I am continually struck by the monumental lack of leadership in this state. The recent settlement by HSTA is an example. Contrary to Gov. Lingle's "no tax" Republican rhetoric, let's call this what it is. This settlement amounts to the leveling of a tax on young families and children.
I also notice that in the "cover your butt" environment we live in, HSTA took all of the furlough days from children's instructional time, not preparation time or teacher meeting time. Then where is the Legislature in this debacle? Noticeably quiet and very absent.
All of our "leaders" are asleep at the wheel and the children of our state are going to pay for generations to come. I guess it's OK because the kids are too young to vote. I just hope all of the parents remember who was in charge and vote all of these rascals out. We need leadership.

DAVE ENDO | Waipahu

MARINE PROTECTION

SOME FISHING ACCESS SHOULD BE PROVIDED

I find the notion that only 10.5 percent of the coastal areas are restricted a gross underestimate. Vast portions of the shoreline are simply inaccessible or closed by private owners or the military. And as the move by the conservationists and the tourist industry increases the marine protected areas, the local fisherman will be displaced further.

What I propose, which ought to win the goodwill of the fishermen, is that the MPAs be opened to pole and line fishermen the weekend of the new moon each month. In addition, future MPAs be designated as catch-and-release areas. Thus, pole and line fishermen will be able to practice their craft with little damage to the fishery.

WILLIAM J. KING | Honolulu

FURLOUGHS

CONSIDER GROUPING DAYS AT END OF YEAR

Perhaps the 17 teacher furlough days wouldn't be as disruptive if they were taken at the end of the school year. Instead of one furlough day a month, schedule all 17 days at the end of the school schedule.

This would open the schedule for an elective interim 17-day session. This interim program can be set up by private and public enterprises in much the same way as "summer schools" are set up. Remedial and enrichment programs can be offered with the stipulation that for every two paid registered students, the program offer free admission to a low-income applicant (or whatever ratio works).

If teachers know they have a shorter school schedule to work with, they will adjust lesson plans accordingly and try to fit the curriculum in the time period allowed. Students who really need the extra 17 days of schooling would have that available to them.

Instead of bashing teachers for taking furlough days we should be expending energy trying to be part of the solution.

JUDY MORITA | Honolulu

WAIKÍKÍ VENDORS

SIDEWALKS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO CITIZENS

Waikíkí sidewalks are no longer public domain. They belong to the street vendors who pay no rent or taxes on goods or services sold. A taxpaying citizen can no longer take a stroll along Kaläkaua Avenue without being harassed or threatened.

Some vendors, such as the painter who spray-paints his pictures there on the sidewalk with toxic chemicals, has even hired strong-arm men to tell a person where they can walk and threaten harm if people don't respond.

Why do our elected officials and police allow this to happen? Waikíkí and Hawaii must take back these sidewalks for the taxpaying citizens to whom they belong.

ROBERT PLANTE | Honolulu

SUPREME COURT

TOP JUDGES' RULINGS SHOULD BE UNBIASED

I would like to respond to Mark Doo's Oct. 20 letter concerning the confirmation hearings of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. He states, "If judges on the Supreme Court are supposed to make rulings on law without influence of their race, gender, social status, or any other defining characteristic, then we should be satisfied with nine white men on the bench or for that matter nine black women (likely chance of that)."

That is the purpose of the Supreme Court, is it not? If any "lower" judges use their "life experiences" in the course of passing judgement, based on their gender and their race, and someone feels they didn't get a fair deal during their court case based on the judge's bias, there is always the choice to appeal that decision to a "higher" court.

However, the job the top nine judges in our country have is not to make judgements based on race and gender; their sole job is to assess whether the "lower" judge in the case they are reviewing followed the rule of law, period.

PAUL E. STAPLES | Kailua

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES

PROFIT'S UP, SO RETURN CALL CENTER JOBS

I read with pleasure in The Honolulu Advertiser of Oct. 21 that Hawaiian Air profits are up fivefold. This is great! However, the Hawaiian Air call center continues to reside in Baguio City, Philippines.

With more Hawaiian Air profits, I would request to bring the call center back to Hawai'i, and give our local residents the jobs.

The TV commercials all say there is only one airline that is Hawaiian, so why can't the call center be in Hawai'i, and provide jobs for Hawai'i residents and please customers?

Go for it!

JOYCE LEVEY | Honolulu