Hawaii Democrats eat their young

How difficult it is to be a Hawaii Democrat in the 21st century? The Democrats have become the party that eats its young. Are we to assume that when either of our Senators Dan vacates his office, we must bow to the inevitable gray-bearded Neil Abercrombie and accept our fate?

Oh, Barack Obama, how lucky you are that you are an Illinois Democrat and not from Hawaii.

Akaka is genuine speaker of truth

The years spent growing our concerns into a powerful voice for all discussions on advancing recognition for native Hawaiians at a federal level came together when Sen. Daniel Akaka worked vigorously to pass what is now Public Law 103-150, commonly known as the "Apology Resolution."

This law serves as a foundation to set in stone the illegal acts committed in 1893 and in 1898. I remember in the early 1970s when people thought we were making up history.

We would not be at a point to discuss our ability to move forward in any way without recognition of what happened to our kingdom. And we certainly would not be at a point to even debate various types of government entities, had it not been for the recognition of wrongdoing and the resulting apology.

It takes more than a few quotes, self-given credit and surface-level understanding to understand Hawaii. It takes courage, hard work and vision, all of which I admire in Senator Akaka. No one, but no one, can speak to the truth of their kulaiwi, home, better than one who has generations of kupuna to answer to. He's more than a senator to me, he's a friend, but above all, he is genuine - a trait seemingly harder to find.

Police need increased presence in Hauula

As a Koolauloa resident, I mourn with the families who suffered tragic loss last weekend. After reading Honolulu police Capt. Frank Fujii's comments about the limits of traffic law enforcement, however, it seems obvious that our police do not fully appreciate the deterrent effect of their visibility along our highways.

To cite an example from our side of the island, nearly all residents know that the Honolulu Police Department routinely places an unmarked car to monitor speed limit compliance near the Polynesian Cultural Center, usually at the southeast end of the parking lot. In nine years of living along Kamehameha Highway near Hauula, I cannot remember ever seeing a "speed trap" set up along either the short straightaway below Pounders Beach, where the first accident victims accelerated - or on the long straightaway by Kokololio county beach park, where the second driver would have accelerated before unsuccessfully negotiating the fatal bend in the road.

The message to less conscientious drivers on this side is all too clear: take it easy by the Polynesian Cultural Center, but between Pounders and Hauula Shopping Center - go for it. There have been dozens of accidents at this site that attest to that unfortunate mentality.

Recently, as I drove my daughter to the Brigham Young University campus in Laie, I couldn't help but note the irony of the HPD speed trap on the northwest side of the PCC parking lot, nearly two miles from last weekend's accident site. I'm sure I speak for many residents of these communities as I beg HPD to increase its visibility on Kamehameha Highway between PCC and the Hauula Kai shopping center.

Bush statements show Iraq war was mistake

The president says, "America will lose its soul as a nation if we leave Iraq." Further, he says, "We're not leaving as long as I am president." Stay the course, Mr. President, no matter how flawed, inept and destructive?

Astonishingly, the Bush administration admitted Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 and there were no weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq. Couple this bombshell with the CIA's report that "all the intelligence" was wrong before the invasion. Is it any wonder why Iran is lobbing slurs at America?

I guess we left-wing, unpatriotic Bush bashers were right all along.

Put condom vending machines in schools

Condoms that are accessible are effective because they make sex safer. That is why condom vending machines should be installed on school campuses.

There are thousands of children who are brought into this world unwanted or abandoned. The parents of these children made mistakes, and became parents by not being as careful as they should have been.

Also, I was recently reading a Teen magazine article about the number of teenagers who have been diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases. Many STDs are not treatable, such as herpes. Teenagers who contract these STDs must live with their problem all their life.

Condom machines on campus would help shield students from STDs and unexpected pregnancies.