Letters to the Editor
The Advertiser wil not run any more letters on this Saturday's election to fill the remainder of Patsy Mink's seat after today.
Appointment of Roth most inappropriate
To our readers
I wish our governor-elect had used a more honest method and waited longer before making her end-run around the legislative process to reward her prior supporter: Randy Roth. For truly that is what she just did.
I understand that Randy Roth was an early and strong supporter, and so some reward might seem due. Yet this method seems most inappropriate.
I am very angry that money appropriated by the Legislature to build and maintain a fine university has been diverted without legislative approval to fund this political reward for Roth. For surely the university regents have said they lack sufficient funds to do all that needs to be done if our university is to become all that we want and need.
Yet they still authorized diversion of funds for a high-paid position to a purpose not envisioned by the Legislature when it authorized turning my taxes over to the university, and from which neither the university nor its students receive any benefit.
George L. Berish
We're getting what we asked for, unfortunately
Having voted for Roosevelt four times and living in Hawai'i for 47 years, I am still a Democrat.
Headline: "Congress allows 820,000 jobless to lose benefits." Democratic leaders made a last-ditch appeal to the White House, asking President Bush to urge House Republicans to pass the Senate's extension plan. But the White House remained on the sidelines. This is the president who defends to the death his huge tax cut.
Headline: "Industrial pollution rules erased." In the text under the headline: "More than 30,000 Americans die every year from power plant air pollution alone, and crippling the standards will only make things worse."
It is said that there is only one thing worse than not getting what you ask for, and that is getting it. We've got Linda Lingle, a Bush Republican. Good luck, y'all.
S. Katims
Ed Case shouldn't even be in the race
Someone asked me what I thought of Ed Case. First, Ed Case doesn't even live in the 2nd Congressional District. He lives in Manoa.
Second, he has zero class since he is running in the Nov. 30 election. Once John Mink decided to run, so his wife's workers would not lose their jobs, Case should have backed out of Saturday's election — like the Republican front-runner, Bob McDermott, and Democrats such as former Gov. John Waihee and Mufi Hannemann. If everyone had dropped out, we would only have needed one precinct open and one vote cast. (Think of all the money that could have been saved.)
I hope everyone will take the time to vote on the Nov. 30 and vote for John Mink — it is the only classy thing to do.
Ann Smith
Kapa'a
Lease-fee conversion was win-win situation
In the last few months, readers have expressed both sides of the lease-to-fee conversion controversy pertaining to condominiums. It becomes quite difficult to determine what is morally right or legally binding until you bring out the issues of condemnation and eminent domain.
The 200-unit Nu'uanu Brookside high-rise condominium sits peacefully on leasehold land owned by the Honolulu Myohoji Temple adjacent to the building lot. Two years ago, the lessees were faced with renegotiation of a lease that would have expired in the year 2045. The board of directors at the temple, headed by Hiroo Miyagi, openly and humbly communicated to the Nu'uanu Brookside board of their desire to maintain the land their forefathers had worked so diligently for and did not favor condemnation.
Our Nu'uanu Brookside lease subcommittee members fully appreciated their position and concern but nonetheless wanted to do what was best for their residents. Naturally, we were hoping for an offer we couldn't refuse.
Long story short, the offer given by the lessors to the lessees was absolutely legendary.
The amended lease included an extension of the original lease to the year 2070 with a preset increase of 15 percent every 10 years. This was more than anyone could have hoped for.
The increases were extremely manageable and the banks were ecstatic to know the exact dollar amounts for the entire duration of the lease. When you calculated the figures, it was truly one that was a win-win situation.
This nonprofit church organization could hold on to its land, and the condo owners were given the deal of a lifetime. The 11 or so owners who chose not to participate in the program have had to revert back to the original lease.
Estelle E. Kaya
Waikiki 3 theater must be preserved
Consolidated Amusement's "abrupt" closing of three more of Waikiki's treasures, and in one fatal swoop, is being justified by management as "no longer a viable business."
While one might begin to understand the closing of the Waikiki 1 and 2, it's the Waikiki 3 that has me the most riled. The pending loss of this 1,300-seat theater with its full stage, orchestra pit and grand theater pipe organ is but another example of how Hawai'i's shortsighted, unimaginative business people constantly trash our history with impunity.
This is a classic theater, folks — and civilized people do not tear down classic structures. They re-purpose them to retain examples of eras long gone.
Let's see, now, what might one do with a 1,300-seat theater of this caliber and style right in the middle of Waikiki if one were in the entertainment business? The mind boggles over the possibilities.
