Any candidate must support rail

The only absolute I have in the upcoming elections is whether or not a candidate will improve our business climate by supporting the rail project.

Obviously, rail construction will employ thousands of residents and give an immediate jump-start to our economy. Rail construction also means billions of dollars of economic activity for local business. But there are also long-term benefits for rail. By reducing traffic congestion, rail will make it easier for workers to get to their jobs and businesses to deliver goods and services. Rail stations can attract new development and investment in communities from Kapolei to Kalihi.

Add to these benefits the fact that rail is voter-approved and it seems like a no-brainer that candidates would support rail transit. If candidates want my vote, they should come out strong for rail.

Thomas entitled to her opinion

Over the years I have observed Helen Thomas at White House press briefings and presidential press conferences expressing her political opinions in the guise of asking a question—in other words, behaving unprofessionally.

Someone should have removed her long ago.

However, to punish her for expressing a politically incorrect opinion about Jews and Israel—one I emphatically disagree with—when she was not acting in her capacity as a journalist pursuing the news is wrong.

People are entitled to their opinions, no matter how outrageous they may be.

This is supposed to be a free country.

Lingle overrides public input

Hawaii’s 250,000 wave riders had the opportunity to have Surf Reserve Bill SB 2646 go before next year’s Legislature, due to this bill being deferred in committee this year for more study.

Gov. Linda Lingle decided to take away our rights by placing an executive order to allow SB 2646 to be accepted into state law without legislation, thereby taking away the opportunity of having a decision made through legislative process.

Is this democracy at work?

No!

This is a blatant overuse of administrative power that may prove to be constitutionally illegal by state or federal law.

Warm aloha for Coach Wooden

I read with much sadness to learn of the passing of legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden.

As a Hawaii college student studying in Oregon in the early 1970s I had the opportunity to see Coach Wooden and his vaunted Pac-8 Championship UCLA Bruins team play at the University of Oregon’s "Mac Court," locally known in 1973 as "The Pit."

As one who played high school basketball, I remember feeling the excitement of finally getting to see the Yoda of college basketball.

When Coach Wooden finally stepped out on the basketball court floor, there was an immediate hush in the whole arena, as all knew they were in the audience of basketball greatness.

As it turned out that night, the Bruins lost to a spirited and energized Oregon Ducks team, 56-51.

I learned something that night, that a truly great coach is also gracious in defeat.

Both teams received a standing ovation that lasted for an eternity.

Aloha and thank you, Coach Wooden. You will be missed.

Wedemeyer one of the great ones

Charlie Wedemeyer came to my hometown and my high school in central California about the time I first moved to Hawaii.

His and his family’s contribution to that community is incalculable.

I have met many of the Wedemeyer ohana over the years. They are easy to identify: They tend to look alike, smile a lot and are full of aloha.

That Coach Wedemeyer and Coach Wooden passed at the same time is meaningful. Two giants!

Rest in peace, Coach. A hui hou!

Mahalo to both Honolulu papers

Mahalo nui loa to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Honolulu Advertiser for their many years of covering the news in our cosmic islands.

The world has changed with the advent of the Internet in the way people receive their news.

Mahalos to David Black for hanging in there to print newspapers in this new cyber electronic age.

Good luck and many years of aloha to our island’s newest child, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

The times, they are a-changing.

A $1 trillion waste of money

We now have a trillion reasons to oppose the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As of May 30, those wars will cost $1 trillion, which does not include the amount of interest we must pay on the borrowed money.

Additionally, it doesn’t include the health care costs for the returning veterans.

With that same amount of money, we could have employed 15.4 million people with a salary of $50,000 a year and still have $235 billion left over. And we could have provided free public university education to 2 million young people for the next 24 years.

We are now on our way to our second trillion. These wars have to stop—now.