TAYSHEA AIWOHI DON'T FORGET THAT BABY, NOT THE MOTHER, IS THE VICTIM

So far, whenever questioned by the press, Gov. Linda Lingle has suggested that the Akaka bill's opponents have their facts wrong.

Well, it's time to find out exactly what facts we have "wrong" — because they aren't at all obvious to those of us who support the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. Supreme Court's prohibitions on discrimination that are based on race or ancestry. Therefore, Gov. Lingle was formally asked by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to fully explain why she supports the Akaka bill in a moderated debate at the Capitol auditorium in late July.

In light of the fact that repeated polls show that most Hawai'i citizens do not support this legislation, it's time for her to stop hiding out on this issue. I'd like to think she's worth re-electing as our governor or that her presence as part of our congressional delegation would be an improvement. It's time for her to show us.

Mike Rethman | Kane'ohe

LEASEHOLD CONVERSION MIGHT HAVE DISSOLVED

Hearing of the retirement of Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, I think back some 20 years to the day that I received a copy of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Hawai'i Housing Authority v. Midkiff, et al., which she authored. Talk about mixed emotions. I was honored that she quoted liberally from the amicus curiae brief that I had submitted in the case, but crestfallen that we had lost.

In the Midkiff case, we had urged that the leasehold conversion law of Hawai'i be overturned. However, the decision centered on the constitutional precept of separation of powers; the court decided not to second-guess the Legislature of the state of Hawai'i. It never got to the merits of the case: whether private property could be seized by the state so as to provide that property to another private party.

Ironically, just this year, Justice O'Connor wrote the dissent in a very similar case where the court did get to the merits: "The specter of condemnation hangs over all property." Too bad they didn't get to the merits in Midkiff. If the majority there had used Justice O'Connor's 2005 reasoning, the history of Hawai'i since would have been significantly different.

H.K. Bruss Keppeler | Nu'uanu

RELIGIOUS PROTESTERS' CLAIMS NOT BIBLE TRUTH

The July 2 Faith article "Same-sex marriage fight may split denomination" contains insertions and assertions that are significant to the ongoing battles waged using the Bible as truth.

The right-wing evangelicals wrongly state that the Bible declares marriage to be between one man and one woman so loudly that no one challenges their false witnessing; it should be noted that nowhere does it say anything of the kind. Nowhere.

In condemning gay relationships, love and marriage, Rev. Brett Becker of United Church of Christ said that "if we're going to call ourselves Christian, we need to follow his teaching on marriage." Quite interesting — since Jesus made absolutely no statements about marriage or homosexuality.

Becker's ignorance is being promulgated in most every debate on human rights around this country and world. At the recent Gay Pride Parade, a lone demonstrator held up a sign saying that homosexuality is a sin. That protester refused to give his name and said he was not with any church, but was Jesus' representative. When a reporter queried him, he said he did not believe Jesus actually said anything on the issue.

We were married on Aug. 31, 2003, by a United Church of Christ minister and a member of the Canadian Parliament in Vancouver, Canada. The biblical passage of 1 Corinthians 13, used in the ceremony, is paraphrased here: "If I have not love, I have nothing."

William E. Woods and Lance W. Bateman | Honolulu

A NEW HOUSING CRISIS?

I read the July 3 article "Housing bubble? Experts say no" and have a couple of questions for Paul Brewbaker and Mike Sklarz, who were quoted: Could the continued high prices for housing actually cause a population outflow of our young 'ohana, leaving the local government to support an older population? Could the local government loosen up the limits on building to increase the tight inventory?

Robert Bruce Carleton | 'Aiea

TERRORISTS BETRAYING VALUES OF THEIR FAITH

We, the Muslims of Hawai'i, wish to state clearly that those who commit acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the faith they claim to represent.

No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify the massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the cause of Islam.

We repudiate and dissociate ourselves from any Muslim group or individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts. We refuse to allow our faith to be held hostage by the criminal actions of a tiny minority acting outside the teachings of both the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Abdul Rashid Abdullah | Information officer, Muslim Association of Hawai'i

10 YEARS AGO, HOKULE'A SAILED TO SAN FRANCISCO

In 1995, the Hokule'a made a historic visit to the Pacific Northwest and West Coast. At noon, the 2nd of July, Hokule'a sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco Bay.

Proudly flying the Hawaiian flag, the canoe and crew were showered with flowers thrown off the Golden Gate Bridge and greeted by a large number of watercraft, including some 20 Hawaiian-style racing canoes.

On shore, thousands of people gathered at Crissy Field to welcome the canoe to San Francisco. The mayor of San Francisco proclaimed the next two days to be Hokule'a Day, a fine way to start the celebration of the Fourth of July in San Francisco.

Project coordinators for this historic voyage were Dr. Ev Fox and Gilbert Ane of the Hawai'i Maritime Center. And, mahalo nui to Matson Navigation Co., Hawaiian Airlines and the Bishop Museum for their support in making the project a success and allowing Hokule'a to bring some Hawaiian history and culture to the continent.

