Other Native Hawaiians back museum director

In her June 29 letter regarding DeSoto Brown's letter in support of Bishop Museum director Bill Brown, Lana Robbins asks for the names of others who support his position. I am one of those Hawaiians, and DeSoto is absolutely correct in saying that there are many other Hawaiians, claimants and non-claimants, who feel that Hui Malama acted without legal authority, and in direct opposition to other claimants, in taking the disputed items and reburying them.

Over and over again, Hui Malama refuses to acknowledge the points of view of others, deigning to think that it is the only group that has any kind of understanding of these matters. Rather than working with the other groups to come up with a consensus that will in the long run serve the Hawaiian community better in many ways, it continues to rake the flames of indignation, causing further division in the Hawaiian community.

Bill Brown, I believe, is stuck between a rock and a hard place. I do not see that he has any other legal option but to pursue the return of the items.

Would I, as a Native Hawaiian, rather have a Hawaiian as the director of the museum? Absolutely, but until that time comes, I think it behooves us to work amicably with him as much as possible so he can really hear, and feel, our viewpoints. And I stress here that there are many viewpoints on this subject, not just that of Hui Malama.

Focus on the good in our young people

This is in response to Alexander Garcia's June 28 letter regarding the death of Gordon Morse. I sympathize with the police and feel the death was unfortunate but necessary as this young man obviously had a "death wish" with complete disregard for anyone else. My sympathies go to all the law enforcement officers and Morse's family who are traumatized by this young man's thoughtless life and actions.

But why do we dwell on this evil in our community? Why not rejoice in the good young people?

I took great pleasure in the success of Jason Elam and watched the Broncos because it was enjoyable to see this young man grow and be a product of Hawai'i (even if he came from Georgia!) we are proud of.

I never watch reality series but watched "American Idol" because of Jonah, Camile and Jasmine and was so happy for their success and their families.

Then, I watched the College World Series because of a young man, Kurt Suzuki, whom I have never met, but because he was from Hawai'i and "needed" support. I rejoiced in his success because he had the "never give up" spirit a true champion possesses.

And last, I am not even interested in golf but have watched every time Michelle Wie plays on TV, and my heart was broken and tears just flowed when she lost Sunday.

These are the young people who are so wholesome and are truly keiki o ka 'aina that we should be writing about. They really bring joy and pride to all of Hawai'i.

Huge medical school tab is 'cause' enough

Shame on our state Legislature for not only approving but actually constructing a new UH medical facility without possessing any of the $150 million in matching funds that Evan Dobelle promised to raise.

Every legislator who recklessly spent taxpayer money, based solely on the word of a new college president who couldn't even raise $1 million to pay for the refurbishing of his official residence, should be defeated in November.

Why Hawai'i voters are not outraged only speaks to our sheep mentality, but at least the UH Board of Regents was upset enough to do something about it. Sticking it to Hawai'i taxpayers to the tune of $150 million is more than sufficient "cause" to terminate the president.

Dobelle put sports, academics in spotlight

When you see a charismatic, popular, personable, positive, exciting, do-good-for-Hawai'i kind of guy, as in Dr. Evan Dobelle, it makes you feel "lucky you live Hawai'i." He put sports and Hawai'i on the map throughout the nation.

Nationwide, top-quality recruits are making their acceptance to the University of Hawai'i for the sports and academic programs.

Dr. Evan Dobelle has done more than many politicians in Hawai'i. That's the scary part for them.

The Board of Regents is going to be sued not just for the $2 million to pay him for the remainder of his contract, but $20 million more from the taxpaying people of Hawai'i. Thank you.

Dobelle for governor, I say.

We should get more for the taxes we pay

Recently, upon my morning drive to town, and stuck on the H-1 Freeway in Hawai'i's "rush hour," I took the opportunity to "smell the roses." Instead, what I got was the despicable sight of trash along the H-1 and the foul smell of overgrown weed mixed in with garbage.

If this was not enough to dampen my drive into town, I was also listening to the morning news, which reported that Hawai'i's residents pay the most taxes in the nation. Absolutely terrible!

If indeed Hawai'i's residents pay the highest tax rate in the nation, why are we left with dirty and trashy roadways with weeds growing unchecked and totally neglected? Are the responsible politicians that uncaring? How can we project and take pride in the spirit of aloha with a filthy image?

