SALON SHOWED CARE FOR KUPUNA CLIENT

Recently a family member of one of our clients took an unplanned trip to Kahala Mall to have her hair done. Unplanned because this person suffers from short term memory loss and confusion.

Arriving at the Marsha Nadalin salon in Kahala Mall, she told them she was there for her appointment. They graciously fit her in only to discover that she did not have money to pay, did not know how to go home and did not have any identification.

Katie Ringwood and the staff at Marsha Nadalin did not charge her for the haircut, called a cab and paid to have this kupuna returned to her home. When I called to thank them and reimburse them for the cab fare and haircut I was told — "No, there is no charge and we don't need the cab fare. We take care of our kūpuna in Hawai'i."

So to everyone at Marsha Nadalin, mahalo for caring.

gary a. powell| Executive director, Caregiver Foundation of America

FURLOUGH FRIDAYS

OPTION SHOULD BE BANNED IN FUTURE

The lesson to be learned by the governor and Legislature by the continuing controversy over public school teacher furloughs is that the furlough option, as a means of reducing labor costs, should be statutorily banned from (labor) contractual negotiations for certain groups of public sector employees. These groups include teachers (elementary, secondary, and college-level), public safety personnel (police, firemen, prison guards), critical health care personnel (doctors, nurses and the like), and other positions that require staffing on a 24/7 basis. These groups should negotiate with the government/employer only over straight pay cuts or straight layoffs.

If the economy remains stagnant or suffers a double-dip for the next two or more years, the government budget woes will continue unabated. Then, such legislation should be discussed before the present two-year public sector employee contracts expire after the next fiscal year.

Edmund M.Y. LEONG | Honolulu

HANNEMANN

MAYOR SEEMS TO BE FOCUSING ON ELECTION

Mayor Hannemann's speech on the State of the City reads more like a valedictory address than a vision for his remaining term of office. In other speeches, the mayor announced something substantive: building new affordable housing units or cutting down expenses by freezing city wages. But not this time.

So here's a question: is the mayor still working for as a mayor, or has he switched his focus to a run for governor instead?

Susan Atwell | Honolulu