You can be certain that Consolidated's University Theatre is not far behind the wrecking ball and will soon join the Toyo, the Hale'iwa Theatre and now the Waikiki 1, 2 and 3. I am certain there have been others — but then I've only been here 20 years.
I did find the comment "no immediate plans for the roughly two acres of land" by Consolidated's vice president to be disingenuous. You can bet they know exactly what they are going to do — and when. Can we not somehow rally to save the Waikiki 3?
Scott Foster
Coach Jones giving team a bad lesson
I cannot believe that UH football players had their actions condoned by coach June Jones. It was clear to see that the players not only reacted to the scuffle but were rolling in deep with the punches.
What is June Jones and the University of Hawai'i teaching us? Obviously that if you are a lout, like violence and are good at sports, then you have a future with the university without fear of punishment.
Shame on you, June Jones. Shame on you, Evan Dobelle. Shame on you, University of Hawai'i football team.
Sally Wilson
Waipahu
Shame on the coach for arrogant remarks
Shame on June Jones for his arrogant stance regarding the brawl between the Warriors and the Bearcats. It doesn't matter who's right or wrong, who started the fight or who was at fault. Both teams where at fault and showed a complete lack of maturity.
Cincinnati threw the first punch, huh? So what? Fighting back doesn't make anything right, and throwing punches and wielding crutches make UH as guilty as the instigators.
A better team would have backed off from the fight and walked away with its dignity intact. But no, that didn't happen. The aptly called Warriors had to show the Bearcats who was the more macho meat-headed team.
As a student of the UH system, I have never been so ashamed of our so-called "proud and mighty football team" until now. All I can say — and with all due respect — is grow up and grow up fast.
John Hyytianinen
Kapolei
Intoxicated, profane fans ruined the game
At our first (and probably our last) UH football game Saturday evening, UH fans showed no aloha spirit.
Booing the visiting team as they walked onto the field, swearing throughout the game, bottle and garbage throwing at the end — the behavior of numerous fans ruined the football atmosphere for our family.
This was indeed not a family event. When we confronted a nearby police officer about the intoxicated, profane fans, he said he could not do much unless I was willing to give a statement. I was. He then said I would have to be willing to go to court if needed. Again, I was willing. He ended saying he would keep an eye on things. Keep an eye on things?
If that is the response of law enforcement to inappropriate and unlawful behavior here in the Aloha State, I would rather not be a fan. But then again, if the fans could behave, law enforcement would not be an issue.
Julie P. Akey
Pearl City
UH football players acted responsibly
What would you do if you saw some strangers attacking your brother? Would you fight to help, or stand back and watch?
The UH Warrior football team are all brothers. They did what any family would have done in that situation — that is, to help those who needed it, regardless of how it looked to some.
I'm really grateful that you people crying about the fight aren't my family, because if you were, I might as well be alone.
Alika Cavaco
Kailua
Foot firmly in mouth
Dear June Jones and Uriah Moenoa: "'Tis better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and prove it."
G.M. Judd
Tipping off the enemy
I agree that it is "news" regarding "Ports vulnerable to terrorism." However, is it good to provide details of the problems? This is like telling an enemy where our weak points are in our line of homeland security.
Carlton Siu
Transit system voted down had big flaws
I also believe we need a rail mass-transit system. However, I want to point out some things Michael Lauck, in his Nov. 12 and 19 letters, may not have remembered regarding the system that was ultimately voted down:
- In less than a week after receiving the contract from the Fasi administration, the $1.4 billion price, which all bids were required to meet, was increased to $2.1 billion. This was followed within days by news that this was not enough money to construct all of the contracted routes, even with the increased budget, and several would be eliminated.
- The system used "trains" that ran on what amounts to a double-deck freeway, which not only would have ruined view planes, but also would have been noisy as they ran on steel rails.
Facing increasing pressure from all sides, it took enormous courage for then-Councilwoman Rene Mansho to make her decision, based on facts, which protected the people of Honolulu from what was becoming a bottomless pit and certainly would have been a blight on the landscape.
The rejected monorail project proposed by the Aloha Skyways group involved no city or state dollars (having arranged for private construction capital). The footprint and visual impact of the single concrete "rail" would have been minimal, as would the sound of rubber tires on the beam.
We were prepared to complete the project within the original budget (and at $2.1 billion, we could have also included Hawai'i Kai, Mililani, Kane'ohe and Wai'anae). Moving the manufacturing of the rolling stock to O'ahu also was a possibility at that time, which would have added another industry with the potential of exporting monorail equipment and technology.
I still urge the government to reconsider rail mass transit, but not using 19th-century technology (trains).
Gig Greenwood
Formerly of Aloha Skyways Group
