ELECTION 2006

MARK MOSES DESERVED PAPER'S ENDORSEMENT

I served in the state Legislature for six years. I never saw anyone — and I mean anyone — who was more committed or who worked harder than Rep. Mark Moses. Like Sen. Dan Akaka, Mark is a workhorse, not a show horse. It is unfortunate that The Advertiser chose not to endorse this retired Marine.

My sense is he was not liberal enough for your board, and that is a shame. Moses is an unbelievably effective man who has built relationships on both sides of the aisle. School/community-based management meetings, O'ahu Metropolitan Planning Organization meetings, neighborhood board meetings, legislative hearings, school functions. He is always there and accessible.

He has been there fighting for the badly needed funds for the second city for a decade. You owe Mr. Moses an apology.

CONSTITUTION

RETIREMENT AGE FOR JUDGES DISCRIMINATORY

Should the state Constitution be changed so that it does not discriminate against judges over 70 years old? Yes.

Age discrimination in the form of mandatory retirement should not be accepted in our state. There should be no forced retirement on the basis of age. The qualification for judges should be intelligence, wisdom, compassion and knowledge of the law, not age.

Many judges over the age of 70 are active and productive in rendering important decisions. Justice Thurgood Marshall did not retire until his 80s. Senior U.S.. District Judge Samuel King is more than 70 years old and still active on the federal bench and in the legal community.

Under Hawai'i civil rights laws, an employee can not be discriminated against because of age. How then can we allow the Constitution to discriminate on the basis of age?

KUKUI GARDENS

AFFORDABLE COMPLEX SPORTS PRICEY VEHICLES

The saga continues. I have heard and observed the concerns raised by the Kukui Gardens residents and their supporters since the story first broke.

They say they will be unable to pay the new rents if the property is sold. But has anyone ever bothered to check the parking lot? The types of cars parked there makes one wonder about the concerns raised by the tenants.

There are BMWs, Volvos, even a Mercedes in the parking lot.

So, what was that about the high rents again?

MIDEAST

ISRAEL SURROUNDED BY FOES BENT ON ATTACKING

The well-balanced, factual commentary by Victor David Hansen Sept. 27) stands in sharp contrast to the lies and exaggerations in Lawrence Basich's reaction (Letters, Sept. 30).

Israel is surrounded by enemies bent on its annihilation. Imagine a cross-border attack in which Americans were killed and kidnapped. Would the U.S. not retaliate in force?

GUBERNATORIAL RACE

TEACHERS NOT ASKED ABOUT ENDORSEMENT

I am writing to express my concern regarding the Hawai'i State Teachers Assocation gubernatorial endorsement. They never asked the teachers.

This questionable endorsement was made by the HSTA board of directors. Why not take a vote? What were they afraid of? We teachers should have been given the opportunity to vote on this important decision.

Let's look at the facts. When Gov. Linda Lingle was elected in 2002, the state's economy had shown little growth since early 1990s. Tourism was down substantially and bankruptcies were at an all-time high. Our students' test scores remained among the lowest in the country. In August 2006, Hawai'i recorded the lowest unemployment in the nation at 2.8 percent. Since December 2002, more than 55,400 new jobs have been added to Hawai'i's economy. High standards, reduced class size and safety are not Democratic Party themes. Neither are they exclusively Republican issues.

Please look at the issues and then look at the facts. Supporting a candidate of a political party other than Democrat is not the end of the world. That's why I am voting for Linda Lingle. I hope you will do the same.

HSTA ENDORSEMENT NOT WORTH ANYTHING

With regard to the surprise announcement appearing in The Advertiser and attributed to my union that they are going to use my name and my dues money to back Gov. Linda Lingle's opponent, her campaign spokesman has it exactly right: "This endorsement is not worth the paper it was printed on."

As a public school teacher, please know I intend to follow with great interest the proceedings of the U.S. Supreme Court this session, especially as it takes up the issue regarding National Education Association teacher union affiliates' use of member dues for political purposes without regard for — indeed without even asking — the opinion of members.

In this instance, I find myself wondering if any teachers were asked their preference in the gubernatorial contest before Hawai'i State Teachers Association directors made their decision.

I can tell you for a fact that I was not asked.

LAGOON

WAIKIKI'S SHORELINE SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE

The public needs to say "no" to the lagoon proposed for the space between the Natatorium and the 'ewa concession at Kapi'olani Park.

The Waikiki shoreline has already been forever altered by seawalls, buttresses and groins and now a proposal is being put forward to cut the shoreline inland by 150 feet and pile a breakwall, similar to what's in place at Magic Island and Ko'olina, 200 feet across to create an "enhancement" for Kapi'olani Park? How will you recoup the thousands of square feet of park space lost by this "enhancement?" You can't.

It's been demonstrated time and again that alterations to the shoreline can and will have disastrous and undesirable consequences.

Why not turn attention to improving an existing "enhancement" with historical value to boot? The Natatorium. Leave the shoreline alone.

KAUNAKAKAI CHURCH

COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO MOLOKA'I EFFORT

Thank you for the story, "Moloka'i church needs help" (Sept. 6). Eloise Aguilar aptly described the plight of our Moloka'i Catholic community, which has outgrown St. Sophia Church in Kaunakakai and our 10-year effort to raise money for a new church. Our plan is to build a new church in Kaunakakai named for Blessed Damien, the 19th century missionary to the Hansen disease patients exiled to Kalaupapa, Moloka'i.

We are amazed and pleased at the outpouring of affection and contributions to the Blessed Damien Church Building Fund, made in response to The Advertiser article! Mahalo nui loa, Hawai'i!

At this time, due to our community efforts, our recent gala and the community response to the article, we have raised $1 million toward our $3 million goal.

Readers who would like to learn more about the Blessed Damien Church Building Fund, should see our Web site at www.blesseddamienchurch.org. Contact us at 808-553-5181, email to mjs@aloha.net or mail directly to P.O. Box 1948, Kaunakakai, Moloka'i, HI 96748.