I had my doubts about winning against Pepperdine, but that did not keep me from believing our Warriors could win. Watching their games this season, I knew that they would end on a high note, and surely enough it was the 2002 NCAA championship.

Sharlene B. Daligcon

Coach Wilton deserved raise before victory

That monkey just jumped off our backs. The UH men's volleyball program has that first NCAA national championship banner to hang in the Stan Sheriff Center.

Hats off to Mike Wilton and his staff for a job well done. This achievement should not be a bargaining tool for a new contract and the salary raise that Wilton deserved even before the season started.

Sam Deuz
Waialua

Bob MacGregor was tourism mentor, hero

Regarding your April 23 editorial "Bob MacGregor: a true tourism pioneer": I have been in the visitor industry for 32 years and have met all the major players through all these years, but Bob MacGregor was my mentor and hero.

While my businesses were being developed, I would marvel at his persona. He was the biggest player in a large field, small of stature, but wise, sensitive, a visionary and a great competitor.

When my businesses started to really grow in the 1980s, he called me into his office, complimented me on my contributions to tourism and then asked if I cared to be a partner in a few of his ventures. I immediately said yes. Competition never fazed him.

Every Saturday morning for over 10 years, I would go to his offices and "talk story" with other cronies. He never gave advice, but everyone would tell him how to run his business. He would always smile; he let everyone prosper and did so with dignity, sensitivity and humility. He took every phone call and always listened. Never critical, but always encouraging.

Today, as I count my blessings with my various enterprises, I can truthfully say Bob MacGregor would validate my work. I have never met anyone like him. He was the forerunner of the Mainland group tours to Hawai'i and had the vision to develop his own attractions such as cruises, bus transportation and floor shows.

No one has done it since and probably never will. A great man has left us.

Paul Diller
Partner, 'Ulalena

Vacation on O'ahu was simply enchanting

Last month my husband and I spent nine days on your enchanting island of O'ahu.

We want to thank you for making our trip so wonderful. Tourists can be a real pain, especially the numbers that swoop down on you all, but you sure made a big difference to a couple of very frazzled people.

Everywhere we went, we were made to feel welcome. We were impressed with TheBus and used it everywhere we went. I especially appreciated the nice guys at Hawaiian Fire Surfing school, who taught a klutzy 50-year-old woman how to surf (my husband sat that one out).

In short, please be patient with tourists, because you're doing a lot of good in a lot of lives.

Tom & Cari King
Pocahontas, Ariz.

Rep. Souki should roll a mile in my wheelchair

Regarding reduction in fines for illegally parking in disabled parking spaces: Rep. Joe Souki said, "I don't know what they are all stewed up about."

I believe he is absolutely correct. He doesn't know. He doesn't get it. He doesn't have a clue. People who have never had a mobility impairment really don't understand the challenges and frustrations the rest of us face daily.

I'd like to help.

I have a spare wheelchair. I will be happy to loan it to Rep. Souki for a week.

I believe after trying to live and function in Hawai'i for a week in a wheelchair, Rep. Souki will have a much better idea what we "are all stewed up about."

If he'll give me his travel plans, I'll be happy to pay the new lower $100 fine to park illegally and block him out of a parking space when he has someplace he needs to be. I wouldn't be willing to do that if the fine were $250, but for just a C-note, hey, it'll be fun.

Jane Knox

Saving dog illustrates a noble character

One may say $185,000 is a lot of money that can be rightly used on some needy human beings and that Americans are born squanderers; they chose to spend it on retrieving Hokget, a dog, not even a pure-bred terrier.

The critics can go on and on, but the bottom line is that this act fully illustrates the quintessence of the noble character of average Americans, who happen to be born savers.

Ting Lung Liang

What about capping price of food, drink?

I see the Legislature passed a law capping the price of gas. That will show those greedy oil companies!

Now if they would only pass a law capping the price of food and drink, we would not have a worry in the world here.

Hey! How about a law making pi equal to 3, instead of 3.14159? The kids would all have an easier time in math.

