'Senator' Case would have few friends

Has anyone thought about how effective or ineffective Ed Case would be as a senator, and how little he would be able to do for Hawaii when the entire Democratic leadership in the Senate won't support him?

Hawaiian unity isn't an attack on others

If Hawaiians call for a show of unity (as in the call to to wear symbolic red clothing during Admission Day weekend), and if we unite to struggle against lawsuits that threaten Hawaiian resources, that is a pono (righteous) undertaking -- not intended as a personal attack on others. Why should Hawaiian unity be viewed as a negative endeavor? After centuries of being disenfranchised, the aboriginal people of Hawaii are finally coming to the table. In American society, isn't public discourse a core value that early Americans even shed blood to secure?

So when we push for Hawaiians to register to vote, when we call for a march, or wear red in a show of unity -- and yes, even when we send e-mails around in an earnest attempt to educate one another about issues affecting us -- please join us in celebrating that Hawaiians as a people are uniting in an unprecedented way.

This is precisely what Ke Alii Pauahi envisioned when she bequeathed the gift of education that would equip her people to eventually hold their own in our homeland that was (and is still) rapidly changing. I say this in the spirit of aloha for all: Please know that our attempts to seek lokahi (unity) among Hawaiians are not intended to alienate others, but rather to bring the already-alienated aboriginal people of Hawaii into full participation in our homeland. Aloha is for all, including Hawaiians.

Don't build houses if there's no water

I question the comprehension of the decision-makers who approve all these new developments and order road work done during the days when it ties up traffic. What is the point in building new housing units if there is not enough water? What is the point in having a two- or three-lane road, if one or two lanes are always tied up with road repairs?

I would hope that our local government officials would strive to achieve above mediocrity, rather than assuming it's their birthright to collect a paycheck from the taxpayers.

Quit complaining and go vote!

Why is it that those who scream the loudest about high taxes, traffic, poor performing schools and other social ills are the very ones who do not take the time to vote? We are all busy these days but as responsible citizens must take the time to study the issues and make our voices heard. Take the time -- our future is at stake!

Cost of train will leave Oahuans shell-shocked

Beirut and other parts of Lebanon will be costly to rebuild. Current estimates to repair the extensive destruction to infrastructure, homes, businesses and utilities from the month long war between Israel and Hezbollah are $2 billion to $3 billion.

In light of this estimate, it's clear that the people of Oahu are about to get ripped off big time with a fixed rail transit system that will cost twice the price of rebuilding Lebanon just to construct a few miles of overpriced heavy rail lines. Such a comparison is even more appalling because the billions we are about to spend won't alleviate traffic congestion and will probably require an increase in our already high property taxes just to pay the operations and maintenance costs to keep these highly subsidized trains rolling.

While I feel horrible for what happened in Lebanon, I feel pretty awful for my fellow citizens on Oahu who seem powerless to stop the coming ripoff.

Dress respectfully at funerals, weddings

From what I have seen in the last few years in Hawaii and where I live in Washington, appropriate dress is fast becoming a thing of the past "Respect the dead and dress appropriately," Letters, Aug. 15).

To give an example of the "anything goes" style of dress, when I attended a friend's wedding several years ago almost everyone was in suitable attire for what you would expect to see there.

Then several of the groom's friends showed up during the ceremony wearing torn and filthy jeans and T-shirts that were ripped and covered with grease. They also were filthy themselves. And this was a wedding. What would they where to a funeral?

ALOHA, AUWE!

Free tooth care saved family vacation

My family arrived in Honolulu July 3 for a first-time visit and family vacation, where upon my 12-year-old daughter experienced two problems with her braces -- the types of painful problems that would ruin a family vacation if not fixed. Using the yellow pages, we contacted Tammy Chang-Motooka, who is an orthodontist in Honolulu.

We were told to immediately come to Dr. Chang-Motooka's office. We were greeted like regular patients. Our daughter's problems were corrected on the spot, allowing the family to return to its vacation. All of this happened without charge.

Our many thanks go out to Dr. Chang-Motooka and her office staff. Their kindness and good nature are a very happy memory, among many others that we brought back, and a testament to the treatment we received throughout our stay.

Can't thieves at least leave photo disks?

By breaking into our rental car on Friday, Aug 4, thieves have taken all of our wonderful memories of your beautiful island of Oahu when they stole our Panasonic digital camera while we were at the beach. Everything we did and every place we visited is gone.

You thieves rifled through our souvenir bags and took Wal-Mart pearl necklaces and dancing hula dolls and a makana for my brother's la hanau Aug. 13. You left the macadamia nut chocolate, though. Next time, can you leave the disk of pictures at least? You can bring us all great hauoli if the camera is located and the disk returned. The photos are of a group of University of Hawaii-Manoa summer term students visiting Diamond Head, a luau, Pearl Harbor, Waikiki, Iolani Palace and so on.

To all the beautiful people on Oahu, mahalo.