Letters to the Editor
Kam Williams picture captured his agony
I have difficulty describing the photo of Kam Williams weeping in front of the court that appeared on the front page of the Hawai'i section on Jan. 24. Perhaps in the future one could call it a classic or a masterpiece, but at the moment such an appellation trivializes it.
I have never before seen such a complex expression of remorse, sadness and grief. Williams not only shows his own feelings, but his picture and his soul reflects the grief of the family, Williams' mother and all of our own sadness at a life taken needlessly, a life wasted through a senseless crime, that Williams himself surely recognizes. I see the grief of the family reflected in his face as well as his own remorse.
He knows he must pay for what he did and must live with his conscience. But grief also reflects love, love for his victim and her people, even while they are still venting their anger, since grief can only stem from love. I hope someday both sides can accept each other, expressing apology and forgiveness.
David Ashworth
Kapolei
Special-needs facility in danger of collapse
High in the hills above Pearl City, overlooking Pearl Harbor, is a unique place: Kokua Mau Work Center. Kokua Mau exists as a nonprofit charitable organization whose clients are a cross-section of the racial, economic and social groups of our community.
The philosophy is to develop and maintain an 'ohana environment where the physical, emotional, social and vocational needs of mentally challenged individuals can be met.
Why, after 40 years of service, is this special place in financial difficulty? For years we have asked the Division of Public Health for financial assistance. It acknowledges the service we render, but not our inquiries about how to obtain financial aid.
We need assistance with this to stay intact. We need sponsors who will reach out and invest in Kokua Mau Work Center's special-needs people. They will, in return, remain productive and independent citizens of Hawai'i.
Division of Public Health, wake up now!
Patricia Hargreaves
Kapolei
Why is the FAA lying to us about plane path?
So, the story is that China Airlines flew "one-quarter mile inland"? Let me tell you where I first saw him, from my office at Alakea and King, 340 feet up in the air.
I was sitting at my computer terminal facing Diamond Head when I saw the plane to the left of my terminal as it turned from Beretania. It then turned left at the corner of Beretania and Punchbowl and proceeded past the corner of Queen and Alakea, toward the airport.
I estimated the aircraft was about twice the height of my vantage point, so roughly 700 feet. I called the airport to report this and was told, "We know where he's been by the phone calls, including the Beretania Police Station."
Somebody break out a map and see if the Beretania Police Station isn't more than one-quarter mile from the ocean.
What I can't figure out is why my government is lying to its citizens and protecting a foreign enterprise.
Michael Cashman
DOE is supposed to educate, not baby-sit
It has been nice for parents to have baby-sitting services provided by the school system, but if I remember correctly, the purpose of the Department of Education is to educate, not to baby-sit.
Many of us throughout the years have had to juggle baby-sitting fees, bills, no child support and parental responsibilities. Right now the school system must be fixed. If the A-Plus program has to go, so be it.
Barbara Vincent
Motorcycle's noise must be muffled
This is in response to Garrett Murray's Jan. 21 letter complaining about Harley-Davidson biker noise.
On my recent visit to Germany, I read a local newspaper article that said a Harley-Davidson biker was sentenced to a hefty fine for excessive muffler noise, despite having a regular factory-installed muffler. Good!
But it is outrageous that these same bikes are allowed here. You can hear those bikes from a mile away when they rev the engine, which they love to do to satisfy their childish appetite for attention and macho image.
Compare that to a factory-equipped BMW, Honda or Suzuki, which are barely audible above regular traffic noise. There is no reason, from a technical point of view, why motorcycles should be louder than cars.
At the same time, at least half the mopeds here have gutted mufflers to increase noise and performance, and no police officer controls the decibel level and cites them.
Our legislators should set more civil decibel limits, and police should have mobile decibel-testing equipment to control the noise, and then maybe hefty fines would get rid of this noise epidemic.
Volker Hildebrandt
Kane'ohe
