Letters to the Editor
Price of admission is put to good use
Last week, I swam with manini, uhu and weke in a blue and green ocean. I gazed at the long stretch of white sand beach, a vista of towering cliffs formed by ancient volcanic eruption, walked lava rock with scuttling black Hawaiian crabs, and imagined what it would have been like to live as a native, protected and fed by the abundance and beauty of this exquisite bay.
This natural and spiritual experience cost me the nominal fee of $3. No expensive boat trip to Molokini island, complete with mini-luau, paper umbrellas and ill-fitting snorkel set. Rather, the complete package of a limited number of people, an educational kiosk, information booth, monitors with bullhorns reminding snorkelers to stay off the reef and to keep away from turtles, and the "over the top" experience of knowing that this piece of 'aina is being preserved for our children.
During previous visits to Hanauma Bay in the '80s and '90s, I witnessed busloads of tourists (and locals alike) throwing litter on the beach, mass feeding of frozen peas to the fish and trampling of the reef. What better use would my $3 (the cost of a cup of coffee in an espresso bar in California, where I now live) go to than preventing the destruction of one of Hawai'i's most fragile ecosystems?
No need for a class-action suit on my behalf; aren't we all visitors on this precious planet?
Libby Yee
Remember Mirikitani for his good deeds only
At a recent funeral for a military veteran, I ran into Councilman Andy Mirikitani. I told him that if there's anything I can do to help him to call me. But what can you do?
A good person can do a thousand good deeds, and it takes only one or two felonious misdeeds and you are forever branded.
In 1992-93, when I was the president of the 442nd Veterans Club, Judith Weightman and Andy did an oral history of the 522nd Artillery Battalion soldiers who came across one of the smaller compounds of the Dachau concentration camps in Munich, Germany. They were so impressed with the liberation of the camp by some who volunteered from relocation camps that they wanted to erect a monument to the 522nd Artillery Battalion.
I was able to persuade Andy and Judith to convey their thanks to the four Japanese American units. The laid-back veterans never asked for a monument, but Andy and Judith encouraged the erection of the "Brothers in Valor" monument at Fort DeRussy.
Dissenters claimed that their tax money was being used to build a monument. Andy thought otherwise. He envisioned the monument as a reminder of the good deeds of the volunteer soldiers.
Let's remember Andy for only the good deeds.
Ronald Oba
U.S. forces should pull out of Okinawa
Recent rapes or alleged rapes have clouded the important issues of the Okinawan people; that is, the length of time U.S. military forces have been there, using their land (since the Battle of Okinawa of 1945), and the Okinawans' visions of what they want to do with their land once we pull out.
As it appears now, there is no "light at the end of the tunnel" hope for the Okinawan people. We continue to use the same reasons of possible military threats from other countries in that region for our presence.
Our troops should pull out completely within a given time frame, whether it be five, 10 or 15 years. The possible relocation sites would be Australia, American Samoa, Guam, Palau Islands and the Mainland U.S.A.
Roy E. Shigemura
Some city streets are in sad disrepair
When will I see my tax dollars pave the roads I drive on? Who is going to pay for any repairs on my truck caused by potholes and poorly patched streets? Why aren't roads smoothly paved after road construction is completed? If one takes the time to pave the road at all, why not do it well?
These are some questions I have while bouncing around, falling into holes and climbing up metal plates, all the while probably messing up my alignment and tires.
Please, if you are planning to pave the street, just pave the entire street, or at least the entire lane. That way, our tires won't be half on the newly paved asphalt and half on the old (far right lane on Kapi'olani Boulevard taking the Kapi'olani exit off H-1). Some other examples: Mo'oheau Avenue in Kapahulu, Dillingham Boulevard, Date Street in Mo'ili'ili and Nimitz Highway before K-Mart.
Erin Ushijima
Dobelle is bringing a breath of fresh air
In contrast to The Advertiser's lukewarm endorsement of new UH President Evan Dobelle's plans, I say, "Go, Evan, go!"
I am an alum of UH-Manoa, and it is very nice to see someone come in and take charge. Even his reversal of the sports ticket refund policy exudes common sense. What a breath of fresh air.
The man has a plan, and let's not let timidity, hesitation, the status quo — not to mention micromanaging state types — get in his way.
I recall The Advertiser a couple years back advocating killing off the football program because of lousy losing seasons. A new coach brought new energy and new optimism. Perhaps history can repeat itself. The Advertiser should be doing everything in its power to help President Dobelle.
James Ko
