Sex-ed brochure gives teens needed info

As a pediatrician, I would like to applaud Kohala Middle School for its choice of sex education materials, including the brochure "Discovering your Sexuality" ("Sex education brochure at middle school protested," Star-Bulletin, Nov. 22).

Research continues to show that comprehensive sex education is the most effective approach to assuring the healthy development of all adolescents. The content of this brochure is entirely consistent with published pediatric and adolescent medicine guidelines and recommendations related to the appropriate content of sexuality education curricula for adolescents.

Robert Bidwell, M.D.
Director of Adolescent Medicine
Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children

Don't burden public with costs of strike

We are again being threatened with a local hospital employees' strike, and likely all the inconvenience and expense that it might involve for the major victims of such a dispute -- the rest of us.

During a similar strike more than a decade ago, many of us will remember traffic restrictions and hazards (maybe the least of the problems) caused by picketers obstructing roadways, waving banners, significantly delaying traffic, with small armies of police officers, and their excessive vehicles with flashing beacons in a carnival-type atmosphere. They added to the congestion and traffic delays by their presence. Meanwhile, participants seemed to be socializing during the public's inconvenience, as I painfully recall.

I complained then, and will do so again, that any extra policing required in such disputes, should be charged to the disputing parties with a picketing permit required in advance, backed by a surety bond to cover potential expenses. In absence thereof, costs and fines should be levied against the disputants.

Gene Leupp

Lingle backers ought to be more gracious

I wish I could understand why those who supported Linda Lingle are such sore winners. Many letter writers are as hostile and petty in victory as they were in defeat in 1998.

Could it be because the Democrats increased their control in the state Legislature or that they didn't realize how similar Duke Aiona would be to former Lingle-running mate Stan Koki?

I'd never presume to read people's minds, but whatever their problems, this is one Democrat who's actually looking forward to Lingle's next four fumbling years. Based on her post-election behavior, Lingle could be the much-needed wake-up call to those who were either too apathetic to vote or too beguiled by "change" to see beyond the hype.

Faye Kennedy

Let's launch effort to save Waikiki 3

Consolidated Amusement's abrupt closing of three Waikiki treasures in one fatal swoop is being justified by management by saying the theaters are "no longer a viable business." While one might begin to understand the closing of the Waikiki 1 and 2, it's the Waikiki 3 that has me the most riled.

The pending loss of this 1,200-seat theater with its full stage house, orchestra pit and grand theater pipe organ is but another example of how Hawaii's short-sighted unimaginative businessmen constantly trash our history with impunity.

This is a classic theater and civilized people do not tear down classic structures. They repurpose them to retain examples of eras long gone.

Let's see now, what might one do with a theater of this caliber and style right in the middle of Waikiki if one were in the entertainment business? The mind boggles over the possibilities.

Can we not somehow rally to save the Waikiki 3?

Scott Foster
Waialua

Hawaii needs to have Republican in Congress

It would be to Hawaii's advantage to elect a Republican in the upcoming race to fill Congresswoman Patsy Mink's seat. The Republican Party will control both the Congress and the White House for at least the next two years. These years are critical to this state as we seek federal help for our economy.

Experience has shown us that our all-Democrat delegation gets less attention during a Republican administration. Two examples stand out.

>> It was Pat Saiki, the lone Republican in our delegation, who persuaded the first President Bush to halt the practice bombing of Kahoolawe.

>> In 1984, when a strong non-partisan task force of community leaders, with support from very senior naval commanders, lobbied the Reagan administration to homeport the then active-duty Battleship Missouri in Hawaii, the effort failed. Why? Competing states had bipartisan congressional delegations with an inside track to the president and support on both sides of the aisle.

Only a few of the candidates are serious contenders. Among the Republicans, the best choice is state Rep. Barbara Marumoto. She is respected by people of both parties and has received political support from both business and labor.

She has served on national boards and committees and she headed President Bush's campaign in Hawaii, so she has a friendly climate for presenting Hawaii's views at the White House. As a resident in her former district, I can say that she was conscientious in listening to her constituents and helping solve problems without regard to party affiliation.

Raymond Engle

Rodrigues shouldn't pick his successor

Gary Rodrigues, the United Public Workers state director since 1981, resigned after a federal court jury found him guilty last Tuesday of 101 counts of federal embezzlement, mail fraud and money laundering.

Rodrigues' resignation, accepted by the UPW's executive board, was effective immediately.

Then the board approved the appointment of Dwight Takeno, the union's director of research and legislation, to replace Rodrigues as state director. Takeno is a Rodrigues ally.

We are becoming known as a state owned and operated by crooks! I can't believe this could be allowed to happen. No wonder people give up on our system.

Robert G. Devine
Ocean View, Hawaii

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