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Water available from your tap
Storms are coming, get water!
No, don’t go to the store, go to your tap. Fill jugs, buckets, bottles, coolers, pitchers, even the bathtub.
Anything that you are lucky enough not to use after the storm can be used to water your plants or for your daily routine.
Why rush to the store and get bottled water when you still have water readily available right in your home?
Mari Hartman
Sunset Beach
Political ads getting tiresome
Looking at the front page of the newspaper, one would think that the only choices people have are the many Democrats in a line across the paper ("Takai erases Kim’s advantage, turning race into dead heat," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 4).
The Republicans are chortling at the tremendous waste of money being expended by the Democrats, who are desperately trying to outdo their competitors. One commercial after another, with U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, our non-elected senator fighting U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, claiming to have singlehandedly persuaded United Airlines not to outsource ground handling at outer island airports, and being able to stop climate change.
Then we have state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim wanting to be elected because she had no hot water when growing up, and Gov. Neil Abercrombie driving ladies while showing them sites in Kapolei on the way to Diamond Head, in a taxi shot in Miami.
I for one am sick of all these ads.
Bryan Geoffrey
Kaneohe
Being forceful can be useful
Gov. Neil Abercrombie has been rude, but I tried not to take it personally.
He and his staff have learned from their mistakes, and are more responsive.
While in Congress, Abercrombie’s tenacious personality benefited Hawaii. Despite the obstacles, Abercrombie was able to get the Akaka Bill passed in the House three times.
Even with seniority, U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka, whom I deeply respect, failed to get the Akaka Bill passed in the Senate for 12 years. Sometimes it takes a forceful personality to deliver.
Falling behind in the polls has humbled Abercrombie.He knows he needs to soften his rough edges. Washington style is not Hawaiian style, and it takes time to adjust back into our local ways.
If Hawaii finds itself in a crisis and needs help from Washington, I want a governor who can switch back into fighting mode, and can get what our state needs, right away.
Gloria Borland
Foster Village
Takai will make a better leader
There are few differences between congressional candidates Donna Mercado Kim and Mark Takai.
Both were aggressive watchdogs over the University of Hawaii and both, at one time, were opposed to same-sex marriage for religious reasons. But now that they are both running for higher office, their evolvement, of lack thereof, shows a lot about their character.
Kim remains stubbornly rigid in her views and proudly wears her religious doctrine on her sleeve and in appearances before her New Hope Church.
Takai made a dramatic change during the debate of same-sex marriage last year and, in his floor speech, explained that as a public leader he could not, in good conscience, impose his individual beliefs and biases to trump the civil rights of a significant segment of our citizens. He showed the kind of leadership and courage we expect of our public figures.
In this campaign, Takai has shown me the kind of representative of the public I want in Congress.
Francis M. Nakamoto
Moanalua Valley
VoteVets wrong about Takai
It seems VoteVets.org has not done its homework when supporting state Rep. Mark Takai in the primary election.
It is ironic that the VoteVets ad opens with the famed 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team and links Takai to this unit. Takai has sponsored bills in the Legislature to prevent the men and women who are part of the 100th Battalion/ 442nd Infantry from serving as the head of the Hawaii National Guard (adjutant general).
Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, the former state adjutant general of Hawaii and also former commanding officer of the 100th/442nd (Army Reserve) and I have testified against these measures, and these measures were defeated.
I hope VoteVets will reconsider its support for Takai.
George Waialeale
Former Army reservist, 100th Battalion/442nd Infantry
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