Let's keep Hawai'i beautiful, not just for our tourist industry, but because we live here.

Another fine waste of taxpayers' money

What a pleasant surprise it was to see the city road crews out working on Lunalilo Home Road Thursday morning. Finally! They are going to repave this four-wheel-drive-required pothole pathway through Hawai'i Kai.

NOT! Instead, they are repainting the road — re-striping and painting through the potholes. This is insanity! Another fine waste of the taxpayers' money.

This road and many more roads in the area need to be ripped up and repaved, not repainted. The least the crews could do would be to stripe the road in lanes to avoid the potholes. That would be helpful.

The broken, cracked Hawai'i Kai sign does not need to be repaired; it is a symbol of our community. All it needs are these words to be added: "Enter at your own risk."

Why is criticism of Sharon 'anti-Semitic'?

Let me see if I got this right. Based on recent letters to the editor from supporters of Gov. Linda Lingle, if you criticize Ariel Sharon for his political decisions in Israel, you are called "anti-Semitic." But if you criticize George Bush or Linda Lingle for their political decisions in the U.S.A., you are called "anti-American."

Why aren't those critical of Sharon accused of being "anti-Israel"? And why aren't those critical of Bush called "anti-Christian"? Or simply "patriots"?

Sounds like double standards apply, depending upon your agenda.

Freedom of choice thrown out window

Headline news! "Seat-belt use best in nation!" Well, yeah ... with Big Brother looking over your shoulder ready to swat you with an invite to the "court system."

Wake up, people. Sure, wearing seat belts is "the law" — but I drove for 40 years before "the law" made me a "criminal." And yes, maybe it saves lives, but that is not the point. The point is something called "freedom of choice," something you no longer have.

We can all pitch in to care for our 'aina

I agree with George "Keoki" Gosselin's June 21 letter regarding illegal dumping on Kaua'i. The same thing has been happening on O'ahu.

People have been leaving old or destroyed cars in various neighborhoods. People have been leaving plastic wrap, fishing lines and fishing hooks all over the beach. These objects may kill native sea animals. All over the place I see diapers and rubbish.

To stop all of this, we should pitch in and help pick up trash, even if it isn't ours. We can pass laws and malama I ka 'aina, take care of the land. We could go to government officials to help us. We can all help out by putting rubbish where it belongs, in the trash.

Resolve to put an end to war

Another Memorial Day has come and gone, and since my country is still waging war in distant corners of the Earth, it appears the solemn celebration will be with us for many more years.

In Hawai'i, however, this holiday had one bright spot in the form of the Buddhist Toro Nagashi lantern-floating ceremony as the sea glowed with lanterns off Magic Island at sunset. Shinto Ito, speaking at the event, said, "In Buddhism, a light that penetrates darkness symbolizes the wisdom that resolves conflicts and dissipates suffering."

Those of us who understand that peace is not just a pipe dream are responsible for bringing light to the darkness of our White House and Congress. After all, this is still a democracy, and these wagers of war and horsemen of the apocalypse are working for us. They are our servants. But they have lied to us, robbed us and put our children in harm's way. And you can bet that the ceremonial wreaths for next Memorial Day at Arlington Cemetery have already been ordered.

For a few brief years at the end of World War I, sanity nearly surfaced on our violent little blue planet. In 1923, Sen. William Borah of Idaho introduced a resolution in the Senate that announced and defined the desire of the United States of America to outlaw war between nations as a means for settling international controversies. In place of war, a world court would have the final say in disputes.

In short, the governments of countries would be expected to follow the same guidelines of morality required of individual citizens of all the civilized lands of Earth. What a concept! The Borah Resolution got lost in the economic turmoil of the Roaring '20s and renewed violence in Europe, which would soon mushroom into World War II.

Sen. Borah, a Republican, would roll over in his grave if he could see his party today. To best put into perspective the Bush/Cheney Mideast oil wars, I need to paraphrase Arundhati Roy, and I know she won't mind. Praising George Bush for the invasion of Iraq and the capture of Saddam Hussein "is like deifying Jack the Ripper for disemboweling the Boston Strangler ... they're business partners who fell out over a dirty deal."

War begets terrorism. Terrorism begets war. War is terrorism with the blessings and sanction of the government of a country. To everything there is a season, and the season for war and terrorism is over. Accept it no longer! Resolve to float lanterns and bring light to Washington, D.C., by next Memorial Day. Peace.