SENATE RACE

CASE HAS PASSION FOR MAKING HAWAI'I BETTER

I applaud Sen. Dan Akaka's public service and the commitment and sacrifices he and his family have made to serve the people of Hawai'i.

But I am also impressed with his opponent in the upcoming senatorial race. Rep. Ed Case seems both intelligent and articulate and also has a passion for making Hawai'i a better place.

His voting record shows him to be a moderate, which means he can think for himself and not be a lemming to party politics.

Should Mr. Case get elected, I believe there would be two people with Hawai'i ties (along with Barack Obama) to be viable candidates for the presidency in the not so distant future.

AKAKA HAS WITHSTOOD TEST OF TIME WITH ALOHA

"You never know where you are going until you understand where you have been."

This old and true saying has withstood the test of time just as our own Sen. Danny Akaka has withstood the test of time, with honor, aloha and integrity. You have my vote!

CASE WILL BRING STATE FEDERAL HELP IT NEEDS

I'm confused. Your endorsement of Sen. Dan Akaka over Rep. Ed Case for the U.S. Senate provided an analysis of both candidates, all of which was positive for Case.

Your article correctly pointed out that Case has consistently rocked the entrenched Democratic power structure in Hawai'i, and praised his determination, intelligence and sophistication.

Your endorsement concludes with a debt of respect and gratitude for Sen. Akaka. I respect Sen. Akaka, I am grateful for his service to this state. But that is no reason to give him another six years. Our future deserves a candidate who can think for himself.

Give Ed Case one term, and I am certain he will bring Hawai'i the federal support we deserve.

AKAKA'S QUALITIES BEST REPRESENT OUR ISLANDS

Having the ability to vote for the first time gives me the great responsibility of choosing candidates who best represent my way of life, my community and my island home.

I had the chance to watch Sen. Dan Akaka's and Rep. Ed Case's debate. It is well known that Sen. Akaka is not a great debater. His strength and quality is building relationships.

I recently learned that almost half of Hawai'i's voting population was not born or raised here. That means that our values and way of life may not always be represented. I strongly believe that Sen. Akaka's qualities and characteristics best represent my island home. I am going to vote for Sen. Akaka in this election. Not because he reminds me of my storytelling grandfather, but because he reminds me of my grandfather's qualities, not found too often nowadays.

CAMPAIGNING

HIGHWAY POLITICAL ADS ARE JUST UNSIGHTLY LITTER

Is it really necessary to have 367 signs advertising political candidates' names on the half-mile stretch of highway leading to the Ko Olina resort area?

What's the difference between throwing trash out of your car and leaving these unsightly political advertisements along the highway for weeks after election day? Do the candidates actually think that if we see their name on a sign 50 times in 30 seconds over a half a mile of highway that we will be more likely to cast our vote for them?

It's respectable to have a political endorsement sign held up by a friendly and smiling face waving to passing cars. It's a slap in the face to the people that live, work and vacation in the area to deface our highways and ignore the laws of littering!

CANDIDATES NEED MORE THAN NAMES ON SIGNS

If candidates put more than just their names on their signs, we would have a better idea who we want to elect. For example, "Living Wage." Now I'd vote for that one.

CHEVRON DISCOVERY

DON'T BE COMPLACENT OVER OUR OIL SUPPLY

I am sickened by Chevron Corp.'s discovery of a new oil field that could yield between 3 billion and 15 billion barrels of oil and keep Americans oil drunk for years. Sober up!

Our situation is still as frightful as ever. Pretend the discovery didn't happen. Even when oil prices go down, keep buying hybrids. Keep buying ethanol.

Keep the globe rolling.

PONY BASEBALL

PONO'S FAMILY THANK THEIR MANY SUPPORTERS

We would like to thank the hundreds and hundreds of people on Kaua'i, in Hawai'i and throughout the world who supported us and our son, Justin "Pono" Tokioka, during our fight for justice with PONY Baseball/Softball Inc. We could not be happier that PONY has agreed to change its rules and policies to allow greater access for children with disabilities. Pono's victory in this case insures that sports leagues throughout the United States will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act from now on.

The Lihue Baseball League — a shining example of what PONY Baseball should be all about — has supported Pono 100 percent since he started playing tee ball nearly six years ago and were right there with us when we filed our complaint.

Since this 10-month ordeal started, not a week has gone by when someone — and sometimes dozens of people — would approach us and tell us they supported our position and what we were fighting for. People we have never even met would lend their support by phone, e-mail or personal encounter. Many even wrote letters to the PONY organization on Pono's behalf. It would be impossible for us thank each one of them — but we do want you to know how much we appreciate your support and encouragement.

The media, as well, helped us keep this issue in front of the public, and we are extremely grateful to them for covering the story with such intensity and interest. We are especially thankful to The Advertiser and Kaua'i reporter Jan Tenbruggencate for being the first to cover the story and focus national attention on our plight.

Our attorney, Marc Charmatz of the National Association of the Deaf, was also instrumental in guiding us through the process and reassuring us that we were moving forward to a successful conclusion.

Finally, we can not say enough about the good work of the Department of Justice: U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo, staff attorney David Booth, and all of the DOJ employees who were instrumental in settling this case so favorably to our sole purpose of equal access for our son.

Mahalo to everyone who was there for Pono. By supporting him you were also supporting every child with a disability in this country. We will be forever grateful.

BISHOP MUSEUM

HAWAIIAN FEATHER EXHIBIT IS 'ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS'

Congratulations to Bishop Museum for bringing us the absolutely fabulous exhibit "Na Hulu Ali'i: Royal Feathers," which opened recently in Castle Hall. I've been a member of the museum for more than 20 years and have seen numerous fine exhibits there, but this one beats them all!

As a Native Hawaiian I was moved to tears at seeing the more than 100 capes, lei, helmets, royal standards, fly wands and other gorgeous items that were selected for both their beauty and historical significance. Billed as being "the largest display of Hawaiian feather work ever exhibited," the display really does live up to expectations. Every piece projects so much mana, and I feel as if I've experienced something of great significance and power which has affected me deeply on many levels. Everyone in Hawai'i, but particularly Native Hawaiians, should go to see this stunning exhibit.