Teachers we can support

Amid all the bluster and spewing this election season, the goodness that emanates from Yuuko Arikawa and Kristen Brummel is like a beacon in the dark.

Arikawa, a reading coach at Wahiawa’s Kaala Elementary School, was bestowed the $25,000 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award; earlier this month, Noelani Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Brummel was named 2011 State Teacher of the Year.

Both Arikawa and Brummel are symbols of dedicated folks plugging away tirelessly to make the world a better place. They do it without big war chests, and are movingly surprised when recognized.

To Mrs. Arikawa and Mrs. Brummel, and others like them: You get our vote.

Stereotype takes a hit

Sent packing by National Public Radio for expressing worry on Fox News about boarding a plane carrying Muslims in garb, Juan Williams should take into consideration Hawaii’s Muslim community. Hakim Ouansafi, chairman of the Islamic Center of Hawaii, says his group made "great contributions" in assisting law enforcement forces in what led to the arrest this week of Abdel Hameed Shehadeh in Hawaii on terrorism-related charges in New York.

"Those kinds of things are not tolerated," Ouansafi said, adding that members of his organization help authorities combat terrorism "knowing it is consistent with being a patriotic American and a devout Muslim."