Assault on palace needs a better ending

This saga reads like a Hollywood movie script. Another "king" and his entourage storm the palace grounds, just a few months after the last escapade and who knows how many more to come. (There's always a demand for a good sequel.)

A palace employee is allegedly assaulted while the perpetrators lock the palace gates to keep the rest of the commoners out. A police sergeant allegedly tells the victim, who is pleading for help, "Sorry lady, but it ain't my job!" The chief of police, Boisse Correa, says, "I was not at the scene," but he knows that the actions of his department were "appropriate."

Here's the "only in Hawaii" ending: Gov. Linda Lingle, Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Correa and state Attorney General Mark Bennett said the way to resolve this situation is to form a committee. Isn't that nice?

I have a better answer: Put the lawbreakers in jail for a year or two, and I guarantee no more assaults on one of our most beloved historic landmarks. There are other ways for people to make their point and avoid violence. Attacking innocent victims and destroying Iolani Palace are not the way to do it.

Hawaii needs a new mission statement

It is apparent the current business model being followed by the movers and shakers in Hawaii has failed. The economy is heading for collapse, traffic is in chaos, society is in turmoil, crime is rising, air and water pollution are at danger levels, employment opportunities are dropping, drug use is rampant, education is failing the students.

It is time for renewal, engaging the wise men and women of our time to describe and plan a new model for living in Hawaii. The new model must not place profit for corporations as the goal ... a proven failure. The mission statement of the new model must emphasize the quality of life and ecological sustainability for the people of Hawaii, setting an exemplary standard for the world.

Why not spend money on roads, instead?

If rail were such a good idea, I don't believe taxpayer-funded radio spots would have to manipulate information so blatantly to sell it.

For example: One ad claims "choke points" cause traffic congestion - true. Therefore, the only solution is eliminating cars - false. Eliminating "choke points" could work better.

So before shackling taxpayers to rail's crushing debt, shouldn't we study the amount of traffic reduction $5 billion spent on roads will buy?

Highways are often backed up only because junk local roads can't absorb cars as fast as the highway delivers them. And Nimitz Highway stoplights snarl traffic to let trucks returning from Waikiki turn left into the docks when up-and-over ramps would let them turn left without lights to stop them or us.

And road repairs that inexplicably fail too rapidly create more traffic-spawning road repairs than necessary.

Picture rail in place. Do you see me riding the rails to leave empty roads for you to enjoy, or vice-versa? Unless it's the latter, you have the wrong picture.

If you like rail, you'd love communism

Bob Jones (Letters, Aug. 17) says we'll be ready for rail in a decade. Hawaii residents are taxed more than any other state. I think Jones should move to Russia where he can give all of his money to the state.

Mahalo to Hawaiian custodians of aloha

I wish to make public my deep gratitude to the Hawaiian people who have preserved from ancient times and carried forward through challenging times, the great spirit of aloha - the spirit of love - greatest of all cultural gifts and honored throughout the world.

The spirit of aloha is the supreme human relationship with all life forms and a building block for heaven on earth.

Mahalo to the Hawaiian keepers of the spirit of aloha from one grateful haole for maintaining this pinnacle of human power, purpose and performance! May it manifest peace and good will throughout the world.

We should demand more of DOE, teachers

I am a retired high school teacher. I taught in Hawaii for more than 20 years. I also taught in Fresno and San Jose, Calif. It's time for politicians and parents to demand better for our public school students and to hold principals accountable.

The Department of Education recently approved more than a million dollars to send principals, vice principals and favorite teachers to Disney World for a conference in Florida. They have been doing this unabashedly as long as I can remember. Administrators have approved so-called teacher conference trips all over the mainland with all expenses paid. The conferences made very little impact on the general student body. Students in other states are different from Hawaii students. Our students have different needs. All this while other teachers had to do without teaching materials. Many educators spend hundreds of dollars out of their own pockets yearly.

And why is everyone complaining about the expense of taking a drug test? Here's a solution: Teachers can take and pay for their own tests and write it off as an expense on their income taxes.