Letters to the Editor
Attorney should be held in contempt
Attorney Doron Weinberg should be held in contempt for lying to Judge King. He told Judge King the TV reporter dropped her microphone when clearly on a news video, Gary Rodrigues grabbed it from her and threw it to the ground.
And we wonder why attorneys are held in such low regard.
Steve Chang
Seatbelt program critics have it wrong
Recently I've read several letters to the editor concerning the national Click It or Ticket program. One letter stated that our local government has collected over $400,000 in fines, and another letter spoke of taxpayer dollars being spent on the program. As they say in the Marine Corps, "Now hear this!"
The Click It or Ticket program has collected how much money? Super. But I'm surprised that Hawai'i has that many idiots driving around without seatbelts. It's not only the law, it's the intelligent thing to do.
Now, in regard to the cost to taxpayers contained in the second letter. This program is a federally sponsored program. Granted those federal funds are taxpayer dollars, but would you rather our tax dollars go to Iowa for a program such as this? Little local funding is used for this program.
But to these two gentlemen who seem so resistant to the use of belt restraints in vehicles, I say that sooner or later I'll read about you in the paper — more than likely in the obituary column.
John L. Shupe
Nurses are taking stand for profession's future
It is not without regret that I, a Kaiser registered nurse for 10 years, support our plans to go on strike. I feel that we (the nurses) belong with our patients, not on a picket line.
Time spent with patients and their families is the reason we enjoy our profession. We know that every day our profession allows us to touch others' lives in tremendously profound ways, and we also know that we are blessed by our patients' generosity of spirit. From birth through death, we glimpse the miracles of life.
It is because we love our patients that we are demanding respect, safe staffing parameters, increased wages and better medical retirement benefits. Hawai'i is losing talented and well-trained nurses to Mainland hospitals that offer more attractive wages and benefits. Many highly educated and trained specialty nurses are burned out and have given up on nursing because the lack of recognition and respect has worn them down emotionally. Hawai'i cannot afford to lose these nurses.
A strong benefits package would go far to instill respect and recognition.
We are taking a stand for the future of nursing. When we secure the objectives mentioned above, we will all win. The hospital will attract bright, talented nurses, and the profession will be viewed as a desirable option for future nurses. Long-term nurses will continue to provide high-quality, safe care in a setting that is supportive, and the patients will feel secure that they are receiving the safest and best possible care.
Maureen Meehan-Golonka, R.N.
Hale'iwa
Exxon Valdez was a single-hull tanker
Thank you for your coverage of the sinking of the Prestige oil tanker off the coast of Spain, which was carrying almost twice the volume of oil than the Exxon Valdez spilled in Alaska in 1989.
Your companion article, "Coast Guard says it's ready for oil spill here," described the Exxon Valdez as a "double-hulled tanker," but it actually was of single-hull construction.
I would like to recommend the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council Web site to those who would like to learn more about the terrible impact that oil spills can have on the environment. They have a special section to help students prepare reports about this important topic, where you can find the following statement:
"Congress enacted legislation requiring that all tankers in Prince William Sound be double-hulled by the year 2015. It is estimated that if the Exxon Valdez had had a double-hull structure, the amount of the spill would have been reduced by more than half."
In the future, vegetable oils will be used increasingly as fuels because diesel engines can burn them — as well as petroleum products. Alcohol fuels also provide a relatively clean, renewable alternative to the dwindling reserves of crude oil.
Wally Bachman
Offer seat as internship
It is ridiculous to spend $1.3 million to fill a congressional seat for only five weeks.
Why not offer the seat as an internship or practicum opportunity for a deserving UH student? The applicant could be chosen by the governor or our current congressmen, saving the taxpayers big bucks.
Joe Gaynor
A case for Ed Case
I am one of the quasi-Republican/Democratic/Independent/centrist voters.
It's time to stop voting for those politicians who are either to the "right" of Attila the Hun or to the "left" of Lenin.
Let's give Ed Case our votes.
Don Neill
Kailua
Rooster-keepers make bad neighbors
As you pointed out in your editorial, the present situation to allow two roosters per house is a shame for Hawai'i.
Shame on the City Council for caving in to the rooster-keepers and not voting this law out.
Rooster-keepers make bad neighbors. Period.
Volker Hildebrandt
Kane'ohe
Tunnel compromise
Why all the fuss over naming the H-3 tunnels?
There are two of them, right?
Name the windward-bound tunnel for Tets Harano.
Name the Pearl Harbor-bound tunnel for John Burns.
'Nuf said.
