DRUG TESTS

PUBLIC-FUND RECIPIENTS SHOULD UNDERGO TESTS

All individuals receiving any form of public funds should be subject to random drug testing. If the individual fails the drug test, those funds should be withheld until a "passing grade" is received.

Individuals who might be tested should include lawmakers, welfare recipients, food-stamp recipients, public employees and all public school students, including those at the university and receiving student aid.

PARENTS SHOULD ALSO BE MONITORED FOR DRUGS

I have been quiet long enough. I have been reading letters to the editor that mention mandatory drug testing for teachers. As a teacher and a mother of two public school students, I could care less about being drug tested because I do believe that teachers should be drug-free and I have nothing to hide.

However, if teachers have to be tested, I would like to have the opportunity to demand mandatory drug testing for the parents as well.

I read one letter that stated that parents need to make sure their children are sent to a safe place since they are in school a good portion of the day. Well, as teachers, we also want to make sure the children are going home to a place that is safe from drugs, alcohol and abuses.

So where does it stop? At least our classrooms are open; your homes are not. Please don't let a couple people's alleged mistakes or misjudgment stereotype all educators.

MARATHON

EVENT WAS MORE THAN JUST A RACE FOR MANY

I finished the marathon. I'm 56 years old and I've never done anything like this before; 21,718 people finished ahead of me, but I did it. The organizers of the marathon made this a never-to-be-forgotten event for me and tens of thousands of others. They have my sincere thanks for keeping the finish line open for those of us who walked, and for the wonderful job they did making everything run so smoothly.

The volunteers, too, deserve a huge mahalo for the hours and hours they spent filling cups with water and then sweeping up all the cups we threw on the ground. I wish there was a better way to deal with all the trash. Regardless, thank you to everyone who made my day a wonderful one.

PARTICIPANTS LEAVE BIG MESS AFTER BIG EVENT

To all of those involved in the 2006 Honolulu Marathon: You should be ashamed of yourselves. This morning I walked through Ala Moana Beach Park and witnessed your contestants' trash littered everywhere around your port-a-potties stationed less than 40 feet away from the canal, running along Ala Moana Boulevard. How sad that you invite people to our island to trash it. I picked up roughly 60 items, including used toilet paper, as some of them were blowing toward our ocean.

How dispiriting that your contestants think somebody else should pick up after them, while an empty trash can sat next to the bridge they used to cross over the canal. It's unfortunate and disheartening that you allow them to think that way.

I strongly suggest you change your policy or implement one, to teach your guests about the importance of our environment. We should not have to walk past the remnants of their arrogance on our way to use the ocean.

TAX

MAYOR, HOW DID WE GET HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

In a few days, we the people of Hawai'i will be subjected to an increase in general excise taxes applied to everything we pay for — food, medical services — virtually all we do and buy.

We should all be unhappily asking our esteemed mayor how we all got into this sordid mess.

It's time to stop this ill-conceived rail nonsense, repeal the tax and start cleaning house, making our representatives accountable to all of us for every penny they spend. And, Mr. Mayor, this is a great week to take that long-promised swim in the Ala Wai. After all, it's been nine months since you said the spill wouldn't stop you from jumping in.

Let's start earning those substantial salaries — and do some real good.

IRAQ

LET COUNTRY FIND ITS WAY TO DEMOCRACY

In response to J. Steele's letter on Dec. 7 that says, "Our goal in Iraq is to defeat the Islamic terrorists who are bent on world domination":

I agree that it is a terrible thing for one people to impose their belief system on another, especially violently, in an attempt to dominate the world.

Our culture's world view is won through the lives of our ancestors and fits our culture and our corner of the Earth. A respectable people should resist the imposition of an opposing world view upon them and their children. I think the United States should take bold action to remove this type of fanaticism from world affairs. Doing so will make the world a safer place. There-fore, let us end our attempts at world domination taking place in Iraq.

Let the Iraqis impose the practice of democracy upon themselves if they observe it to be successful. Let the Iraqis resume the affairs of their culture, and let them take responsibility for it. Is their culture so weak, truly, that we need to hold their hands? Has our invasion and occupation really helped? Three thousand of our children and 150,000 of theirs have died violently as a direct result.

So far the Islamic terrorists and their mighty invading armies have caused less death and destruction than democracy's.

AKAKA BILL

NEW CONGRESS RENEWED HOPE FOR BILL

When the newly elected 110th Congress takes office Jan. 4, the people of the United States will have a historic opportunity to enact the Akaka Bill that formally extends United States recognition to the Native Hawaiians.

The kanaka maoli need this legislation to provide protection for programs that benefit Native Hawaiians. The United States and the state of Hawai'i have maintained a historic obligation to honor the "special trust" that has been continually affirmed since the enactment of the 1920 Hawaiian Homelands Act. The establishment of the Native Hawaiian governing entity will create an organic political institution that will serve to articulate the interests of Native Hawaiians. This will not be easy. However, even though there will be challenges with the Akaka bill, we must not let the perfect become an enemy of the good.

While there are those among us who would argue that the Akaka bill is a misguided effort to "fix the past," it is in fact an example of the genius of the American system. We have the choice to do the right thing, and the enactment of the Akaka Bill will serve as a clear demonstration of our belief in our commitment to "Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono."

KAHUKU HOSPITAL

COMPANY SHOULD DO ITS PART TO SAVE FACILITY

Regarding "Oaktree Capital Management should pay for Kahuku Hospital": "Kahuku is the only hospital and emergency room within an hour's drive," Dr. Richard Price, who operates the ER said in a Honolulu Advertiser article. "A lot of people are going to die needlessly."

As of last month, the developers of the Turtle Bay Resort have been give the green light to move forward with plans for five new hotels with 3,500 rooms and condominium units that would transform the area cared for by Kahuku Hospital. A multi-billion dollar investment company, Oaktree Capital Management, owns the Turtle Bay Resort.

Kusao & Kurahashi Inc., planning and zoning consultants for KRC, outlined the company's updated redevelopment plans and talked about infrastructure. I believe that the Kahuku Hospital is a vital part of the infrastructure and therefore, Oaktree Capital Management should be responsible for some portion of the funding as a condition for the building permits.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann said, "I am strongly urging Kuilima to continue to pay careful attention to the concerns expressed by North Shore residents and others." Nicola Jones, CEO of Kuilima Resort, said Kuilima is looking at creative, innovative solutions to address the community's concerns.

It seems a major concern to the 27,000 people and one ambulance now between Kualoa and Waimea Bay is adequate medical care. With added population and traffic, the closure of the hospital will present particular problems for acute heart and stroke patients, traffic accidents and ocean related accident victims, severely asthmatic people and women in emergency childbirth.

Oaktree Capital Management must foot the bill. The multi-billion-dollar investment company has an obligation to be a major partner if the Kahuku Hospital is to continue caring for the North Shore residents.