Posted on: Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Letters to the Editor

Turn off spotlight on Kamehameha Schools

I am absolutely disgusted with the frenzy of negative attention focused on Kamehameha Schools and its legacy.

If this were any other school, the recent events would not even receive coverage, let alone the negative publicity that has been generated. Because of the actions and indiscretions of the prior board of trustees, Kamehameha Schools is under the media microscope as if they and the public govern the schools' policies.

The negative spin that the media have chosen demoralizes the hundreds of kids up at that school who have worked extremely hard to get there. Not everyone gets such a gift bestowed on them, and we have told our daughter to hold her head high and be proud of her school and what Kamehameha Schools stands for.

I suggest that the media take a look at the many good things coming out of the Kapalama campus and not spend inordinate amounts of print and air time focusing on the negative. Kids at all schools deserve our support, starting with the media.

Restaurant commentary was on the wrong page

Mahalo to Jerry Burris for explaining the process by which The Advertiser selects its editorials, in the After Deadline column "Editorials reflect work of the minds of many," Nov. 9. Generally the process works, and The Advertiser's editorial page usually contains thought-provoking editorials and other pieces about topics of significance.

But I wonder how "Others can have taste, too" (Nov. 7) made it past all of the members of the editorial committee. This commentary explains why the opinions of ordinary people are included in a particular restaurant survey. It was out of place on the same page as bona fide editorials about the presidential campaign and the new federal abortion law, and would have been much more appropriately placed in the food section.

Maybe the editorial committee figured that since food is such a hot topic these days, this article would spice things up. A more appropriate food-related subject for the editorial page would have been whether fast-food chains should be required to notify customers of the fat content of their products.

I wonder if Mr. Burris would go a bit further and explain the criteria used by the editorial committee to determine what is placed on its editorial page.

Historic flag leading to victory misunderstood

After reading the article by Bob Krauss on Oct. 19, we are sad to hear that legendary Kamehameha football coach Tom Mountain has passed away. He was truly a good man, a great person and well-respected by many. We send our sincere condolences to his family.

As Mr. Krauss goes on to share the life of Coach Mountain, there are several statements we feel we need to clarify to set the record straight. In the fall of 1945, during an ILH football game between Kamehameha and Saint Louis, referee Ernie Chan threw a flag late in the game that most felt led to a Crusader victory. That may have been the case, but it couldn't be anything further from the truth.

The flag was thrown because of what he witnessed on the field. Ernie Chan knew it wasn't going to be popular with the fans, but he made the call because it was the right thing to do. He always told us that he called it as he saw it, having no other criteria influencing his decision but game knowledge and fairness.

I resent the fact that you referred to him as the "notorious" Saint Louis partisan, because he was not. The fact of the matter is that Ernie was a strong supporter of Kamehameha Schools. Three of his four children attended Kamehameha, and one son even played for the legendary Coach Mountain. In years past, Coach Mountain and referee Chan had expressed mutual admiration and respect for each another.

Ernie "Ah Tuck" Chan (which most knew him by) was a gentleman, truly humble, honest and fair. He was a strong advocate for fair play and truly epitomized what an unbiased referee should be.

Ernie Chan was an ILH official for many years, and he was very proud of that. His integrity and reputation rightfully need to be restored. Like Coach Mountain, he, too, was well-respected and admired by many.

Narrower lanes will be a danger to bicyclists

In its so-called Lunalilo Home Road "beautification project," the city has created a dangerous and possibly life-threatening situation for recreational bicyclers. By reducing parts of this urban speedway to two narrow lanes, it puts all bikers riding in those areas at risk.

Is the city ready to accept the responsibility and liability for the accidents and injuries that are sure to follow this costly and ill-thought-out plan?

Cousteau finding could help avoid shark attacks

Years ago when there was a TV series featuring Jacques Cousteau, there was one episode about a bold experiment he ran to test out anecdotal reports that sharks are deathly afraid of coral snakes. Coral snakes are extremely poisonous; a bite by one is practically certain death.

In not-too-deep water, he dangled a large chunk of beef over the ship's side near the sea bottom. Soon sharks began arriving in large numbers and a "feeding frenzy" ensued, the sharks darting in and biting off chunks of meat. He then had two divers dressed in their black wetsuits that had been painted with a series of horizontal white stripes, mimicking the pattern of a coral snake, walk slowly toward the sharks. When they got close enough to be noticed, all the sharks fled, leaving the divers alone with the large piece of beef bait dangling. It was a remarkable sight.

It would be a simple matter to paint the bottoms of surfboards in broad stripes mimicking the coloration and pattern of coral snakes. At present, their coloration is not too far off from that of a turtle's belly.