Rick Scudder
Behavior of fans was embarrassing
In all my years of watching UH football, I never thought I would see what I saw Saturday night. Both sides are to blame, no matter who started it.
Despite the fact that "a few" of the Cincinnati players acted in an unsportsmanlike manner during and after the game, no fan should have thrown drinks on the field or taunted their players. It shows a lack of the aloha spirit and embarrasses Hawai'i. It was a pitiful sight, to say the least.
Fortunately, some of the UH and UC players were sportsmanlike and shook hands with each other during the fracas. I was glad to see that some players showed maturity, self-control and respect. But I hope both teams are disciplined for their actions.
Alison Okumura
Mililani
Aloha spirit was sacked Saturday
By now everyone knows that Saturday's big beef between our Warriors and Cincinnati's Bearcats ended badly with handshakes becoming fists and helmets flying weapons. A few of our Warriors stood out, shaking hands with the UC players and refusing to fight.
We have been working with the University of Hawai'i system on its brand identity for almost a year and have come to admire the people who represent this complex and wonderful system. What happened on Saturday was a perfect example of what happens when a brand promise is unfulfilled. Two great athletic teams — the most visible examples of their respective institution's brands — duking it out like ignoramuses sporting the logos of their universities.
Ironically, the University of Cincinnati, too, has done a great deal of work on its brand promise in the past couple of years. We know, because we have held them up as an example to UH.
The kids who lost their heads can be forgiven. But to the adults in the crowd who threw drinks and rolled-up paper at the UC team as they left the field, we say shame on you.
Hawai'i's brand is 100 percent dependent on the spirit of aloha — that great and open spirit of friendship that caused the HVCB to say "Come for the beauty and stay for the people." What were you thinking on Saturday night? At Aloha Stadium, of all places.
Gloria Garvey
Brook Gramann
The Brand Strategy Group
Bad officiating caused the melee
Congratulations to Tim Chang and the UH Warriors football team for pulling out a great game. It's too bad it had to end in a melee.
The game was badly officiated, and because of that, it got out of control. League officials should look over the game tape and make sure this will not happen again in Hawai'i or at any other football game. Because of this, league officials should reprimand those officials who oversaw this game.
It's this kind of bad officiating that causes players like Tim Chang to get hurt and other players to lose their cool.
Henry Tabudlo
Moenoa should keep mouth shut
Congratulations, Uriah Moenoa — you made the Washington Post on Nov. 25 in the story, "Are You Ready for Some Mayhem?" You should be ashamed of yourself.
Do you have any idea how idiotic your quote, "We got a chance to get a lot of licks in," sounds? Not to mention the disgrace to your football team, your school and the state of Hawai'i.
One word of advice for you, Uriah: The next time you feel like saying something embarrassing to a reporter, don't.
And two words of advice for the University of Hawai'i football Warriors: grow Up. Your behavior on Saturday made me embarrassed to call myself a fan.
Josh Levinson
Washington, D.C. (born and raised in Hawai'i)
Rowdy UH fans should be isolated
In response to Ferd Lewis' column on UH attendance being down: I am requesting that the UH athletic department and the Stadium Authority block off the whole orange section on the visitors side for those fans who do not have small children or older parents, or want to enjoy a game without having to tolerate spilled beer, fights, obscene gestures, etc.
Make the rest of the stadium a fun, clean, family-oriented event that the football community can enjoy. Let the rowdy ones also enjoy their game with each other — not to mention with the opposing team.
Calvin Kaneshiro
Pearl City
UH Warriors were the class team
After reading the stories in the online Honolulu Advertiser concerning Saturday's game at Aloha Stadium, I want to congratulate the UH Warriors for their big win over the UC Bearcats.
The UH Warriors are the class team the wonderful people of Hawai'i deserve. Sometimes winning the fight during the game requires winning the fight after the game, especially when the other team wants to "play" on. The UC Bearcats are not a class team, evidently.
Congratulations, Warriors. Now, beat Alabama.
Rich Burns
Pocahontas, Ark.
Warriors should be sanctioned by NCAA
Cincinnati is a team that, like any team in college football, can get emotional about not winning. However, the events that occurred Saturday night following this game should never be repeated.
I find it hard to believe that no arrests were made. This sort of behavior by fans seems to be tolerated and encouraged. Hopefully, the NCAA will see fit to mete out some penalties to UH to ensure this type of unsportsmanlike behavior is not repeated.
I hope we never come to play at your place again, since the athletic director and the crowd control officers cannot ensure the safety of the opposing team and fans.
Jan Bowman
Villa Hills, Ky.
