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Different strokes on Ala Wai's future

Taking on entrenched golfers is courageous

I applaud the initiative of the governor or any politician who is willing to take the seemingly unpopular stand of taking back the Ala Wai Golf Course in the face of strong opposition of a very vocal group of local and mostly retired golfers. This piece of real estate is much too valuable to be used as a municipal golf course.

There is a real need for residents and visitors alike to have an oasis free of traffic close to Waikiki for jogging, bicycling, inline skating or plain relaxing.

Anybody who has been at the great parks of New York City, San Francisco or Vancouver knows what valuable assets they are and how much they add to the character of those cities.

Karl Aschenbrenner

Don't 'Manhattanize' Waikiki's green oasis

The best use for the Ala Wai Golf Course site is to leave it alone! I am not a golfer, but I have an appreciation for the many residents who are and who love this course. Moving it to Sand Island will add to our already nightmare traffic, and will remove the little bit of natural beauty we have left in Waikiki. Residents in condominiums in both Waikiki and Moiliili enjoy the wonderful views over this area.

Governor Cayetano is acting like a dictator, and needs to be reminded he was elected by the people to serve, not dictate. If his plan transpires, we can look forward to more concrete, with certain elected officials receiving the usual financial benefits. If Cayetano has his way, we will complete our Manhattan look.

It is time everyone residing on each side of the Ala Wai united and marched to the Capitol to deliver the message loud and clear that we have had enough.

Helen Carroll

Golf course is state's best health-care center

The Ala Wai golf Course is one of the best health-care and recreational facilities in Hawaii because it provides a regular exercise program for the elderly at an affordable price. It also provides them a place where they can socialize with friends and acquaintances. And the state doesn't even have to pay their green fees!

Albert Nakanishi
Kailua

Junior golfers need Ala Wai, too

I am very concerned with the state's wishes to convert the Ala Wai Golf Course into a park. I am a golf coach for Kamehameha Schools and, as a coach, I know more golf courses are desperately needed.

I have had to find another venue for my team to practice because of the number of people wanting to play at Ala Wai. We now practice at Hawaii Prince in Ewa. It's a long drive after school instead of going to Ala Wai. Yet at Ewa we don't have to compete with other schools and golfers for tee times in the afternoon and we finish nine holes instead of four at Ala Wai. We need more courses closer to town.

By taking away the golf course, where are all of the junior golfers in high school supposed to play? I guess as an elected official it's nice to do whatever you want when you're not up for re-election.

Wesley Wailehua
Head Golf Coach
Kamehameha Schools

'Developing' is code for more concrete

Let's understand the meanings of the code words the politicians are throwing around. When the governor talks about taking the golf course and "developing" it into a Central Park, he's not talking about preserving green space in Waikiki. Environmentalists know this. "Developing" the Ala Wai means providing free or publically underwritten land for overseas investors to set up more shops for more tourists. Now that is not the best use of the land -- it must be kept 100 percent green.

Rai Weigel

Park plan would open Ala Wai to more people

The Ala Wai Golf Course is a waste of a large, precious space. Instead of just one activity that serves only one segment of the population, a central park available to all would be more democratic. Opening up the area can also alleviate some of the horrendous Waikiki congestion on Kapahulu Avenue, Ala Wai Boulevard and McCully Street.

Max Lee

Quotables "At moments of desperation, Governor Bush turns back and attacks President Clinton and his name is not on the ballot." Joe Lieberman DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Discussing the Tuesday night debate between presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush. Lieberman debates his GOP opponent, Dick Cheney, today. "Take off your uniforms and join the people." Dragan Kovacevic YUGOSLAV OPPOSITION LEADER Urging police in riot gear to join strikers at a coal mine in Lazarevac, Yugoslavia, who were part of a nationwide strike this week aimed at ousting President Slobodan Milosevic. The police, sent to quell the strike, backed off when strike supporters converged on the mine in buses, cars and on foot.

Lingle should be ousted as GOP leader

The members of the Republican Party of Hawaii need new leadership. If Linda Lingle is allowed to continue as the GOP chairwoman, the Democrats will dominate the politics of Hawaii for the next eight to 12 years.

Look at her lousy record of leadership. Since she took over, the party has fallen apart. Several legislative seats had no Republican candidates.

The Hawaii Government Employees Association and United Public Workers have a history of endorsing Democrats, as they did in this election. Lingle joined them to support Democrat Mufi Hannemann for mayor against Republican challenger Frank Fasi.

Lingle is the best supporter the Democrats have in Hawaii. Auwe!

Ed Lee

Voters, poll workers are best source of advice

How interesting that the project manager of the voting machine company says poll workers and voters need "more education" in the use of the machines. Has he heard of ergonomics?

Making things user-friendly is the aim of ergonomics. So now that we are hearing complaints and suggestions from the users of Hawaii's ballots and vote-counting machines -- namely, voters and poll workers -- they should be heard. Nobody knows more about a job than the one doing it.

Also, here's one more suggestion as to how to make sure only American citizens get to vote. At the very top of every ballot should be the words, in big lettering, "For U.S. Citizens Only."

Ted Chernin
Pearl City

New UH uniforms look less macho

Love the 'Bows -- er, Warriors. Hate the "new look" football uniforms. The black pants/black socks combo they wore at the last home game made them look like they were wearing leotards and forgot to put on their tutus.

It's an odd fashion statement, considering Hugh Yoshida's insecurities about the old Rainbow motif, which most fans still prefer.

Rich Figel
Kailua

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