Bill Millan

Legislature didn't stand up for the little guy

I can't believe your reporting and editorials regarding the 2002 Legislature. I am not fooled by your attempt to paint the Democratic Party as supporting the little guys and protecting them from big, bad business.

You say that state government has been pandering to business? Hawai'i is the least business-friendly state in the union.

The session stood up for consumers? How can increasing taxes, regulating business and curbing choice help the consumer? What we need (we little guys) is protection from big, bad Ben, this Democratic-machine Legislature and their cronies (like The Honolulu Advertiser). Our state Legislature shi-shis on our leg and The Advertiser tells us it is raining.

The Legislature only made a "bold and decisive" move toward socialism.

Keith Rose

Prisoners are being ripped off on phone

As an inmate, I am not afforded many privileges. One of the few privileges I do have is the use of the telephone, which our families pay dearly for.

The problem with this is the extremely high and excessive rates our family and friends are being charged for only a 15-minute phone call.

Here are the facts and figures. Our families are billed $1.85 for every phone call they accept, and sometimes either staff or malfunctioning equipment cuts us off. There is a flat-rate policy that is obsolete when taking into account our incarceration and financial status.

This leaves our families with little choice but to pay these unusually stiff rates. What's even more of a ripoff is happening to the inmates' families who reside on the outer islands or, worse, on the Mainland.

It costs $6.97 for a service connection charge, then 91 cents is tacked on for each additional minute.

The average price for a 20-minute call to the Mainland is a whopping $25.19, 25 times the norm.

Our families can't afford these outrageous prices, and sometimes have to despairingly refuse our calls.

It's devastating for both sides, especially for our children, who just want to hear our voice.

Our loved ones sacrifice what little they can spare each month, and the state must realize they too suffer from the economic impact of Sept. 11.

Someone's hand is in the cookie jar again, and it ain't us. Who's really making out here, the state or Verizon? All I know is what my daughter does when she hears me say "I love you."

Kevin Johnson

Overwhelming joy in reading Cataluna

As a long-time Mainland transplant, I've known in my heart of hearts that I was a "malihini starting to turn local" long, long ago, particularly when our Auntie Valerie's "parlor" for living room seemed to sound jus' right.

And even though my family was graciously and lovingly "adopted" in 1960 by our wonderful, large local calabash family (to whom I will be forever grateful), Lee Cataluna's May 5 column brought tears to my eyes and overwhelming joy to my heart.

Mahalo nui loa.

Sandra M. Bowman
Kailua

Honolulu must end 'meanness' to homeless

Honolulu, the major city in the Aloha State, has been declared one of the "meanest" cities in its behavior toward the so-called homeless.

It's time for the community to unbegrudgingly extend concrete assistance to those in need. And that does not mean a concrete bench.

Monika Soroka

Treatment helps, saves money, restores families

In response to Guy Chang and others who feel first-time nonviolent drug offenders should go to prison, I'd like to point out a few truths.

First, drug abusers have hurt, lied to and victimized many individuals and families, and they should be held accountable for their actions. However, if we only imprison nonviolent first-time offenders and don't treat their addiction, they will return to our communities and will most likely resume their addictive behavior and criminal activity. They commit crimes to feed their addiction. The addict must be treated if we wish to reduce subsequent behavior.

Second, treatment works. At Hina Mauka in Kane'ohe, a recent follow-up study reported over 70 percent of clients who completed treatment and responded to the study were still clean and sober after six months. A study conducted by the Hazelden Foundation showed that one year after treatment, 53 percent abstained from drugs and alcohol, and another 35 percent reduced their use.

The drug-related financial burden to our society is great. However, various studies have found that $1 invested in substance-abuse treatment saves taxpayers $7 in future costs.

Our lawmakers are doing their best to balance the state budget in tough times; they should be praised for a forward-thinking and fiscally responsible policy regarding nonviolent first-time drug offenders.

We do have a major drug problem here in Hawai'i, and as a result, individuals, families and children are victimized. But there is hope, because treatment works, it's cost-effective and it can restore families to loving relationships and individuals to be productive tax-paying members of our communities.