Letters to the Editor

Will Macy's repeat disaster by bank?

After reading several articles on Liberty House and Macy's, it seems to me that it's another Bank of America and Honolulu Federal Savings disaster, and I hope I'm wrong.

When Bank of America bought Honfed, BofA management loved Honfed's dedicated and loyal employees. Then it brought in its work ethics, not sensitive to Island culture or lifestyle, and moved most of its operations back to the Mainland. It lost customers and employee loyalty, which resulted in Bank of America closing up shop and leaving the Islands, with several unemployed residents.

Now Macy's buys Liberty House. Will it happen again?

Macy's has Deena Nichols heading the Hawai'i operations from San Diego, and she has only been to the Islands once. Once again, Macy's is saying the same thing as Bank of America did: They love the dedicated employees of Liberty House and the loyalty they show for Liberty House. Will that change, with work ethics not sensitive to Island lifestyles or culture?

I hope I'm wrong.

R. Villa

Wai'anae Coast should have more speed traps

On July 7, your paper had a map of O'ahu showing the number of traffic citations issued in each of the districts. District 8, which encompasses Kapolei-Wai'anae, showed that 771 citations were issued during the overtime period.

This district probably has the highest number of traffic deaths on O'ahu. Why were so few tickets issued in this district compared to the other districts?

I see police speed traps on the H-3 and upper portions of the Pali Highway, where there have been few, if any, deaths, but rarely do I see them along the Wai'anae Coast.

Don't the police care that people in that district have a higher chance of dying in a traffic accident?

C. Abe
Kailua

Military should pay Hawai'i an impact fee

Kyle Kajihiro's July 11 letter regarding the alleged economic benefits of the military's presence in Hawai'i is a welcome clarification of the issue. One should add to his comments the recognition of a fundamental issue of reality: The military has no place else to go.

As long as the United States adheres to its policy of maintaining "forward projection" of its influence in the Pacific (which, after all, was and is the reason the U.S. took over the Hawaiian Islands in the first place), the military has no choice but to remain in Hawai'i, having been evicted from the Philippines and is in danger of meeting the same fate in Okinawa and Puerto Rico.

Rather than begging the military to remain here to spend its dollars, the people of Hawai'i should instead take the position that the military has to pay a lot more (call it impact fee or whatever) to be allowed to stay here.

In other words, the military needs Hawai'i a lot more than Hawai'i needs the military.

Raymond L. Chuan
Hanalei

Thank you, HECO, for the computers

Pahoa School on the Big Island wants to publicly thank HECO for its generosity and thoughtfulness in providing us much-needed computer equipment and for going the extra mile by shipping it to us from O'ahu at its own expense.

This equipment is allowing us to introduce exciting and relevant new technology-based curriculum at Pahoa that will give many of our students the technology skills they need to gain meaningful employment in our changing economy.

The support of community and business organizations such as HECO is making a key difference in enabling our schools to meet the challenges of a new century, and we are very grateful to you.

Maring Gacusana
Principal, Pahoa High & Intermediate School

OHA now being led by great administrator

I am the son of the recently appointed Office of Hawaiian Affairs administrator, Clyde W. Namu'o, and never before has a son been more proud of his father.

When news came that the OHA board of trustees had selected my father from among 18 other applicants to be the next administrator, my heart swelled with optimism and joy. I am filled with joy as a son because I am more than confident that when my father's tenure at OHA is complete, he will be recognized as one of the great Hawaiian leaders.

Those who know him know he is a compassionate, charismatic and jovial man. They also know he is a meticulously skilled organizational manager and enterprise leader.

As a Hawaiian, I am completely optimistic for the future of OHA. I have had the privilege of learning from this man all my life. Soon, OHA will begin to see what I have witnessed: a man dedicated to helping others, a selfless individual who will put the good of OHA ahead of all else.

To Hawaiians and Hawaiians at heart, I encourage all of you to stand behind the new OHA administrator, my father, a dynamic leader who will guide OHA toward prosperity and who will bring real meaning to the term "betterment for all Hawaiians."

Clyne G.H. Namu'o