UH FOOTBALL

WHERE ARE THE CRITICS OF UH ATHLETICS NOW?

It wasn't too long ago I used to read letters to the editor about dismantling the UH sports program. It had to do with misplaced priorities and academia's diminishing importance. Others professed that the proper path for UH athletics would be to downsize the program so we could compete with small colleges. Then the argument turned to June Jones' crazy salary. Why should the football coach be paid more than the governor or even a high school teacher?

The moaning got louder when the "Rainbow" was gone and the "H" was in, along with the change of name to "Warrior."

Let's not even talk about the wails of protest with the sacrilegious move to banish "Hawai'i 5-O" from the stadium. Increase ticket prices? Give me a break!

What happened to all those people? My guess is they'll be at the game this Saturday.

HAWAI'I SHOWS ITS UNITY AT UH FOOTBALL GAME

Willie K's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner was the best I've ever heard at any event, Super Bowl or whatever else! It was also a chicken-skin moment to hear how loudly everyone was singing Hawai'i Pono'i. Besides the team's war chant, I've got to believe that it is intimidating to our opponents to see that not just the team, but the whole state is bonded by its culture.

HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS

GOVERNMENT TEAMS UP TO PROVIDE FACILITIES

In an era where the various levels of government and government agencies often clash over self-interest issues, the high school athletes are the direct beneficiaries of an unprecedented effort by the state, city, Department of Education and the O'ahu Interscholastic Association to provide public facilities for our athletes to use. Most public schools here do not have the full complement of athletic facilities necessary to serve all of the athletic teams at their campus site; therefore, we must rely on community parks to fill our needs.

With the mandate to comply with federal Title IX laws it could have been very easy for the state and city to leave the problem up to the schools to figure out but they didn't. Not only did the governor, mayor, superintendent and the OIA executive director step up to the plate, but they also hit the walk-off grand slam to win the game for all of Hawai'i's high school athletes. This is just another example of how teamwork can create a winning performance. As the junior varsity baseball season is about to begin, our student-athletes applaud and tip their caps in your honor. Now let's "Play Ball!"

FOURTH AMENDMENT

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO TEST TEACHERS FOR DRUGS

Referencing a letter written by Jim Henshaw (Letter, Nov. 24), it is inferred that the Fourth Amendment should be upheld with regards to drug testing.

It is not unreasonable to expect our educators to be drug free, but time and time again, it has been found that some of these professionals don't understand the concept and rules.

I agree with the Fourth Amendment, but under the circumstances, the employer (the DOE) and general public have a right to "safety and protection."

Random drug testing for teachers defines how important we the people consider the teaching position. We entrust our children to the competence and care of school employees. Private business has long used drug testing to ensure that their employees are mindful and dependable. What makes teachers different from other people that hold important, responsible positions?

The overwhelming majority of teachers have nothing to hide, agreed with the terms and conditions of the drug tests and ratified their contract.

The few teachers who disagree and have sided with the ACLU should be given the choice to find other employment, where they won't be tested.

Ben Clinger's editorial comments (Letter, Nov. 21) said "Random drug testing is a valuable option to the employer, and ultimately the public, in an attempt to keep people honest and to reduce the exposure of our youth to drugs."

Ben, you are exactly correct.

HOTEL WORKERS

EMPLOYEES FACING JOB LOSSES NEED SUPPORT

It's great to see The Advertiser supporting the striking writers in Hollywood (Editorial, Nov. 7). But why haven't you shown that kind of support for local workers at the Pacific Beach Hotel? We're going to be fired for the second time this year, yet The Advertiser has not supported us.

Furthermore, we firmly believe that the mass firing planned for Dec. 1 at Pacific Beach is nothing more than illegal union-busting. Pacific Beach has been cited twice already by federal authorities for violating workers' legal right to join a union. Our chosen union, ILWU Local 142, has filed new charges against the hotel and the Outrigger Enterprises-affiliate running it.

