'Baban's passing' brings back O'ahu memories

What a wonderful true story by Advertiser staff writer Wes Nakama ("An era fades with Baban's passing," May 30). It brought back memories similar to his grandparents' experiences, although my dad went to China to bring back his bride around 1915 and lived in Honolulu, moving to Wahiawa in 1922 to work for Pineapple Research Institute in the very early years, where Homelani Acres is now a residential subdivision.

I had the same upbringing to their plantation lifestyle except there were only two to three families and bachelor laborers in the camp to keep up the pineapple experiments under the UH research staff.

Beds were made with pieces of 1-by-12 wood planks, a straw mat covering — no mattress with an overhead cotton mosquito net. Ironing was done with a cast-iron iron with a rear opening fueled by charcoal. The stove was made up of cement blocks with iron rods to hold up cooking pots. There was an all-purpose cold-water sink. Next to the kitchen was a room for bathing with water running off the half-inch space between the lumber.

Schooling was Wahiawa Elementary and Leilehua High. I recall going to excursions on an open-bed truck supplied by Hawaiian Pineapple Co. We walked to school with wide-brim straw hats, buttoned-up shoes — later black rubber shoes. In high school, we carried our load of books to and from — no lockers until later.

During my junior and senior years, I worked as a house maid at the Wheeler Field-Schofield Barracks officers' quarters. Many of the girl students also did the same to support themselves on $10 per month.

This story can only be told by us few who are still living today.

Safety checks should also be enforced

While driving on the highway from West O'ahu to town, I noticed the vehicle speed display reminding drivers of the "Click It or Ticket" mantra that is a law. But it made me wonder, why would this kind of reminder be necessary?

There are other "laws" that Hawai'i drivers need reminding of each and every year, yet it's apparent that these lucky few have never been enforced by a police officer in years.

I'm talking about safety checks, which are required by state law for every licensed vehicle on our roads. Yet, I've come across several safety-check stickers that are well over two, and sometimes three, years old.

Now, I know many will state the major differences between the Click It or Ticket law and a mere safety-check law. But, consider this question: Of the many lives that were and may be lost due to car accidents, how many of the cars involved in those accidents weren't supposed to be on the roads, having an expired safety check?

We've all heard how a driver lost control of his or her vehicle and crossed over into another lane head-on with another driver. Could this have been due to a vehicle that shouldn't have been on the road to begin with? Sure, perhaps alcohol may have been a factor. Sure, perhaps the passengers should all have been wearing their seatbelts. But, if our safety-check law is in fact that, a "law," then why not display several "laws" on that speed display?

Build needed shelters

As a retired attorney, I am offended by the state's persecution of the homeless. This will lead, I suspect, to lawsuits based on the violation of the rights of those unfortunate poor persons.

For God's sake, have a heart. Build some homeless shelters for these poor folks before ejecting them from public land.

Shouldn't our flag be for all Americans?

The May 24 letter from Michael P. Kost really struck my eye regarding displaying our flag.

I never go out without putting on my flag pin made by a close relative. The Honolulu Advertiser twice has inserted a paper flag in the newspaper, and I put them in my window until they faded out.

In speaking to a good friend, who happens to be a liberal, she pointed out a lady with a flag on the antenna of her car and said she must be a Republican, like me. I was amazed at such a statement. Then she pointed to the flag I was wearing and said it has become a Republican thing.

Since this is such a liberal state, I would be interested in the opinions of some of your other readers. I didn't know the flag was for Democrats or Republicans. I thought it was for Americans.

Anonymity needed for accountability

Anonymous judicial review is the only practical solution for judicial abuse. It's in the best interest of the public.

Can you imagine criticizing your boss and then hoping to remain employed? That's what would happen if a lawyer rendered an honest statement about some of our local judges. Instead, lawyers do a disservice to the public by submitting false positive praises for judges, which misleads the public and encourages judicial incompetence and mal-performance.

Further, nearly all judges are incapable of honestly evaluating themselves. They are not to be blamed completely since they are surrounded by people who tell them only what they believe they wish to hear. And for the most part, local state judges are truly isolated from the real world and dislocated from the common person.

It's for these reasons and more that we need to have honest, fearless criticism of our local judges. In the past 10 years, I have not seen any removal or lack of reinstatement of any judge who was arbitrary. The anonymous judicial review should stay to protect the public.

Arab terrorists were the original profilers

Regarding your May 27 Island Voices column "U.S. civil rights crackdown is offensive," which denounced the Patriot Act: Amanda El-Dakhakhni, of Arab descent, failed to clearly state whether she was an American citizen or not.

She was "offended" by her detainment and questioning, upon her entry back into the United States from a trip to Egypt, by U.S. Customs officials charged with precisely the duties that she found so disturbing. We will never know the content of Amanda's conversation with these officials, but I believe it was not their intent to purposefully offend Amanda and her father.

I do know, however, that the Arab men who drove two planes into the World Trade Center and killed over 3,000 people were trying to offend U.S. citizens. The U.S. government hasn't racially profiled you, Amanda; those terrorists (who happened to be Arabs) profiled themselves. Like most U.S. citizens who have nothing to hide, I am little concerned about the perceived shortcomings of the Patriot Act.

I am very concerned as to why Arabs and/or Muslims like Amanda don't take the time to write a commentary denouncing Islamic fundamentalism, instead of bashing the U.S. government. Like many other people in this country, I am waiting for followers of Islam living in the United States to stand up and vigorously denounce the terrorist events taking place all over the world.

Amanda would do well to study the behavior of the Japanese living in the United States after Pearl Harbor. In spite of all the moral indignation they suffered at the hands of the U.S. government, they understood the historic value of fighting "for" our government and our country. The famous 442nd Battalion demonstrated, beyond any doubt, that the Japanese living in the United States had a moral commitment to the success of the United States' war effort against the spread of Nazi domination of the world.

Where are all the young Arabs and Muslims in the United States who want to argue "for" this great country they have chosen to reside in?

C&C disingenuous in defense

As a concerned Makakilo resident and member of the Friends of Makakilo, I feel I need to comment on a few points made in a June 2 letter from Castle & Cooke's Alan Arakawa.

We took two full years to study many neighborhoods and regions on O'ahu before finally investing in Makakilo 16 years ago. We saw Makakilo/Kapolei like a new piece of raw clay that had the potential to be a most beautiful piece of sculpture. We studied the maps and plans for the region of Kapolei, believed in the well-designed plans and trusted that the developers and our government would execute those plans. Needless to say, we were younger and more naïve then.

Our governing officials have not been responsible enough in fulfilling and executing the originally planned infrastructure. That blame lies wholly with our governing officials.

But Castle & Cooke is not helping the community's situation at all by jumping on the runaway train of home-building in the region. Alan Arakawa's letter seems to give credit to Castle & Cooke for three items that need to be countered:

• While it is true that Castle & Cooke held four informational meetings with various community groups in the region, Arakawa fails to point out the huge amount of resistance its representatives were met with at each and every meeting.
• It's also true that Castle & Cooke will be extending Makakilo Drive a few thousand feet. The question begs to be asked: How else can anyone get to the homes it is building? Its planned width of the extension doesn't fall in line with widths necessary for Makakilo Drive to serve as a major artery roadway as called for in the region's master plan.
• The $500,000 it will contribute toward regional transportation improvements is not a gift but imposed on all new homes being built by individuals or developers in the region.

Castle & Cooke is not to blame for Makakilo/Kapolei's lack of infrastructure, but it is not adding anything more to this overburdened community than what it can profit from. Do not be swayed by its claims of being a contributor to this community.