Gordon Piianaia | Project participant/captain; Honolulu

RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT BLOCK PARKING SPOTS

Everyone has a right to go to the beach, but some residents make it very difficult.

I do not approve of the way some homeowners block off public access to Lanikai Beach by putting rocks and plants on the side of the roads. When they do that, people who want to go to the beach have a hard time parking. People come to Lanikai to spend time on the beach, not spend time looking for parking.

Mele Hamasaki | Kane'ohe

TUNNEL STORY GREAT READ

I'm writing to praise Mike Leidemann's July 5 article, "Working on the Wilson." Mr. Leidemann's article was well-researched and documented. It was rich in detail, particularly regarding the tunnels' history. He also managed to provide a ton of factual data in a way that made the whole article more, rather than less, fascinating (helped, no doubt, by terrific graphics and photos). Bravo, Mr. Leidemann.

Becky J. Tyksinski | Kane'ohe

CITY LAGGING IN CARE FOR OUR 'BACKYARDS'

Not everybody has a backyard of their own. For the thousands of folks who live in condos or townhouses or zero-lot-line homes in urbanized O'ahu, our city parks are our shared backyards, the green, inviting places where families and friends can share a picnic, toss a ball back and forth or catch 40 winks on a blanket in the shade. Our parks are also Honolulu's "outdoor health club" — walkers to serious runners, kids to kupuna — with no dues and no membership required.

As a longtime park lover, I'm noticing a disturbing trend lately in our city parks. From Kapi'olani to Ala Moana to Central O'ahu Regional Park, here's what I see: Where there was healthy grass a year ago, now the weeds are creeping in. Lush and green? Noticeable bare spots seem here to stay and growing. Promptly emptied rubbish bins? Now they overflow. It's not a crisis yet, but Honolulu's shared backyard seems to be getting awfully shabby.

Mr. Mayor, please put the focus back where it belongs. Those lucky enough to have their own backyards will tell you: Never let the weeds and the dust and the rubbish get ahead of you, because you can quickly end up with a backyard you're not so proud of.

Ron Pelletier | Honolulu

UH FOOTBALL BECOMING MONEY-HUNGRY BEAST

Pay-per-view is the last straw.

The University of Hawai'i was not founded to sport a football team — its basic mission is to educate enrolled students. Yet for some strange reason, football seems to rule — when if fact, football is just an added attraction.

Wake up; listen to the people before you go so far that you will never recover. I have already removed the University Foundation from my giving list because of its involvement in paying June Jones far more than any professor gets.

Get back to the business of teaching.

This is a greedy, small-thinking program that will destroy what is left of the supporting public and the rapidly diminishing fan base of the university.

If the University of Hawai'i cannot afford all sports without pay-per-view, then maybe it shouldn't have the sports it cannot afford.

Dave Reed | Honolulu

CHAMPIONS OF BEAUTY

I'm glad The Outdoor Circle continues to recognize the value of keeping Hawai'i a beautiful place to live in and visit. I feel blessed to live in a state where billboards are banned and trees and open green spaces are valued. Kudos to Kathy Whitmire and Mary Steiner for being the next generation of leaders we need to keep our Islands beautiful.

Alexandra Avery | Kailua

DON\'T FORGET THAT BABY, NOT THE MOTHER, IS THE VICTIM

Aiwohi caused her son's death as surely as if she had used a knife or any other weapon. Her plea and subsequent sentence of probation is not "punishing women for failing to have healthy pregnancy outcomes," as if she hadn't eaten enough vegetables, taken vitamins or exercised. It was a lenient sentence imposed on a woman who consciously chose to ingest an illegal substance with knowledge that it would certainly be detrimental and possibly fatal to the health of her developing fetus, a woman who made that choice again and again, each time she held the ice pipe to her lips and inhaled.

The rationale for the appeal seeking to overturn the conviction suggests that it would frighten pregnant women away from healthcare. Women interested in having healthy babies are not smoking "ice." How about the value of discouraging drug-addicted women from having babies, babies who are fated to die from their parents' addiction, by way of neglect or abuse, or who suffer from mental and physical abnormalities and health-related difficulties that may last their entire lives?

Who are the victims here? The children usually are, and will continue to be, should the Aiwohi decision not be upheld.

Is holding Aiwohi responsible for the death of her child a "terrible disregard for pregnant women reflecting a profound misunderstanding of the nature of drug dependency"? Or is our community demanding that she take responsibility for the choices that she made leading to the death of her child?

If Aiwohi robbed a bank, stole a car, burned a building, drove while stoned or committed any other crime under the throes of her crystal meth addiction, she would be no less culpable than she is today, responsible for the death of her son by her own hand. Let us not forget that the child, not the mother, is the victim here.

Anne Clarkin | Diamond Head