Posted on: Friday, May 9, 2003
Letters to the Editor
Pali project comes at too steep of a price tag
I am concerned about the "$1M marked for Pali safety" May 1 article. The purpose is to "remind motorists ... that they are passing through a residential area with many elderly drivers and pedestrians" and that "the speed limit is 35 mph."
This city is full of elderly drivers and pedestrians; the speed limits vary from 15 mph to 35 mph on city streets, and there are stop signs and stoplights all over the city. I defy anyone to even try to drive the posted speeds, because drivers do not pay any attention to them. I find if you don't exceed the posted speed, you are liable to be rear-ended, tail-gated or run off the road. There is no "aloha" with the drivers here.
Is it really necessary to spend $1 million on such a project to remind drivers that they have a responsibility when they are behind the wheel eating, drinking and talking on the phone? It is very rare to see a car pulled over and the driver being ticketed by a police officer.
Paul Smith
Allegations against McCubbin unfounded
At first glance, my impression was "what a terrible human being this Hamilton McCubbin is!" But after processing your report, I found the allegations of sexual misconduct and the subsequent payment of $85,000 by the University of Wisconsin to be totally unfounded.
Despite Dr. McCubbin's denial of any wrongdoing, both daily papers have sensationalized the incident and essentially reported all the lurid events as facts. The reports allege that charges made by a professor were true. Has it not occurred to the reporters the allegations were indeed unfounded and that the case may have been settled out of court to avoid the cost of a long court battle? What happened to the foundation of our legal system of "innocent until proven guilty"?
Let this be a lesson for those who are innocent and charged with frivolous allegations. Reject suggestions by attorneys to settle out of court lest they come back to bite you. Unless I missed any facts, Dr. McCubbin deserves a public apology from the press.
F. Wang
Plantation mentality is in healthcare bill
While the long-term-care, $10-a-month proposal seems good on the surface, dig deeper and see what it really is. Just another socialistic plantation-mentality proposal: "Don't worry, we will take care of you."
At what point will someone in government say, "You do have to worry and you do have to take care of yourself"?
The plantations were closed years ago but this mentality lives on. The state government is (will be) deep in debt from its free medical-care-for-life plan. Long-term care will be another nail in the state debt coffin.
Will the federal government come to bail out Hawai'i in 20 years or so? Long-term-care insurance costs much more than $10 a month. Perhaps if this bill is enacted, those who do provide for their future care should be able to deduct all but $10 from their taxes since they will not be a burden to the state.
Gov. Linda Lingle, please give a long look to this proposal, especially to its future debt implications.
Ann Ruby
Direct flights hurt interisland carriers
Business people and the state government were all for allowing direct flights to the Neighbor Islands. They chose to ignore or overlook what impact they would have on the interisland carriers.
When United and the other big airlines came directly to the Neighbor Islands, it took customers away, caused revenues to decline and interisland carriers started to lose money. The people of Hawai'i are now dealing with the price of tickets and number of flights and so on.
The state and business people wished for the direct flights to supposedly boost the economy of Hawai'i. Well, as the saying goes, "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it."
Christian Ogawa
Mascots are symbols of pride, strength
It appears that Jaymie Fuller (Letters, May 5) has not spent much time in the Stan Sheriff Center or Aloha Stadium to know the ferocity and effectiveness of the chant "Let's Go 'Bows!"
Fuller called the rainbow symbol wimpy, but sports mascots are not supposed to fully represent the characteristics of the team itself; not all of the Texas Texans are Texans and the athletes at UC Santa Cruz are not Banana Slugs. Mascots also do not have to conform to standards of intimidation, especially when outsiders like Fuller propose to set these standards.
Mascots are symbols of pride and strength for the fans and participants who support the development of student athletes. Only long-time participants versed in the history of the institution can fully understand the meaning of mascots. Fans use a mascot to rally in support of the rich, complex history of success, so in response to Fuller's accusations of the rainbow being wimpy: Let's Go 'Bows!
Summer K. Keliipio
Outsiders are welcome, but play by the rules
Your Sunday article about "local" companies was right on. But I would add that being a good local company is even more than logos and marketing, a lesson the New York head of Hawaiian Airlines is getting now.
We want company leaders who treat employees and customers with respect. We don't want company heads who take all the money for themselves, leave employee pensions empty, ask for employee givebacks, and put a good local company at risk and hang customers out to dry.
We mostly welcome newcomers, but there are some outsiders we just don't need.
Greg Ventura
Rell Sunn's story was inspirational
Last evening I had the pleasure of seeing a documentary called "Heart of the Sea" on PBS, which told the story of Rell Sunn. I had never known of her, but her story was so amazing. What an inspiration she was and how lucky her family, friends and everyone in Hawai'i is to have known such a beautiful person.
She taught us all how precious life is, and how her courage and spirit carried her through her battle with cancer. She lived such an extraordinary life, and I can't tell you how much she touched my heart. Her smile was so warm and inviting. She will always be my inspiration.
From now on when I am confronted with a problem, I will think of Rell and I know that just envisioning her radiant face will give me the courage to go on. I thank God for loaning us this lovely woman who taught us all that life is for living.
