Letters to the Editor
Trustees made correct decision on admission
Flying home from O'ahu to Kahului last October, I sat next to a young man whose daughter had been denied admission to the Kamehameha Schools Maui campus the previous spring. She had passed criteria, but there wasn't enough space to admit her.
So imagine my surprise when I read the July 12 article "Non-Hawaiian given campus spot." I'm sure Kamehameha trustees had their reasons, but they could have made a stronger effort to inform every potential student that enrollment capacities had increased.
I applaud the current trustees for making a difficult and controversial decision. They have demonstrated their ability for prudence and judiciousness in the endeavor to preserve Pauahi's will. The institution is and always will be, until outside forces prevail, a multibillion-dollar entity plotting a course for survival.
Kelly Brissette
Pukalani
Schools being run within federal laws
This statement of purpose is on the Kamehameha Schools' Web site: "Kamehameha's policy on admissions is to give preference to children of Hawaiian ancestry."
Now a quote from the tax-exempt status publication released by the IRS concerning private schools: "A policy of a school that favors racial minority groups with respect to admissions, facilities and programs and financial assistance is not discrimination on the basis of race when the purpose and effect of this policy is to promote establishing and maintaining the school's nondiscriminatory policy."
With these two pieces of information, it seems that Kamehameha is running the schools within federal laws.
Although this may be true, I do believe that a non-Hawaiian should be accepted into the schools. However, I am not satisfied with the reason the trustees have provided for this incident.
Justin Kaupu
Kailua-Kona, Big Island
Admissions policy based on race illegal
This letter may anger most native Hawaiians, but I feel compelled to write it anyway. The bottom line of the Kamehameha Schools issue is plain and simple: Any school that allows entry based solely on race is illegal.
This country has fought for years for its equality and the equal treatment of all its people. I believe the people most angered by the board's decision are those who put their race above their country and what this country stands for. Racism is racism, and Kamehameha Schools cannot and should not be allowed to practice illegal and immoral acts.
Be proud of who you are, but not at the risk of hurting others who are not like you.
Michael Young
Student lawsuit against McKinley outrageous
When I watched the 6 p.m. news tonight, I was outraged about the lawsuit filed against McKinley High School by a student who objects to a line in the school honor code that refers to "Love for God."
I absolutely did not agree with the Pledge of Allegiance issue and thus do not agree with this either. It is freedom of speech. You are not forced to say it, but let those who wish to speak do so.
McKinley High School's code is a tradition. Like anything else in the school, it should not be broken.
The student claims he does not have a religious preference or might not believe in God and that is the reason he is filing this suit. Well, I am not a religious person, but I will not be ignorant and force an end to a tradition of many years.
Understand, James Ornellas, you do not have to express the code of honor if you don't wish to. If anything, you should not be attending McKinley High School. I suggest you either accept this tradition or move on.
Winnie Lau
Liquor panel isn't all that semi-autonomous
I am appalled at Managing Director Ben Lee's comment, in the July 14 article, that the city has no control over the semi-autonomous Liquor Commission.
All but one of the five commissioners have been allowed to remain in those positions well over the initial five-year term. And, all of them are, in fact, appointed by the mayor of Honolulu.
In light of the recent allegations of corruption and the letter by Linda Smith, former finance director, regarding her involvement in corruption investigations in 1989, one would have to wonder why the mayor has not removed every one of these people and started with a clean slate.
It is difficult to accept that the leaders of such an organization have stumbled on for years with no knowledge of the corruption that is once again becoming public.
It would be interesting to hear what all the liquor licensees would say about the culture of this organization that has run wild over their businesses for many years.
Oh, and by the way, the other counties don't seem to have any problem controlling their "semi-autonomous" agencies.
Willy Leong
Now we clean up restrooms at beach
Regarding the July 14 letter from Nancy Gakiya about the public restrooms at Kaka'ako Park: I had the same comment about 15 years ago, and my beautiful niece, Luana, taught me something thought-provoking and precious. She said: "Aunty, we always complain, but do we set a good example?"
She then showed me her bucket of cleaning supplies and bathroom tissues that she brings to the beach every single time. The first thing she does is head for the women's restroom and cleans every stall and sink and washes the floor with Pine-Sol and water. Then she knows the little ones will have a clean place.
I've always taken my own paper supplies on picnics, but now I have adopted the same attitude about the restroom.
Let's face it. The park personnel have a great deal to do, especially on the weekends. They aren't paid to stand guard over the restrooms all day.
As soon as they clean the restrooms in the morning, auwe, it's all over.
Irresponsible people trash the room and remove the paper supplies because they're afraid there won't be any later. It's a long list.
