GOP looks to 2010
Dear Editor,
On behalf of the Hawai`i Republican Party, I thank all our candidates, volunteers, and voters for their efforts and commitment to electing our GOP candidates this election.
In 2008, we faced a very tough political environment. Although we came up short of retaining the White House and electing more Republicans, I am sincerely appreciative of your support.
Now we begin the challenge of keeping a Republican Governor and increasing our Republican elected officials in 2010. With your help, I am confident we will work together to unite our Party and move Hawai`i forward.
Willes K. Lee
Chairman, Hawai`i Republican Party

How to make telescope payoffs
Dear Editor,
I strongly feel the opponents of the Mauna Kea telescopes are being extremely unreasonable. A good example of this is their argument the wrong entity is doing the comprehensive master plan for Mauna Kea.  They claim the BLNR, not the University of Hawai`i should be doing this plan. Thus these opponents have refused to be a part of this comprehensive master plan process.
In my view, if all the stake holders continue to butt heads with each other Mauna Kea’s world class astronomy facilities will slowly decline to obscurity. The latter is totally unacceptable. Especially since we need to diversify our economy away from our dangerous dependence on tourism, construction, real estate, and the military. Thus I humbly suggest all the Mauna Kea stake holders hold a  Ho’oponopono session to work out all these disagreements outside the courtroom.
Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i
ED NOTE:  They have to wait for all the activists to line up at the trough before pouring the $lop.

State pension fund depleted - Again
Dear Editor,
We read with interest an article on “Hawaii retirement fund loses nearly $1 billion.”
What was not said was that the plan had an unfunded liability of $5.11 billion out of a total of more than $15 billion that the actuaries (life insurance mathematicians) say we will need for our state employees retirement.
That meant the state had funded about 68% of its liability, one of the lowest levels nationally. Several years ago we had a huge surplus of funds.
Why wasn’t it used to fund the liability?
It is time our state legislators step up to the plate and make the tough financial decisions that need to be made. I only hope they are willing and/or able to do it. Our total state budget is $10 billion.
Where is the money to adequately fund our retirees going to come from---the highway tax fund? Again?
William and JoAnne Georgi
Ele`ele, Kaua`i

One term President
Letter to the Editor:
President-elect Barack Obama will have two Achilles heel issues when he becomes president on January 20th, 2009.  One is the economy and the second is terrorism.
Obama will have at most two years to begin turning our country’s economy in a steady upward climb out of this depression.  People will have to see a significant improvement in our economy and their personal lives for Obama to get re-elected.  Changing our future economy for the better was the central theme in his campaign and he must deliver on his pledge.
Woven in the economy issue is a comprehensive energy policy which clearly places our nation on an energy self-sufficiency path, low unemployment rate, low inflation, low prime interest rate, balanced foreign trade, increases in all phases of housing and building construction, vibrant home purchasing market, stopping the exportation of jobs to other countries, creation of manufacturing jobs, and lowering the cost of medical insurance.
Terrorism can also prevent Obama’s re-election bid in 2012.  Obama must maintain our national defense to a level of effectiveness which prevents acts of terrorism on American soil. Protection from terrorism is needed from overseas and in protecting our borders from illegal entry.  Obama must prove he knows how to protect us from terrorist attacks.
Obama must conquer both these issues to become a two-term president.
James G. Borden
Hilo, Hawai`i

Stock up now before hurricane Obama
Dear Editor,
Only hours after Obama was declared president-elect, his web site, http://www.change.gov outlined his agenda on firearms. He plans a permanent Brady Bill ban, replacing the previously sunset ban, on military look-a-like semi-auto firearms and magazines, and 3 other restrictions on private firearms ownership directly drawn from the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence wish list.
His anti-gun attitude is not a surprise to anyone other than those who believed his campaign rhetoric alleging support for their Second Amendment rights. Both he and Vice-President Elect Biden have a long history of votes against those rights. NRA and Hawaii Rifle Association advised their members of their voting history and predicted their immediate agenda.
Increased sales of threatened firearms no more represents “panic” buying than does stocking up on batteries, etc., when a hurricane threatens.
Dr. Max Cooper
Director, Hawai`i Rifle Association

Low Class Council
Dear Editor,
The November 13th council meeting that overrode the Mayor’s veto on Bill 361 was not a class act in council meetings.  Allowing audience interference with testifiers and council members exhibiting open animosity towards certain testifiers is not something to be proud of.
Now that Bill 361 banning genetically engineered taro and coffee from the island of Hawai`i is in effect, where is the money for enforcement?  Perhaps the organic growers can step forward, since it appears that the primary intention for this bill is to protect their market.
What’s next?  Perhaps banning all genetically engineered (GMO) papaya resistant to the Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRV) disease.  If this happens, courtesy of the activists, organic growers, and the County Council, we could easily be on the forefront of eliminating all papaya growing from the Big Island. 
It’s a fact: the papaya varieties grown by organic growers are NOT resistant to PRV. Once GMO papaya is eliminated by the County, nature would take its course, and within a few years time all non-resistant papaya production would succumb to this disease.
Somehow things like this are never mentioned by supporters GMO bans.
Don Gerbig
Lahaina, Maui

Demanding Answers

Dear Editor,
OK --- so the liberals have made a sweep and Obama is in.  Here’s what I’m gonna do personally for starters:
I will print a copy of Obama’s victory speech and write letters to him and the Democratic HQ asking for clarification and specifics on some of his remarks.   I will hold all politicians of both parties accountable by writing letters of demand and protest to them and to their party headquarters about any proposed legislation, policy, or issue I deem detrimental to America.  If answers are too vague I will pester them for specifics.  If I am ignored I will go to the press about how a citizen is being ignored by his representatives.  If the press ignores me I will contact their advertising customers and threaten boycott of their products unless they put pressure on the media to answer me.
Where feasible I will continue to support our troops and try to attend patriotic events such as flag rallies.  I will continue my efforts to educate the uneducated in the dangers of communism/socialism/Islamism and I will continue to defend our Constitution and Bill of Rights.  I will defy all attempts to intimidate me into “political correctness” or “multiculturalism” and I will emphasize the necessity to honor and support our military.
What I have outlined is personal action, but it could also be group action.  If any group no matter how large or small is willing to join me either as individuals or by signing joint letters or declarations or petitions, then that will certainly give the effort more clout.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Bob Williams
Na`alehu, Hawai`i