Letters to the Editor
Roundtop Drive story creates more problems
Regarding your June 30 extended article on the pleasures of Roundtop Drive: I find it very disturbing that we who live on Roundtop can look forward to more people than ever coming here.
It is not that we don't want others to see the beauty of it, because it is beautiful. But your article forgot to write about all of the reckless drivers, the squealing tires, limos driving in the middle of the road because they cannot make the hairpin turns, along with the destruction of automobile windows and the breaking in of our vehicles.
Our neighbor has had his car broken into at least six times in as many months.
I would like to see, with the additional tourists coming through, better police cruising and ticketing of the lawbreakers.
For anyone coming to see the beauty of Roundtop, please consider those who live here.
Kathy Jones
Let's have a decision on parking garage
The Aloha Tower Development Corp. appears unable to make a decision on a $200 million public project to be financed privately.
The project provides for the creation of an interisland ferry system with a 1,200-car parking garage and balanced terminal facilities at Piers 5 and 6, adjacent to Aloha Tower.
According to The Advertiser (Feb. 28), the state administration put off for one month a decision on whether to begin lease negotiations with Rainbow Pier Development LLC. The public is still waiting for this decision.
E. Alvey Wright
Legislature should begin with the pledge
The opinion by a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel that the use of the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional is, in the words of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, "nuts."
National opposition to the 9th Circuit Court's ruling is bipartisan and virtually unanimous. Hawai'i Republicans strongly support a similar bipartisan effort to change the state House and Senate rules that would begin each session with the Pledge of Allegiance. House and Senate members already start each session with a prayer; adding the pledge would be a daily reminder of what we stand for as a nation.
The U.S. House and Senate already have such a requirement in their rules. The House members have been reciting the pledge since 1988 and the Senate since 1999.
Less than four hours after the court ruling was made public, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution denouncing the decision. Thursday, members of the U.S. House gathered on the front steps of the Capitol to recite the pledge. That is the same place they sang "God Bless America" on the night of Sept. 11. This is clearly a bipartisan issue.
While this issue would become moot if the full 9th Circuit overrules that panel or if the U.S. Supreme Court decides against that ruling, Hawai'i is one of the nine states that are affected by this ruling. Therefore, it is necessary that Hawai'i legislators stand up, be counted and demand the opportunity to recite the pledge before each legislative session.
Sen. Sam Slom
State Senate Republican caucus
Rep. Galen Fox
State House Republican caucus
Lifers see the problems of others surrealistically
It is easy to say that nearly all of us who are "doing" a life sentence began in a state of denial. Then, after five, 10 or even 20 years, reality sets in. Grandparents and parents have passed away. Children are parents themselves.
The focus on personal freedom often gets lost as the overriding fear of one's children coming to the prison takes hold. The concern for them becomes more important than any selfish desire for one's own release.
Lifers see the "major problems" of free people in a surrealistic way. I often hear some people complain ("You're killing me"). When others ask for assistance, they never realize that we would love to assist others and walk out the door to freedom after eight to 16 hours of "easy money" work.
Lifers do their sentence by no longer thinking of the big material things in life. It is the little things that most people take for granted that become the all-important focus to retain one's sanity.
This is how a lifer does his sentence. One day at a time.
Lael E. Samonte
Halawa High Security Facility
Diversity of Democrats makes them stronger
Old spin doctor David Shapiro is at it again. In his messianic zeal to vilify Democrats (Volcanic Ash, June 26), he's gone inside the brain of Walter Dods to determine that he was "scared off" by unidentified, insular Democratic "forces."
Last I heard, a number of prominent Democrats were urging him to run, even belatedly, while the Republicans were the ones with a locked-up state convention that anointed Linda Lingle and froze out even the mildest dissent in the form of John Carroll and Bob McDermott.
It's truly amazing that the Democrats can attract three very different, very qualified gubernatorial candidates and still be bashed as the party of Big Business when that works, the party of union bosses when that flies, and the party of the close-minded "crabs" when all else fails.
With such a diverse, big tent that still includes committed supporters like Walter Dods as well as the "economically challenged" whom Shapiro derides, it's no wonder the Democrats have always won the big races and will continue to do so.
Rick Loras
A no-win for Dods
An open letter to Walter Dods:
Did you really want to put up with all those big "zeroes" in our Legislature? On a daily basis? And what's worse, collectively, they would have had even more power than you. They could have overriden you anytime. You are not used to that.
And would all of that been worth having a tunnel named after you?
Gerhard Hamm
Wai'alae Iki
Don't read a wider message into movie
Enjoy the movie for what it's worth.
I understand the distinction between Hawaiians and Asians. But when I read Michael Tsai's article about "Lilo & Stitch," I didn't even think about it when he wrote that Lilo was a Hawaiian keiki. Whatever gave Aaron Hoopii the idea that Lilo was Chinese (Letters, June 26)? I hope it wasn't based on the eyes of the cartoon characters. If so, he'll need to take a good look at both eastern and western Polynesians to see what features they have.
