachers to be in classrooms instead of serving as resource teachers, counselors, registrars, school service coordinators or librarians show a lack of knowledge about the importance of these positions in a school. They also deny that each position requires specialized knowledge and skill.

Yes, there is a severe teacher shortage. Yes, we are doing everything we can to end the shortage. But the governor's actions beg the question of how best to end the shortage.

To strip schools of skilled support people is clearly not the answer. Indeed, it will only serve to drive teachers away from the DOE and into private-sector jobs, where their work is appreciated, where they receive the resources they need to do a good job, where they are adequately compensated and where they are supported in their actions.

We must constantly remember that every position in a school is an important position and is designed to positively impact student academic achievement.

Salary is just one aspect of working conditions that can attract and retain good employees. With the recently settled contract, we have taken a step forward. We have many more steps yet to take, including providing teachers with the support and resources needed to do their jobs.

If we are serious about improving public education, let's recognize the importance of every job on campus. Let's work together. It will make the road ahead much smoother.