This is not just a legal issue for lawyers to argue over. Loyal workers' jobs and futures are at risk here through no fault of their own.

As we enter the holiday season, please remember the employees of the Pacific Beach Hotel, right here in Hawai'i, who work hard to maker your buffet meal, your catered event, or your room stay a memorable experience. Mahalo!

THE HOLIDAY SEASON

IN A STORE OR ONLINE, GO SHOPPING WITH CARE

I've gotta say, I'm all for the new "Cyber Mondays." This is a much better idea. Although it's not exactly the best solution to holiday shopping problems, it is safer physically for shoppers.

As a sales associate in a clothing department, things can get brutal during the holiday sales, whether it's two women fighting over a handbag or a pair of shoes or a car accident in the parking lot with people trying to find a closer spot or just trying to leave to get home in time.

As all new ideas for solutions to problems, there are flaws. For example, lines can get jammed not only in the aisles but also in the network connections like a stalled car during rush hour traffic on the freeway.

All I know is that, everyone should take caution when shopping during the holiday season, and plan for the worst. Be nice, take your time, and think ahead. Shopping out of season is always better than waiting til the last moments before the store closes.

DEVELOPMENT

GET SMART, STOP THE OVERBUILDING ON O'AHU

What are we thinking? Smart Cars have been in Europe for 10 years and we are just now seeing them. The way I see it, instead of a $5 billion choo-choo that will probably end up being at least double that if it's anything like other road projects done here in Honolulu, we could buy one Smart Car for every man, woman and child in Honolulu and still have money left over.

Mr. Mayor, you must know something that most of us don't. How can you possibly say that this is the answer? Can O'ahu just be built on forever? When all the condos are placed in Kaka'ako from Ward Ave. to Downtown there will be so many cars you can't even drive there. When 'Ewa is built to the max you won't be able to get to town.

Let's start thinking sensibly and control the amount of houses built on this island. Take a look around, Mr. Mayor. If you can't get to town now, what are you thinking? It doesn't take a committee to figure this out.

Think Smart. Stop building and produce food in 'Ewa so if something happens we don't have to eat a choo-choo.

IMMIGRATION

HAWAI'I ALLOWS LICENSES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Quite a bit of media attention has been focused of late on New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's seemingly silly plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Spitzer came under so much criticism for this ill-thought-out approach that he was finally forced to rescind it.

Far less media attention was focused on the fact that only eight states in the entire country already do allow the issuance of driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, no local media (or other) attention has, to my knowledge, focused on the fact that Hawai'i is one of those eight states which still embraces the approach (which now seems to have been resoundingly discredited) of allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.

Shouldn't this be an important topic of discussion, and perhaps re-evaluation, here in Hawai'i?

TRANSIT

TEEN BOARD OFFERS SOME SMART INSIGHTS ON TRANSIT

The letters from the Advertiser's Teen Editorial Board (Nov. 16) were a gratifying reminder that today's youth will be the riders of the future of Honolulu's fixed guideway transit project.

All of the letters showed concern and insight about the traffic congestion that confounds so many of our island's residents. One of them offered the cautionary advice that if people are unhappy about the system that's built, they may not ride it.

Experience shows that those who choose transit over their normal transportation mode usually do so for one major reason — reliability.

Like fixed guideway systems everywhere, Honolulu's project will deliver riders to their destinations at predictable times, something no other form of transportation can boast. That's because other forms inevitably must contend with the traffic congestion that fixed guideway commuters avoid.

Also commuting by guideway can be much more cost effective than commuting by car, whose costs include fuel, maintenance, insurance and parking.

It was good to find evidence in the letters of a community-minded spirit that often seems lacking among some citizens who oppose the project because they say they'll never ride it.

We ought to take a page out of their book, as these young people clearly understand that maintaining mobility, in a way that minimizes environmental impact, is a major component of our island's sustainability.

As one student wrote, "I strongly believe that one should support transit development for the sake of the community and for the sake of the environment."

A more mature and succinct assessment of transit's value would be hard to find.