AH QUON MCELRATH

STRONG, HONEST VOICE OF JUSTICE

The death of Ah Quon McElrath marks the silencing of the strongest, most eloquent, persistent and honest voice of justice and equity that these Islands — and perhaps the world — have ever heard.

While quiet now, it reverberates in the memories of all who knew her.

Though she was utterly of and in this world, the people of Hawai'i should bestow a kind of secular sainthood on her for the unique blend of qualities she embodied and provoked us all to embrace.

QUINTESSENTIAL ACTIVIST — FEARLESS

As a former Honolulu journalist, I remember the many times I saw Ah Quon McElrath in action — at the Legislature, at rallies, at hearings, on picket lines. She was the quintessential, indefatigable activist — articulate, informed, fearless.

May we be as courageous and engaged in promoting our convictions as she was.

'OBAMALOHA'

COINING A NEW WORD FOR A NEW PRESIDENT

On the occasion of Hawai'i-born President-elect Barack Obama's redeeming appointment of Hawai'i-born Gen. Eric Shinseki to his cabinet, it seems appropriate to coin a new hapa word: Obamaloha, signifying presidential good will, or well-being.

The idea for this came from a Boston friend, poet Saul Touster. We discussed variants on this, then settled on Obamaloha as a useful neologism to be used frequently, we hope, in this time of change and into the future.

PAY CUTS

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CAN LEAD BY EXAMPLE

I suggest that all elected and appointed county, state and federal officials lead by example and take pay cuts during this deepest financial crisis since the Great Depression.

In both the public and private sectors, we need pay cuts at the top and more decent wages for workers at the bottom, and especially a boost for the unemployed.

When more and more citizens are losing their jobs, homes and needing emergency food boxes, do our high-paid private- and public-sector officials have no shame?

RIGHT VS. PRIVILEGE

PRISON VISITS ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY

In Eric Daido's letter (Dec. 14), he says an earlier writer "forgets that criminals are serving time for violent criminal acts. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that prison visits are a privilege, not a right."

Not only is he wrong once, he's wrong twice.

First, the vast majority of those doing time are in for drug possession, forgery and other nonviolent offenses.

Second, prisoners will ultimately be released to rejoin their communities. They need a whole lot more than just to be locked up. They need to be ready to get out when their time is up.

The very best preparation is visits from family members, particularly spouses and children. Whether visits are a privilege or a right is immaterial. Visits are absolutely necessary, and every effort must be made to accommodate them.

TASER INCIDENT

POLICE POWER POLICY APPLIED APPROPRIATELY

I have great respect for the State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers and its leadership. However, I believe that the union is misleading the public and officers when it comes to the Restriction of Police Authority policy.

The decision to restrict an officer's police authority is made only after careful review of available information. Not all officers who are investigated are placed on restricted status. Thirty-two officers were placed on restricted duty this year because of pending investigations; 15 officers remain on restricted status, including five officers from 2007. Some reasons for restricting an officer's authority are temporary restraining orders and allegations of criminal activity.

Officers with restricted powers continue to work and collect full pay (including officer allowance and vehicle, gas and insurance subsidies) while under investigation. The only change in income, if any, comes from not being able to work overtime or take special-duty jobs.

The media has reported on an incident involving two officers who used Tasers in Makakilo and subsequently had their police powers restricted.

Because SHOPO has filed a complaint with the Hawai'i Labor Relations Board, the department is constrained from discussing the facts of the case at this time. We are meeting with city attorneys to see if the Taser video recording can be released.

Release of the recording would promote transparency and underscore the importance of the policy. We believe that the policy was used appropriately. My staff and I stand by our decision.