This way, I feel we give them a hand and maybe others will be more responsible about the facilities. Maybe they won't, but at least we tried.
My parents always admonished us to "leave a place better than you found it." I hope in a small way that we are.
Nohea George
Privatizing harbors won't solve problem
We believe that with proper planning and implementation, state government can accomplish the goals considered necessary for creating a first-class harbor facility, which is what the people need at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor and other harbors in the state.
We, the people of Hawai'i, consider all harbors of the state as assets of the people. That we are surrounded by water creates our lifestyles, our water sports, fishing, etc., all of which are dependent on our harbor facilities.
If the Department of Land and Natural Resources, which is in charge of harbors, has failed to do a satisfactory job in operations, we need to change leadership, not privatize in order to get away from the responsibility and increase the cost to the users of these facilities, the people of Hawai'i.
Professionals can be hired to accomplish any job for government, as long as they are paid adequately for the work they do. Replace questionable qualifications of government officials and hire people who will properly care for our public assets.
Competent direction is needed, not the privatizing of public assets with profits paid to investors.
Marion Kelly, George Downing
Save Our Surf
Want a leader? Don't vote for an attorney
Does anyone realize that the state of Hawai'i flourished in unprecedented fashion under the leadership of Gov. John A. Burns, then began its decline under Govs. George Ariyoshi and John Waihee, finally bottoming out under Ben Cayetano?
Does anyone know why?
Let me offer this fact: John Burns was a former captain in the Honolulu Police Department before he became governor, while the three amigos are attorneys.
The moral: Beware of attorneys who want to lead. History shows they can't.
Hank McKeague
Stop throwing cigarettes out of moving vehicles
With all the news about brushfires heating up the news, why do inconsiderate drivers continue to throw their lit cigarette butts out of their moving vehicles?
It's a fire hazard and it's littering. They should keep their butts to themselves. It really burns me up.
Steven M. Nakamura
Kapolei
Hotter than Hades
In the Taste Section article on July 10, "Get a handle on hot peppers," it was mentioned that the habanero was the hottest pepper with a Scoville heat rating of 100,000 (compared to 2,500 for the jalape–o). Actually there is a pepper that is even hotter: the tezpur, from the northern hills of India, which has a rating of 855,000. Now if that is not hot, what is?
Raj Bose
Skateboarders deserve respect
As the mother of an avid skateboarder, I can tell you that the skaters have waited far longer than a single year for the completion of the skate park in Hawai'i Kai.
The park was slated to open last summer, yet work on it was not evident until early this year. During the time the kids have been waiting, they have been forced to use the "kiss and ride" area, supposedly allowed to them by the mayor.
When they have attempted to use this area, they have repeatedly been ordered to leave unless they skate only on the rough hardtop area close to the ocean, an area guaranteed to break equipment and cause falls. Street skating requires smooth surfaces and curbs, benches and ramped areas to facilitate the maneuvers the kids spend months to perfect.
My son and his friends, all good students and nice kids, have been banned from virtually every level surface in the community, been harassed by adults threatening violence if they dare to skate on public areas near their homes or businesses, and even been refused service in convenience stores near the few "legal" skate parks, such as the small Makiki facility.
Last summer I decided to take action and erect a temporary skate ramp (called a half-pipe) in front of my house in Mariners Cove so the kids could enjoy their sport in peace. We were reported to the police for excessive noise virtually every weekend by a neighbor, who screamed at the boys for making noise, although I had taken care to soundproof the ramp as much as possible.
I have since removed the ramp, and the boys are back on the streets. Is it any wonder they now skate at the new park, despite its lack of completion?
The kids should have waited until the park was completed before painting graffiti, but graffiti is a customary decoration at skate parks throughout the U.S. and can be attractive if done by true street artists. Perhaps the city might hold a competition for the privilege of decorating the cement, with graffiti artists or "bombers" submitting sample photos of their work?
Safety is another issue many have, but it is my understanding that skating is covered under Hawai'i's "inherent risk" law, just as are other inherently dangerous activities (such as riding horses) on public property. By my own observation, the most risky activities at the Kailua (Keolu) skate park are undertaken by young children, in full view of their parents, using the park on rollerblades and razor scooters, who ignore the teenage and adult skaters (and the signs prohibiting them), and merrily roll in front of skaters executing high-speed maneuvers, causing accidents and chaos among the skaters, who dare not say anything lest the parents scold them for upsetting their kids.
Rather than demonizing skaters, we should appreciate that this is a segment of the teen population that is enjoying healthy exercise rather than sitting mutely in front of their TVs. They deserve our understanding and respect. Remember, skateboarding is not a crime.
April Ambard
Hawai'i Kai
