Posted on: Saturday, August 31, 2002
Letters to the Editor
So where's the aloha? Where it's always been
As someone whose job includes listening to complaints, I definitely come across those "Where's the aloha?" ones now and then. Well, I found it. No, let me re-state that. It found me.
When the van I was driving broke down at the fork of Kapahulu and Harding, right in front of KC Drive-In, the driver of the car directly behind me, who happened to be a fellow member of my church, came out and offered her help. Next, the guy in the truck behind her offered to push my huge van onto the traffic island where it was safe.
But the best was when two aunties who were eating in KC Drive-In saw the whole thing and brought my daughter and me two sodas. I thanked them, I cried and then said a prayer of thanks.
So where's the aloha? Right where it's been all along: in the hearts of all of us.
Thank you, aunties, for the sodas.
Juliet Aeto
Added $75 'donation' for seats is extortion
A month ago I received my 2002 UH football tickets. After sending in my $500, I received a letter stating that unless I pay a $75 "donation" for three seats, I would not have the same three seats that I have had for 25 years. I was told that unless I pay the $75, my seats will be under the goal post. If that's not extortion, then what is?
I guess they need the extra $75 to pay athletic director Herman Frazier's salary. I have had these three season tickets for 25 years. It's not on the 50-, 40-, 30-, 20- or even 10-yard line. It's right on the goal line.
I used to fly from Maui every football season with my wife. We were met at the airport before each game by our daughter, who lived on O'ahu. We have supported UH football through the good years with Dick Tomey and Bob Wagner, even the bad years under Fred vonAppen, and by joining the Koa Anuenue Club.
Is this the thanks I get?
Hisao Yoshizu
Open-sea cage farming may mar our waters
Open-sea cage farming has economic potential, but in Hawai'i, pollution from such farming can be the cause of negative changes to the environment and ecosystem of our coastal waters.
The state, with full backing of the governor, is determined to push through an extensive open-sea cage farming operation in Mamala Bay, as evidenced by the 2001 signing of a 20-year lease with Cates International. This lease allows use for 20 cages in 28 acres of water located only two miles south of 'Ewa Beach. This was completed without any earlier public input.
There were no assurances that eventual pollution from the sea cage operation would not adversely impact the popular recreational beaches and surfing areas along the south shores off 'Ewa Beach, Ala Moana, Waikiki and Diamond Head.
Only two cages were used in the test studies over a two-year period. What corrective steps is Cates International prepared to take regarding pollution hazards from 20 cages?
The city Department of Wastewater Management is charged by the Environmental Protection Agency to monitor waste discharge in this area, and it was not informed of these developments.
The situation is made worse by the recent and urgent concerns about the deadly algae bloom growing on our reefs and the huge negative economic impact of increased pollution on our fishing and tourism industries.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources should make the lease agreement public so the public can learn if there are any pollution safeguards. The environmental impact statements prepared by Cates International and the UH Sea Grant College Program should be fully disclosed, and the complete studies and reports should be available to the public for closer scrutiny and input.
Sook Han Lau
Matthew Wong, you're a wonderful person
My son learned a valuable lesson recently. While we were out, someone stole his Razor scooter from our Kapahulu carport. We were only gone for an hour, so we were all shocked and my son was very sad.
Later, my husband received a phone call just about the time school gets out from a Matthew Wong of Palolo, who said he got our phone number from the bottom of my son's scooter.
Matthew was riding the bus with another kid he knew and asked him where he got his scooter. The other boy said he stole it from someone. Matthew said that wasn't "cool." When the boy got off the bus, he left the scooter behind and Matthew took it off the bus at his stop. He borrowed a cell phone and called the number on the bottom. My husband and son rushed over to the bus stop before he missed his connecting bus and claimed the scooter. My husband and son thanked Matthew profusely, but we want everyone to know what a great person he is, especially his family, who should be very proud of this wonderful boy.
Diane Wernet
Doesn't make sense
It's kind of ironic — the same state that allows people to walk near a volcano is considering putting a metal grate over a blow hole.
Ted La Fore
Pukalani, Maui
