Letters to the Editor
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This year's team made former players proud
I would just like to congratulate my former teammates for making all of us former UH players proud.
Just one year removed from the excitement of Warrior volleyball, I watched the NCAA Championship game with butterflies in my stomach. When it was finally over and that elusive title was claimed for the great fans of Hawai'i, I sat back and smiled from ear to ear. I can only imagine the feeling of exhaltation the players must have felt and the even greater thrill of returning to the Islands to hold that trophy high.
Though I never won a national title during my three years at UH, every year we felt we had a shot. I think I speak for all former Warriors and Rainbows alike when I say thank you to this year's squad for finally removing that proverbial monkey from the back of UH men's volleyball history. You guys really did me proud.
Now, can anybody say repeat?
Brenton Davis
A long time coming from the days of Klum Gym
With no cable at my new home, I sat in a friendly bar on the Big Island to watch our team fulfill a dream. As they entered the court for the fourth game, determination on each face, I recalled the faces I'd seen in that sweat box called Klum Gym. There weren't as many fans back then, but the power of the men's game was the same.
The old place rocked when Allen Allen floated through the air, powering a spike off the passer's arms and up to the ceiling. Or when Lacro would run down a pass and make an unbelievable from-the-knees set. Fantastic competitions and lots of heart.
The move to Sheriff Arena didn't take away any of the intensity or hopes for success.
Some at Charley's Bar Saturday weren't volleyball players or fans, but were enthusiastic anyway. Just before the last serve, I stood for tradition (receiving some questioning looks) and jumped crazily when Costas nailed it for us. The person next to me said, "You've got tears in your eyes." I sure did. Tears of joy, pride and gratitude.
Thank you, Coach Wilton and the team, for bringing a national championship home.
Lorene K. Aki
Hilo
It was a great season; thanks for the effort
Outstanding job, Warriors. Your blocking, hitting, passing and setting were excellent. That's why you are the 2002 NCAA Volleyball Champions.
I couldn't watch the live ESPN telecast because I was playing in our local USVA volleyball tournament. But thanks to my Mom, who had KCCN 1420 on the radio in the gym, we were able to get the play-by-play updates.
When Costas hit the final kill in the fourth game, my Mom screamed so loud and jumped so high that we knew while on the court that the UH men had won the National Men's Volleyball title.
Thanks, Mom, and thanks, Warriors, for a great season.
Haililani Pokipala
Those coming before salute the champions
Congratulations, Coach Wilton, Coach Reyes, UH staff and especially the players. You did it!
My brother, Masui, and I are so proud. You did it not only for yourselves and the state of Hawai'i, but you did it for every one of us who has ever spilled blood, sweat and tears while donning either a practice jersey or game uniform for the Green Machine. You overcame insurmountable obstacles with hard work, dedication and teamwork.
Your arduous journey has brought you Hawai'i's first men's championship. Congratulations again, and know that we are all celebrating along with you.
Allen S. Allen
Volleyball victory a gem of pure hope
Our Hawai'i Warriors — the 2002 NCAA men's volleyball champs! All of Hawai'i exuberantly thanks you for representing that Hawai'i is the greatest volleyball capital in the nation. Your victory has broken through to become a gem of pure hope and joy to our post-Sept. 11 tragedy.
Thanks for bringing it home to Hawai'i. Continue the vision for another victory in 2003.
I. Tubera
Senators went back on word about fund
The approval for the transfer of money from the Hawai'i Hurricane Relief Fund should convince voters that the senators who supported it must be dismissed from office.
These senators promised not to raid the fund in any case, but went back on their word. Even if they say it is only the accumulated interest of $29 million that would be withdrawn, what is there to stop them from raiding the principal of the fund?
The majority of senators were against touching the fund altogether, but not wanting to make the long-overdue needed cuts in the state departments and how they operate, they chose to abandon their pledge of keeping the fund intact.
The approval of transferring money from the fund can be surmised as an illegal act. The fund is not financed by taxes, but by the taxpayers who were forced to pay $500-plus premiums into the fund. The fund is only to be used for the specified purposes for which it was created in 1993.
