GOP doesn't have a lot to brag about

While I might understand the frustration expressed by Art Todd in his June 15 letter, I certainly don't agree that Hawai'i citizens need more Republican legislators. It was only two years ago that House GOP members were working closely and secretly with Chuck Quackenbush, the disgraced former California insurance commissioner. Hawai'i doesn't need such Republican legislative "expertise."

Democrats need never apologize for their proud association with labor unions and for defending the rights of working people. Gov. Linda Lingle herself has courted union support, and twice received the endorsement of the University of Hawai'i Professional Assembly. Last year, her administration negotiated the cumulative 31 percent pay raises awarded university professors.

Further, with the exception of the 5 percent annual raises awarded to HGEA workers by an independent arbitrator, it was the Lingle administration that negotiated this year's pay raises given to public employees — not Democratic legislators.

Although Gov. Lingle campaigned on a promise of "A New Beginning," what Hawai'i received was another round of gubernatorial friends and acquaintances appointed to various Cabinet positions and state agencies. Fair enough — and unless they offer a rational justification for such opposition, Democrats should not begrudge the governor the right to her own choices. However, Lingle's political allies are clearly calling the kettle black with their unrelenting criticism of past Democratic appointments and practices, especially when so many former Hawai'i GOP officials and Lingle campaign consultants are currently on the public payroll.

If Hawai'i voters are truly "fed up," it is in no small part due to the rank hypocrisy of those persons who derive personal benefit from the very system of patronage that they publicly scorn.

Dust off plans for nuclear power plant

Hawaiian Electric warns us about rising power consumption. Oil — and all fossil fuel — prices are rising, supplies are decreasing, refining capabilities are pressed or diminishing. Transportation of these raw materials to Hawai'i is always an issue.

But there's hope: HECO will — again — attempt to develop reliable wind-generated energy. Uh-huh.

Please remind me, why don't we have a nuclear-powered generating plant on O'ahu?

Informed voter knows better side of politics

I read Art Todd's June 15 letter "Average voter just fed up" with amusement and some dismay. He surely is not talking about the "average" voter but rather the "uninformed and angry" voter.

Your average informed voter knows that a visit to your legislator or council member can be very informative — it might wake you up to some more complex realities of wisely serving all the people, and might teach you something about the issues that concern you.

Then again, the notable exceptions may have been elected by uninformed and angry voters, and may reflect the same incompetence and impatience. We do see that in the Legislature, as well. Wasted time!

I have been pleasantly surprised at how thoughtful, independent and circumspect our legislators are, but then we have elected outstanding people from our area.

Poor Art. This is nothing but a rant. I hope the rest of you "average" voters take your citizenship seriously enough to study the issues, ask good questions and pick candidates who will make you proud.

Fairness means I don't always get my way, and when I learn more about the issues, sometimes I'm glad I held my tongue.

Abercrombie being two-faced on military

Under a resolution introduced recently by Rep. Neil Abercrombie and five other House members, U.S. troops would begin to withdraw from Iraq by Oct. 1, 2006. Great! I wholeheartedly support a complete withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq.

Yet I am completely baffled by Neil Abercrombie. Just where does this man stand on this and other wars?

Abercrombie is one of the 13 representatives who introduced H.R.163, "the Universal National Service Act of 2003." Yes, folks, Abercrombie introduced a bill calling for The Draft. Make up your mind, Neil!

Lifeguards deserve better pay for heroism

A big mahalo to our city lifeguards for saving the lives of 18 people on Kamehameha Day. These dedicated men and women deserve our respect for risking their lives to save others.

We should have aloha for the people who make Hawai'i a better and safer place to live in. Whatever they're being paid, it's not enough.

Seat-belt law should be actively enforced

In the accident that killed Princess Diana of England, not one of the three people killed in that car was wearing a seat belt. One person lived. He was in what we used to call the "death seat," i.e., the front passenger seat. He lived simply because he had his seat belt on.

So if people think they should have the option to wear or not wear a seat belt, then the insurance companies should have the option of paying or not paying their medical claims. If the insurance companies must pay the claims, then they just increase the premiums for everyone and perhaps increase the premiums a bit more for the ones who were injured. So the rest of us pay more because someone thought he should have the option to wear or not wear.