Pam Pershing
Sunsets on the beach more than enough for us
For 35 years I've enjoyed the inspiration, awe and relaxation of regular Waikiki sunsets on the beach. They rate atop my own personal Seven Wonders of the World, always changing, forever intriguing.
During one continuous span, I personally (usually with friends, sometimes opting for solitude) basked in the midst of Waikiki's heavenly imagery for 365 straight evenings. When Mainland friends visit, we always take in one or more evenings munching on tacos and are enthralled at more than just the sunsets on the beach.
For myself and many others, we need nothing more than the balmy tradewinds, the sand in our toes, the sound of the surf, a dip in the sea, the brilliant stars in the sky, the incredible fragrance of the night, the sailing lights of the ocean's watercraft, the spectacular light show that spreads from Waikiki to the endless miles beyond and, of course, the sunset, as you eagerly await the famous "green flash."
How truly lucky we are to "live Hawai'i." If it takes movies and specialty foods to lure you and tourists to Waikiki, I say, "How sad" — that it takes contrived commercialism to draw you to one of the many unique wonders of our island surroundings.
Stephen N. Bischoff
Case points up need for judicial independence
Hilary Benson Gangnes' Law Day article (April 27) on the benefits of an independent judiciary points out why judges are made difficult to turn out of office in political elections. If if were easy, their decisions as judges might be tainted by political motivations, by the present passions of the electorate, rather than by the law and the facts.
I am reminded of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Arthur Gittleson some years back. He was immensely respected by all those with cases before him. He had a reputation as being a legal scholar who listened attentively to all the facts before him. He was well-liked.
He had the misfortune to be randomly assigned the Pasadena school district desegregation case — a messy, contentious battle with more sides than you can count, and all the parties hating everyone else. It thundered on for several years. Some of the litigating groups subscribed to the philosophy of "weak point here, yell like hell."
Judge Gittleson brought his usual vigorous, honest and scholarly approach to the case. He gave everyone a full hearing and then ruled. As with the vast bulk of his rulings in other cases, this ruling was affirmed on appeal.
Out of one dissident group that was unable to persuade him arose a lawyer who ran against Judge Gittleson at the next election, founding his entire campaign on the emotions of what he viewed as wrong with Judge Gittleson's ruling in that one case. It didn't matter about all those many years of fine, respected public service. Passions ran hot, and the attorney beat Judge Gittleson, replacing him as a judge.
But all the other judges of that court were so offended by the attorney's campaign, they banned together and refused to assign any cases to him. They viewed him to be so morally and intellectually corrupt as to be incompetent to be a judge.
After a few months of this treatment by all the other judges, the attorney resigned.
Rollie Barcume
A newspaper lament for Hawai'i historian
Your articles reporting the death of Jim Bartels, first, made me sad ("Hawai'i historian Jim Bartels dies," April 21); second, they made me anxious ("Jim Bartels eulogized as a 'true historian,' " April 22; his work is not pau. How will it get done? Who will carry on?); and third, they made me cry a little (April 23 editorial tribute).
Thank you for your coverage on our Islands' champion for 'Iolani Palace and Washington Place.
After reading my lament for "Ozzie" Bushnell (Letters, Sept. 4, 2002), Jim wrote to me: "I'm such a lousy correspondent, I'll just jot a quick note before I forget. Thank you ... for your revival of the art of newspaper kanikau (lament). ... May your example be followed by many others. I loved Ozzie too. ... I hope you are well and happy, dear and valuable man. Aloha, Jim Bartels"
Here is my lament for him, a "newspaper kanikau" perhaps:
Aue, aue noho'i e, aue!
Oh my, oh gosh, oh no!
*Jim was a distinguished member of 'Ahahui Mamakakaua, Daughters and Sons of Hawaiian Warriors.
Ka'upena Wong
Mililani
Lihu'e, Kaua'i
Kane'ohe
Terre Haute, Ind.
Aia i hea ka wai lana malie?
Aiwale pu'e wai kupiki'o!
Pehea, no ke aha la, i aha'iala?
Ua make 'o Jim Bartels, ua hala akula
Aue, ua 'eha au me ke kaumaha loa i loko o'u, aue
Pa'i a uma na mamakakaua
Ua hele aku 'o Jim, ua hele ia i ke ala ho'i 'ole mai
'O kona mau hoa ka pono a me ka pololei
Good-bye, aloha 'oe e ku'u kaina, ku'u hoaloha maika'i
'O 'oe no he keonimana hapa Hawai'i he kanaka u'i, na'auao, he lokomai ka'i
Good-bye, aloha e ke keiki hanau o ka'aina, alo- ha!
Where are the quiet waters?
Only stormy, turbulent wa ters!
What happened, how come, why?
Jim Bartels died, he passed away
Oh how I ache with sad feel ings inside of me, sad
The mamakakaua slap their chests in grief*
Jim has gone away, he has gone on the road of no return.
Integrity and goodness are his companions
Good-bye, farewell to you beloved brother, good friend
You were indeed an elegant, learned and gracious part-Hawaiian gentle man
Good-bye, aloha o beloved native son of Hawai'i, aloha!
