MORE LOCALS SHOULD BE CAST IN TV PILOT

What is wrong with these people who are casting for the "Hawaii Five-0" remake? How come they are not casting local people from Hawai'i? We give them the tax credits to hire extras, etc. and what do they do? They keep bringing in people from the Mainland.

If I were Linda Lingle, I would take away all the tax credits that are allowed them if they don't hire 99 percent of their actors/actresses from here. There are a lot of people out of work here who could use the extra money if they were hired for some role in this film. Come on, governor, pay attention.

CINDY AU | Kapahulu

GOOD TO KNOW THAT SHOW WON'T BE COPY

Happy to read that the new "Five-0" series will not be an imitation of the classic. Although many of us want to hear "Book 'em Danno," no way, no deals. And I'm a cop.

Brett Wagner's desire to show the real Hawai'i is much needed. As far as characters, they should not be so young as to lack the experience to be a part of a major crimes investigative unit. Also, Grace Park's character doesn't have to be a champion surfer; an avid surfer will do.

Too late, but one cast member I would have insisted on is Nancy Kwan as the governor.

richard lightner | Waipahu

RAIL TRANSIT

STEEL-ON-STEEL WAS ONLY CHOICE OFFERED

The commentary from Donald Clegg ("For rail, 3rd time must be the charm," March 7), states that the 1992 selection committee, of which he was a member, "determined that an elevated steel-on-steel rail system would best suit our island's transportation needs."

What he does not say is that the process in 1992 was open to all competitors, while the current process is limited to steel-on-steel suppliers. Does Clegg believe that there have been no gains in technology in the past 18 years?

If steel-on-steel is so great, why does the city prevent qualified rubber-tires-on-concrete, monorail and magnetic levitation systems from competing? Rather than "toe" the city's line, Clegg should be speaking out for a fair and open technology competition.

frank genadio | Kapolei

STOP THE STUDIES; JUST BUILD THE RAIL

I read with amused interest the news that our governor has now decided to dismiss the findings of a People's Pulse survey indicating that two-thirds of residents opposed conducting another rail-transit study.

As a taxpaying resident of the Kapolei community, I am one of tens of thousands of commuters stuck in traffic every single weekday for no less than 50 minutes, sometimes over an hour. What does that equate to in lost hours of productive work time, especially when it is multiplied by the number of workdays in a year?

Our governor reiterates her intention to conduct an independent analysis of the city's financial plan for its $5.3 billion rail system. This is a lame-duck course of delaying a sorely needed solution that has been analyzed repeatedly for more than five years.

The time has come for everyone to share the cost of a proven solution to the morass of mobility plaguing a large segment of our population every day.

Hopefully those charged with the responsibility and authority to make the final decisions on this matter will act quickly and decisively to avoid further costly delays.

Bradford Harrison | Kapolei

ROD TAM

FREE ENTERTAINMENT WORTH APPRECIATING

Come on folks. Give Rod Tam a break.

Over the years he has given all of us humorous situations that we would pay for from a professional comic.

Doesn't he brighten your day?

Calvin Lyau | Honolulu

COUNCILMAN SHOULD ADMIT HE WAS WRONG

If Rod Tam had publicly admitted his wrongdoing, taken responsibility for it and sincerely pledged he would not use taxpayer money to buy meals in the future, then we — his constituents — and the attorney general might have excused him.

Instead, he blamed his ethics problems on political attacks, sinus problems, cultural traditions, bad math, faulty memory and other excuses that ultimately show a consciousness of guilt, and not that he's a victim of a misunderstanding.

GUY BENJAMIN | Honolulu

FIREWORKS

PEOPLE ENJOY THEM, SO WHY PASS A BAN?

It's about time someone speaks up in support of fireworks. Fireworks being legal in Hawai'i is something that we are proud of. It is a time when families and friends come together to celebrate the new year with a special privilege that we aren't allowed on other holidays.

Unlike the recent articles that I've been reading, I have noticed that people enjoy fireworks — from 4-year-olds, to teens, to uncles and aunties; even grandparents light a few.

My father enjoyed lighting fireworks when he was my age as much as I do. It's a time of year that creates family memories and it's a tradition that goes farther back than our grandparents.

Even those opposing fireworks must have lit a few when they were younger; now let us have our turn. Just because there are individuals who abuse the freedom to light fireworks, and that freedom only comes one day a year, doesn't mean that we should ban it completely.

chase owen | Honolulu

EDUCATION

FURLOUGHS WOULDN'T BE OPTION ELSEWHERE

I am a retired schoolteacher from Massachusetts who recently arrived and I always read your paper.

I cannot believe that the governor has furloughed not only the teachers for 17 days but the students as well. What are you thinking?

I can tell you one thing. This would never happen in Massachusetts. Students and teachers have to go the required number of days set by the state. Period.

When I read "Lingle aide, BOE chair meet, share data," (March 5), I realized I know what the problem is. They are sharing information with each other, but not with the teachers union. Indeed, "the meeting involved the employers of the teachers and did not include the Hawaii State Teachers Association."

It is a big problem when government describes itself as "employers" of teachers and doesn't have the sense to know that working together with those who represent the teachers — the unions — will solve any and all problems. It works in Massachusetts.

Virginia ryan | Waikīkī

ABERCROMBIE

VOTER CAN'T FORGIVE STANCE ON AKAKA BILL

I am a combat veteran from the Vietnam era, who served with the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, in 1969. My active duty began as a reservist attached to the Hawai'i National Guard's 29th Brigade in 1968. At that time, Neil Abercrombie was a demonstrator against us, calling us names that was truly not Hawai'i.

Abercrombie and I have huge differences of both moral and economic issues. We are on opposite sides on national defense, as he voted against the Patriot Act in 2002. He supports same-sex marriage and testified in support of civil unions. He supports abortion, where I believe that life begins at conception. He supported the comprehensive health care bill pending in Congress, destroying the best health care system in the world.

I could forgive him for our many differences except for one, the Akaka bill. He believes in the racial separation of Hawai'i's people without allowing for a plebiscite. His position is not pono. Hawai'i was and is a blend of many races and cultures. Hawai'i is of one people and Abercrombie wants us to be separated by race.

Governor? I don't think so.

Jimmy Kuroiwa | Honolulu