Michael Tsai could have used the terms that people in Hawai'i use, such as Native Hawaiian, kanaka maoli or Hawai'i resident, to be more specific. But even if Lilo and Nani had a surname, Hawaiian or not, how would you know that she wasn't part-Hawaiian with haole or Asian ancestry?
It's a cartoon with a message about life. It's not a portrayal of Polynesians or Native Hawaiians.
Kalani Mondoy
Glendale, Calif.
Frazier, Dobelle should be supported
Herman Frazier's recent selection as the University of Hawai'i's new athletic director has stirred quiet controversy over the selection process itself and its product, Mr. Frazier. One of the first to congratulate Mr. Frazier was Dick Tomey, a local favorite for the position. That is the type of class and style we must learn from.
Evan Dobelle has demonstrated, time and again, his unabashed zeal to upgrade Manoa's athletic program. He has gone beyond any of his predecessors at UH.
Case in point: Hawai'i's men's volleyball team and the NCAA tournament in State Park, Pa., this spring. While en route, Dobelle spoke with Mike Wilton, reassuring him that his soon-to-be-expired contract would be renegotiated in a timely manner, setting Wilton's mind at-ease so he could focus on the tournament. Dobelle remained true to his word, and Wilton, to the relief of 'Bow fans, ultimately remained in Hawai'i.
Then Dobelle called Vili Fehoko, Hawai'i's beloved in-your-face mascot, and told him to board a plane with his troops because his energy and unique spirit of support were needed by the team. All this was done spontaneously.
Hawai'i won the National Men's Volleyball Championship. I like that type of leader who will roll up his sleeves and get to work.
Let's give Herman Frazier the opportunity he deserves and the support President Dobelle has earned. We all love our 'Bows.
Steve Kuna
Hawai'i Kai
Secession had never been judged illegal
My compliments and thanks to Louis Trigg for his June 8 letter regarding slavery's place in the Civil War. Another downgraded fact of history pertains to our "indivisible" nation:
When the armistice was signed in 1865, the United States was literally pinned together with bayonets. The Confederacy was occupied for years thereafter to keep it that way.
President Johnson was pressured to charge Jefferson Davis, the Confederate president, with treason, but was advised by his attorney general and the best constitutional lawyers that secession had never been judged illegal and that in a trial, Davis might prevail. To avoid that embarrassment to the Union cause, Johnson ordered that Davis be released and any charges that might be pending be dropped.
The point is: the South's secession was not improper, constitutionally speaking. We remained one nation because of the overwhelming force used to keep those states in the Union. The cost: more American lives than all the other wars in which this country has ever participated.
Fred Overstreet
Tell us what you are doing to better state
I am tired of hearing what politicians are doing wrong. I want to know what they are going to do right for our state and our people.
I am a young mother and wife. I would like to know that my family's future, my daughter's future, is in good hands.
Christina Zimmerman
Kailua
Boat missed on Ko Olina project
The Ko Olina Resort Association is deeply disappointed by Gov. Cayetano's decision to veto Senate Bill 2907, Hawai'i's aquarium bill.
I believe we speak for all of the travel industry companies that are committed to creating new business and economic stimulus for Hawai'i and the Weinberg Foundation, which stood ready to help make this world-class attraction a reality for our state, when we say that another magnificent opportunity has slipped away from us.
With the next 12 to 18 months expected to be a period of slow growth for Hawai'i's economy, the state risks further economic peril with the loss of the stimulus that SB 2907 would have brought us. An attraction like the proposed world-class, interactive aquarium would have provided a much-needed spark to the tourism industry and a catalyst for thousands of desperately needed construction and operational job opportunities — all at no cost to the state.
We believe this missed opportunity will most harm the construction industry and the Wai'anae Coast communities, both of whom would have most directly benefitted from the estimated $715 million of developments that would have arisen out of SB 2907.
The University of Hawai'i has almost lost a unique opportunity and will be without the marine science and mammal research facility that the bill required to be privately built and the chance to be connected with an interactive marine attraction.
The Ko Olina partners lined up an impressive group of players ready to join the aquarium development with new timeshare, commercial and hotel developments. Support for SB 2907 from entities like the Weinberg Foundation, Hilton Hotels, Intrawest Resorts, Marriott International and MassMutual Life further validated a theory that Gov. Cayetano himself started when he first proposed a $100 million aquarium development at Kaka'ako — that a world-class interactive aquarium is good business, beneficial to our local community and important to the future of our entire state.
We sincerely thank our state representatives and senators, along with all of the many supporters who worked feverishly to pass SB 2907. Unfortunately we believe that with the Governor's veto, our state has lost a unique opportunity.
We stand committed, however, to continue our efforts to help Hawai'i's residents and economy by bringing a world-class beacon to Hawai'i that will spark significant economic activity and educational opportunities for our future.
John J. Toner
Vice president, Ko Olina Resort Association