Drew E. Kosora
State controls would mean higher prices
Let me get this straight. The state believes there isn't enough competition in Hawai'i's oil industry, so it wants to set the price of gasoline at each step in the supply chain. Surely there's enough brain power in the state government to recognize that the only logical result of state-set prices is the exit of oil companies from Hawai'i's market when they fail to make a profit.
At that point, we will see a huge increase in the price of gasoline to bring suppliers back, making today's pump prices look like bargains. Very few people will be able to afford to drive.
Oh, now I get it! The state is trying to get all the cars off the road so there's no need for a van cam program and it won't look stupid for canceling the contract — although it will continue to send millions of our tax dollars to a Mainland company for not providing services. Ho, da sly buggahs!
Vernette Shaffer
Kailua
Students are deprived of texts, workbooks
Regarding the May 2 Ronald T.Y. Moon commentary, "Civics education is critical": Yes, children today are being deprived of this in their education. They do not get anything in the way of geography, history or social studies until they reach junior high school.
Unless they are lucky enough to have parents who discuss these things in front of them, they pretty much grow up unaware of the world around them.
How many classrooms have history books for the children? As it is, they do not have textbooks of any kind that are their own to be kept for the year and turned in at the end of that year. "In the good old days," we received a textbook and a workbook for history and geography, along with our other basic subjects.
There is more to education than the politics involved in the education system. The children are missing out on some important basics in their daily learning environment.
Barbara Vincent
Relieve city traffic by synchronizing lights
The mismanagement of the traffic lights is yet another example of the ineptitude and incompetence of our transportation officials.
Except for Kalakaua Avenue and King Street, the lights on our major thoroughfares are not synchronized. This is a huge contributor to our traffic problems.
This isn't rocket science, people; it's a fundamental traffic-management tool employed in almost every metropolitan area in the country.
A thought occurred to me, as frustration again mounted from being stopped at one light after another, effectively impeding traffic flow on our main streets: Someone should file a class-action lawsuit against the responsible officials. The charge is gross negligence, the damages are lost time and wages, and the remedy is to fire the whole lot of them.
I'd do it myself but I don't have any time as a result of being stuck at these red lights.
David J. Harrington
Kane'ohe
Why did we bother?
Let's see if I've got this straight. People were driving too fast, so we brought in the van cam to nab the speeders. Although successful in other states, the implementation was so badly bungled here that the whole thing was canceled, at a cost of up to $4 million. Now it is suggested that we raise the speed limit so people can drive faster.
Don McDaniel
Mental illness stigma must come to an end
Recovery from mental illness is a complex and highly individual process. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding mental illness can prevent people from seeking or receiving appropriate care.
People with mental illnesses are too often disregarded, and, at worst, shunned by their communities. They face discrimination in health insurance, housing and employment, all of which present obstacles to recover.
In the words of former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, "We all have allowed stigma and a now unwarranted sense of hopelessness about the opportunities for recovery from mental illness to erect these barriers. It is time to take them down."
Across this nation, we fund community treatment programs just enough to keep people out of expensive hospitals but not enough to support their recovery from mental illness. Yet people with such disorders can and often do recover, when given the chance.
For those with severe disorders, community-based housing supports, medical care, effective medications and job-training programs enable these individuals to lead full, productive lives — but these services are in short supply and lack adequate financing. We must commit ourselves to making these needed resources available.
Another way to help turn the tide is to change public opinion, which is shaped largely by the way the media depict people with mental illness and their treatment. According to a National Mental Health Association survey, based on what respondents have seen in the news and entertainment media, only one-third of the public believes that most people can be helped with treatment.
The fact is that the treatments for mental illness are at least as successful as they are for physical illnesses such as heart disease, and recovery is possible.
So why do we discriminate against people with mental illness? In part because of the continuing fear, misconceptions and stigma associated with psychiatric disorders.
May is Mental Health Month, a national observance dedicated to raising awareness about mental health. Now is the time to get involved and actively endorse community-based treatment and support programs. We can all work together to end the discrimination that people with mental illness face every day, and support policies that fund mental health services, help individuals in their recovery, and encourage those in need to seek treatment.
Benjamin L. Carroll III
President, Mental Health Association in Hawai'i
Greg Farstrup
Executive director, Mental Health Association in Hawai'i
