Letters to the Editor

We are a nation of pioneers, dreamers

On Saturday, following the shuttle Columbia disaster, I overheard a woman say, "It seems like we have more than our share of tragedies."

It's true. And the reason is that we have more than our share of pioneers. Of adventurers. Of dreamers. We have tragedies because we do more than any other country. We try more. We risk more. We challenge ourselves more.

Americans have been putting themselves on the line for 227 years. That's who we are. And that's who we'll continue to be.

Bob Lamborn

Wireless providers are ignoring security

In the Jan. 27 Business section, John Duchemin explores why wireless has been slow to catch on. I agree that this is largely due to lack of mature business models.

However, as an information security professional, I do not agree that wireless providers are concerned with security. The evidence implies the opposite. Providers, businesses and consumers are deploying wireless networks with little thought of security.

I conducted a "scan" along Bishop Street for wireless access points (APs). I used a laptop, wireless card and freely available software. I did not use an external antenna. Here's what I found:

• 44 percent of the APs do not have basic encryption enabled.

• 24 percent have not changed their default network names.

• 20 percent of the devices I scanned had taken neither step.

I also scanned a residential area and found:

• 86 percent of the APs were not encrypted.

• 61 percent had default names.

• More than half had neither in place.

The problem? Anyone with the intent could connect to these wireless networks. At best, they would be looking for free Internet access. At worst, they could be searching for confidential information. They could also change default IDs and passwords to deny access.

Kenneth Newman

Liliu'okalani's quote taken out of context

Earl Arakaki's Jan. 22 letter ("Monarchy overthrow was good for Hawai'i") was interesting. The use of quotes from Judge John L. Kaulukou and Queen Liliu'okalani, however, presents a manufactured point of view. One needs to consider the context of these quotes, the time, the politics and political differences in which they were said.

Judge Kaulukou, after serving a brilliant career under his own Native Hawaiian government, traded his loyalty and became a proponent of U.S. annexation, without question causing the displeasure of many politically connected Hawaiian families. He was branded a traitor.

Addressing Arakaki's quote of Liliu'okalani, "Tho' for a moment (the overthrow) caused me a pang of pain for my people, it was only momentary, for the present has a hope for the future of my people," is taken out of context with the insertion "(the overthrow)". I have searched the dairies of the queen from 1900-1909 and could not find Arakaki's dubious quote with reference to the queen.

From 1900-1909, Liliu'okalani made five trips to Washington, D.C., protesting America's illegal takeover of Hawai'i. Further, my research reveals that the queen's diaries were written "in numerical code and a type of Hawaiian and Tahitian gibberish ... " proving " ... her reluctance to trust her diaries falling again into the wrong hands ... a concerted effort was made by the Hawai'i repositories to keep her diaries private for many years."

Mr. Arakaki, the queen by your quote may have accepted the permanence of U.S. political presence in Hawai'i "a hope" for her people. But never, ever did she agree to accept the traitorous manner in which it was done.

Kaha'i Topolinski
Waipi'o

Nation's 'worst roads' a shameful condition

Shame, shame on Hawai'i. As reported in an article in your newspaper a few days ago, Hawai'i has the pleasure of leading the nation with the "worst roads in need of repair."

Those of us who live here know this. How many times has an accident "almost" happened when avoiding a pothole?

Don Vaupel
Kailua

Stadium sound system must be replaced

Now that the Pro Bowl has come and gone, soon the new field turf will be installed at Aloha Stadium. Over the years, the rust and walkways have been repaired, but can somebody do something about the terrible sound system?

The announcements and music over the public address system are ear-splitting.

The stadium authority members should sit up in the cheap seats to experience the headache thousands of fans do each game.

Tanner Oh
Kalihi

Lingle's other side?

Linda Lingle has shown that winning is not the sweet revenge. Her decisions to put the brakes on developing educational opportunities at UH and put our dollars into an aquarium and development for Ko Olina make no sense. Are we seeing a side of Lingle that she insists does not exist?

Nancy Jeffs