Letters to the Editor

Only Native Hawaiians should be admitted

What's all this fuss about letting a non-Hawaiian into Kamehameha Schools? Most of the students already up there are not Native Hawaiians.

It appears that the people complaining the most about the admission of a non-Hawaiian are toenail Hawaiians with 1/64th Hawaiian blood or one Hawaiian ancestor in 500 rather than real Native Hawaiians with not less than one-half Hawaiian blood. What is the difference between someone with no Hawaiian blood and someone with 1/64th Hawaiian blood or one ancestor in 500?

In Rice vs. Cayetano, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the only difference is racial discrimination.

If Kamehameha Schools wants to preserve its tax exemption, it should be educating native Hawaiians, not toenail Hawaiians with one ancestor in 500.

Walter R. Schoettle

Give preference only until threat is over

Nowhere in Pauahi's will does she state that Kamehameha was meant to be only for children of Hawaiian ancestry. She is quite clear that a portion of each year's income should be devoted to "orphans and others in indigent circumstances," but, if you read the will carefully, the "preference to Hawaiians" applies only to these two groups.

Nevertheless, even the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination recognizes that "world indigenous peoples have lost their land and resources to colonists" and "consequently, the preservation of their culture and their historical identity has been and still is jeopardized." It states they may "need special protection or assistance to have a fair chance."

So, if Kamehameha decides that giving preference to those of Hawaiian ancestry will greatly contribute to indigenous cultural renewal, this should be acceptable until such a time when Hawaiian culture and identity are no longer threatened. However, if the purpose is only to preserve an ethnicity, I cannot agree.

When a child who is not of Hawaiian ancestry respects the culture, understands its history and wants to learn more, of what value is excluding him or her from the opportunity to do so? Is culture based on blood, or, rather, on shared values and a common vision?

Perhaps someday we can move beyond ethnicity and truly celebrate cultural diversity as one 'ohana of human beings on one planet.

Adam T. Kahualaulani Mick
Kailua

Keep the quarantine system the way it is

Our animal quarantine policy has kept Hawai'i rabies-free.

We moved to the Mainland for a few years, but recently came home and had to put our animals through the one-month quarantine. The facilities are well-kept, the personnel are helpful and seem to treat the animals with care, and our cat and dog both came through just fine.

If it were up to me, I'd keep the quarantine the way it is because the current method is tried and proven to be effective.

To our health officials: Please don't allow yourselves to be pressured by the anti-quarantine lobbyists.

Lei McLean

Democrats shouldn't brag about their legacy

I could not believe Lorraine Akiba's July 22 letter touting the Democrats' "enduring legacy" and "accomplishments over the decades."

She stated her party values economic diversity, building our economy and supporting a rebirth of public education in Hawai'i. Pardon me, but this is the party that has been in power for 40 years and it supports "a rebirth of public education" and "building our economy"?

Everyone needs to ask why we do not have economic diversity, a robust economy or a decent public education system after decades of Democrat leadership. Why should we need a "rebirth" of anything? It should already be the best.

At this point, I believe they do indeed have an enduring legacy — one of corruption and failure. Don't give them another chance to continue this legacy on Nov. 5.

Shirley Hasenyager
Kailua

Alcoholics Anonymous is indeed a religion

I'll drink to those courts. Is Alcoholics Anonymous a religion? Well, let's see what Webster's Dictionary sayeth unto us — "religion: service and worship of a supernatural based on faith." And now, what does AA sayeth unto us — 12th step: "A spiritual awakening and the spiritual nature of our shared experiences."

I've had AA people say that God can be a duck. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck and you worship it, it's religion. Also, they say it's "spirituality." OK, spirituality is the modern politically correct term for superstition. Superstition is the belief in the supernatural.

AA has helped millions of people in the past 70 years and it swaps booze for a codependency on a god. It's OK, but call it what it is: a religion.

Edwin A. Corl

Arborist should have pruned airport trees

I was very concerned at the unnecessary topping of the monkeypod trees at Honolulu Airport. As an ISA certified arborist, I can testify that the work done on these trees violated proven, accepted arboricultural standards and practices and will have negative results.

The cost to restructure the damage and maintain these trees to ensure adequate public safety is far in excess of what proper pruning would cost. The ecosystem in this area has been significantly disrupted, which will also adversely affect the shade-loving plants in the understory of the garden. Topping of trees for maintenance purposes is unsightly and has been scientifically demonstrated to be harmful.

Topping has also been consistently demonstrated to result in an increase in decay from the improper cutting wounds, increased hazards from falling limbs due to poor attachment of the multiple resprouts, and increased sunburn when the protective canopy that shaded sensitive bark is removed.

Tree care is an art and science that is best left to qualified professionals. It is critical to solicit the input of a qualified and experienced ISA certified arborist to prescribe the proper type and amount of pruning required to achieve the desired result.

Gregory Severino
President, Aloha Arborist Association

Sunset on the Beach is no 'family affair'

I had to laugh at the letter sent by the individual who claims that the Waikiki Sunset on the Beach movie event is such a "nice family affair that both locals and tourists enjoy." Obviously that person does not live in the area.

He would not be able to find any parking within miles of the area. He would see people drinking beer out of paper bags and throwing their empties in the bushes. At midnight and 1 a.m., he would hear loud music, glass being broken, cars racing by and loud, obnoxious behavior. In the morning, he would see a beach full of trash, dirty water, trampled flowers, ruined grass and general filth.

I for one am thrilled that they are going to limit it to once a month.

Better yet, why not move the entire event to Ala Moana Beach Park? There is much more room, lots more parking and the park is easily accessible for both tourists and locals.

Let's not turn Waikiki into another Disneyland. Let's try to maintain its quiet, tropical beauty and remember that the reason people come to Waikiki is to take moonlit walks along its beautiful, quiet beaches — not watch outdoor movies among fast-food stands, crowds of people and general chaos.

William Squire