This also applies to motorcyclists: If they sustained head injuries because they weren't wearing a helmet, there should be no payout by the insurance companies. The problem is the rest of us will end up paying the bill because the emergency rooms will still have to take care of those inconsiderate cyclists.

So I hope the police will actively enforce the seat-belt laws.

The future for golf

Michelle Wie has already had an influence on the U.S. Open. The addition of a female announcer to follow the course with the thus-far male professionals is a predictor for the future for golf. Remember, for this sport, like others, it is about entertainment for all of us fans.

See you in Cherry Hills for 2006.

Kamehameha Day parade was disappointing this year

The Kamehameha Day Parade has slid to second and the Pan Pacific Parade first?

What's up with that?

I was disappointed when I attended the 89th Kamehameha Day Parade, but after reading Will Hoover's June 12 article, "Marching on through hurdles," I now understand the history of the parade's organizers' obstacles.

In the past, the Kamehameha Day Parade was much grander and more elaborate. The lei worn by the pa'u riders were the original flowers of each island. For instance, the flower for O'ahu is the 'ilima blossom. The pa'u riders wore strands of puakenikeni with the island flower. For the island of Kaua'i, the pa'u riders wore sea grape lei for its substitutions of the mokihana berry. The queen of Kaua'i, however, held two strands of the berry in her hands.

I was really disheartened by the parade size (small) and the substitutions of fillers used by the pa'u riders. But I was very grateful that the tradition continues to live. Mahalo nui loa to all the organizers (past and present) and B.J. Allen for keeping the parade going. I hope the 90th Kamehameha Day Parade will be restored to its regal status. Let me know where I can send my donation.

A gentleman who is stationed at Hickam AFB noticed more Mainland school marching bands than local school bands. The only local band that was present was of course Kamehameha Schools. My instant reply to him was that the state promotes tourism and the public school system has cut back on music/band classes. He seemed disappointed, but nevertheless he continued to take digital pictures that he was going to e-mail to his mother and family on the Mainland. I also mentioned to him that in the past the parade had more floats, horses and participants. The lady next to him echoed the same.

License B&Bs, don't crack down

I am a B&B rental owner in Kailua. I was surprised to see Councilwoman Barbara Marshall on KITV4 calling for a crackdown on illegal vacation rentals and bed and breakfasts. 

I was surprised because just recently I testified before Marshall and Council Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz about my experience in the B&B business and find the comments as reported by KITV4 a political reversal of what we discussed at the meetings.

I talked about the many community benefits of the B&Bs and the absence of real neighborhood objections. Both council members seemed most receptive to the notion of bringing regulation to this important segment of our tourism community. Like others in attendance at the council meeting, I am offended by being called "illegal" when I am just "unlicensed," at no fault of my own since there is no licensing process in place to become legal.

We B&B owners are legal in the sense of having registered our business names, paying annual licensing fees and submitting reports; we pay our excise and transient accommodation taxes. 

As was clear at the meeting on this subject, the city will not get rid of vacation rentals or B&Bs, so the better option is to find a way to regulate and license them as they are not going to just go away.

The bigger problem is that there is no licensing system in place for B&Bs or vacation rentals today. That is what they should be spending their time working on, rather than attacking the owners and business operators.

In my testimony, I explained that there are significant numbers of visitors who prefer the rural, quiet settings such as Kailua. The news media spend considerable time in exploiting the problems of a few. If we were "legal," the city would have an avenue to inspect, cite and fine the problem rentals.

The visitors I see seek out the B&Bs, not the other way around, to enjoy the secluded quiet environment that hotels do not offer. They have been there and now are looking for a quieter, more peaceful experience in Hawai'i. Surely, as a state that relies on tourism as its No. 1 economic livelihood, we should be more accommodating.

Vacation rentals and B&Bs are a thriving part of the tourism industry and co-exist very well in communities all over the world. They bring jobs to our community and money into our local establishments. What is needed here is a sound public policy, not political posturing.

I hope Councilwoman Marshall will reconsider her stance of "cracking down" on the industry and instead focus her energies on finding a way to license and regulate this vital segment of our community.