Secede, surrender and live happily ever after

In response to Allen Woodell's Nov. 4 letter: Economically, the best move for Hawai'i would be to:

• Secede from the United States; declare our independence.
• Declare war on the country that overthrew our queen.
• Immediately surrender the following day before they get a chance to bomb the heck out of us.
• Apply for foreign aid and receive billions of dollars and F-16 fighter planes. Then we can also sign a treaty stating that we'll only be allowed to create a defense force and not send troops outside of Hawaiian territory.

Bathrooms at public schools, parks are filthy

I'm writing to you about how dirty the bathrooms at public schools and parks are.

Most of the stalls have no doors, and the facilities are really dirty. I would at least like to have doors on the stalls and maybe have the facilities cleaner.

A lot of kids avoid going to the bathroom during school because of this, and I think we deserve to have clean bathrooms.

Rail transit would be good for Hawai'i

I think rail transit would be good for Hawai'i. The state of Hawai'i should look at Atlanta's rail system called MARTA. A dollar fifty is all it takes, and you can go a lot farther than the $2 bus fare can get you here.

Hawai'i also needs casinos and a lottery. They would definitely help our economy.

Highway's future looks like a runaway train

Who is watching out for us? I'm told I can't water my lawn regularly, the water tables are low, with no solution in sight; where is this going? The sewer system on O'ahu is way past capacity; what can I expect to happen from this? Our children aren't getting educated at proper levels. And, there is a drug epidemic, with our jail populations doubling. Not to mention gas prices, our environment (both at sea and on land) and sovereignty/cultural issues.

Now we learn that in 10 years, at the rate of our population growth, traffic will be stalled in areas around O'ahu. Do we have enough water for these guys? Is my neighbor's sewage going to back up in my kitchen sink?

My governor, against all her initial well-thought-out principles of spending within our limits, mentioned we may have to raise taxes to fund light rail, and it's like throwing a chunk of meat in a tank of sharks in how the Legislature is responding.

The city and state can raise my taxes through the roof, but until they address the real problems, manage them and take a look at the forest through the trees, Hawai'i's future a decade or two from now is really no better than a runaway train.

Budget office must put education first

Amazing! The state has found a way to put education first — the first place to take money from for other "pots" ("Budget 'setback' dismays state education officials," Nov. 7).

Has the governor yet to inform the budget office of her pre-election promises of education as a top priority? Is the budget office unaware of the governor's (and the vast majority of Hawai'i residents') concern over the standings of Hawai'i students' national test scores? Is the budget office unaware that failure to meet federal mandates can cause reductions in future federal education money?

The education budget allocations should not be the first target for stealing funds (it is large — but not adequate for educational needs). No Child Left Behind is not an excuse, it is a reason. Neglect and inadequate funding, over the years, is why our public school system is in the state it is, and the recommendations of the budget office are contrary to what is necessary.

The budget office must "bite the bullet," put education first, look for other "pots" for the monies and not place education into double jeopardy by jeopardizing future receipt of future federal education money.

Are all you drivers willing to forsake cars, SUVs?

When is the truth going to come out about the proposed rapid transit system? Who is profiting from the numerous ridiculous studies and surveys? And who will profit from the billions to be spent, not including the usual huge cost overruns for construction, management and maintenance of the resulting fiasco?

And, of course, who ends up paying?

We have people on our island who are incapable of driving, are too old to drive, don't want to drive and can't afford cars and are satisfied using the present fine bus system. These are people who, obviously, will use the proposed plan.

Now, the premise is that when the new systems are a go, a pretty good number of folks now driving will jump on. Who's kidding whom?

All those who will drive to a lot, park and ride the rapid transit; all those who will leave their cars in their garages and get to a rapid-transit station; in fact, all those who will forsake their cars for rapid transit, step forward now.

It will be most interesting to see those of you who have spent $20,000 and more for your beautiful autos and SUVs — and who are probably still paying for them, and all those leasing cars and SUVs — leave them idle while using the rapid transit.

How noble of you to be making car payments and insurance of about $400 and $100 a month, $6,000 a year, and use the rapid transit so I can drive with no traffic and no gridlock problems. Thanks!

Oops, not too many stepped forward. C'mon guys! We're paying for the rapid transit. Use it. What's that you're saying, why am I not using it? Oh-oh.

OK, governor and mayor. Let's look at solutions to our traffic problems using methods tying into our current road systems. If indeed all that money is available, there must be solutions that will work other than a rapid-transit system that obviously isn't going to do the job.