As the old-timers used to say, "The more you stir stuff that smells, the more it stinks."

That comes to mind in this foul-smelling mess at the Kahului Airport. The folks involved keep stirring it.

In an ongoing feud, a Wackenhut security guard has been arrested and banned from working at state facilities. This, after he was caught on tape threatening an employee of the small airline, Pacific Wings. This, after the employee refused to stop shooting video of the guard. This, after the guard cited that same Pacific Wings employee for a parking violation.

Yes, the behavior of the man paid to provide security for the airport was shameful, but how many hotheads are going to keep their cool when provoked by a video camera in their face?

And Pacific Wings has a history of provocation.

Last year, Pacific Wings bought TV ad time to run commercials accusing the Department of Transportation of corruption, mismanagement and favoritism to Island Air. They took shots at Rod Haraga, Scott Ishikawa and the governor.

"Are bankrupt Mainland companies deciding how Hawai'i airport dollars are spent?" the spot asked. "Has the Lingle Administration given control of Hawai'i's small airports to big business?"

Pacific Wings has tangled with Democrats, too, accusing state Sen. J. Kalani English of playing politics with federally subsidized air service to Hana.

The company also filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice about agreements between Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha Airlines and Island Air that put Pacific Wings at a marketing disadvantage.

It's like they see enemies everywhere.

Nothing can excuse the behavior of that security guard, cursing, spitting and shoving. But sending that videotape to Honolulu TV stations wasn't for court. It was for TV.

If us guys, the general public, can't get on a 20-minute Neighbor Island flight without having our box of manapua X-rayed and our rubber slippers inspected, then the people who work at the airport need to be held to a higher standard as well.

It's like rival gangs at a high school. The principal must restore order. If state officials can't handle the situation, then the feds should step in and lay down the law. This kind of long-standing hostility from both sides, all sides, should not be tolerated in an airport, a place critical to national security and vital to Hawai'i's economy.

Just stop already. Just stop.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.