Posted on: Monday, May 24, 2004

Letters to the Editor

Response is a lesson on how to twist history

Isaac Harp's April 29 response to my commentary in honor of President Sanford Dole's 160th birthday accuses me of twisting history. Harp's letter is itself a lesson on how to twist history.

Harp says: "Apparently the Morgan Report is based on what the McKinley administration wanted reflected in the report rather than facts." I never mentioned the Morgan Report — Harp is doing the twisting. The Morgan Report came from a congressional committee using testimony under oath (unlike the one-man Blount Report). It was published in the Congressional Record more than two years before William McKinley was elected president. There was no McKinley administration yet.

Harp refers to Grover Cleveland as being Dole's president. He says Dole "refused to obey his president ... Dole also lied to his president ... " Mr. Harp, Sanford B. Dole was Hawai'i's president at the time of these events. Dole was a native-born subject of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Dole was not an American. Grover Cleveland was never Dole's president.

Today's sovereignty activists try to deny that non-natives were full members of the kingdom, just as today's Akaka bill excludes us who have no native ancestry.

Different fuel grades for different cars

Ted Gibson's (May 19) and Michael Nomura's (May 20) letters pertaining to the use of regular or premium fuel to improve mileage are both correct, for different reasons.

In the case of Mr. Gibson's Buick Park Avenue, the poor mileage experienced with regular fuel is because the engine is designed to give peak performance with premium; when a lower octane is introduced, the engine management system "de-tunes" the engine to prevent engine "pinging" and, ultimately, engine damage. The difference in performance then, is because of changes in the engine operation parameters, not the change in octane.

Mr. Nomura is spot-on with his analysis. His test with the Chevrolet Metro with one-liter displacement, standard transmission and no engine management system stands to reason. Couldn't have done better on a dynamometer.

For the average, non-motorhead driver, the answer to "regular or premium?" is use the grade of fuel recommended by the manufacturer.

Makaha students are saddened by thefts

Recent thefts from the Hoa 'Aina O Makaha, a partner of Makaha Elementary School, have left the students at Makaha Elementary disillusioned and angry.

In partnership with the school, the students' science curriculum includes many hands-on projects based at the farm, including agriculture. Sometime in May, thieves stole the corn that the third-graders were getting ready to harvest. Planted earlier this school year, the crop represented their understanding of the growth cycle, beginning with germination and ending with the harvest.

Now, due to the greed and thoughtlessness of strangers, the children add to their vocabulary: disappointed, saddened, furious, concerned.

Third-grader John Nihipali wrote in a letter to the community: "I am sad because somebody stole our corn at our school and people in my classroom are crying and angry." Iolani Takushi wrote: "I feel really curious ... why would anybody steal corn from children?" Asked Haylie Joseph: "(To) whoever stole our corn ... how would you like it if someone stole your stuff?"

The children and staff are asking the Wai'anae community for help. If you know who has stolen the corn, bananas, taro and other items from the farm, let them know that while the produce can be replaced, the damage to our students' knowledge, trust and innocence will take a longer time to heal. Isn't it time we work together to support the good things about Makaha?

Takeoffs on 'Click It' are just the answer

I like "Click It or Ticket." People's lives are a lot safer, and the city gets some extra spending money.

How about "Flick It, Get Ticket"? I see two to five cigarette butts thrown out of car windows daily. At $500 for littering, that is 1,000 to 2,500 extra dollars the city could use. If the litter law is like the illegal dumping law, where you get half of the fine, the jobless people could stand at intersections, make citizen arrests and retire in a year. No need to hold cardboard signs asking for money. They would be self-employed, making $10,000 to $20,000 a month until people wised up.

Here are a few more for the road: "Cross Solid Line, Pay a Big Fine," "No Turn Signal, We Gonna Mingle," "Insurance Outdated, Vehicle Confiscated," "Block Intersection, Checkbook Dissection," "Like Volunteer, Drink Too Many Beers," "Be Like Speedy, Give to the Needy," "Slow in Fast Lane, Vehicle Detained," "Stop at Sign or Pay a Fine." Can you think of any more?

Rebuttal letters were off the mark on gays

Regarding Brent Kincaid's rebuttal to my letter chiding Richard Chamberlain by asserting that I "don't know who Christians are" and that I have "not read the book (I) pretend to be quoting": Nowhere in my letter did I state that it was "my" (as Kincaid asserts) God who labeled certain acts "sodomy." I stated that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of the immorality practiced by the people of those cities, and it is from Sodom that we get the word "sodomy."

And, I stated that, as the Son of God, Christ would most certainly not be pleased with any homosexual acts no matter how much the two parties involved may love each other, as Richard Chamberlain would like to believe.

Mr. Kincaid further states that "it was more Christians misquoting (my emphasis) the Bible. Jesus handily refused to comment on being gay." Mr. Kincaid, where have Christians misquoted the Bible regarding this matter? Also, the fact that Jesus "handily refused to comment on being gay" does not mean that he approved of it, as you would like to believe.

Furthermore, nowhere in my letter did I demand that we all be Christians.

James Fukumoto states in his rebuttal to my letter that "Jesus is misguidedly used to make a point" and that "Jesus is again presented as judge and jury over all of us." As I stated above, Christ, as the Son of God, would not be pleased with any homosexual acts. I did not state that he is judge and jury over all.

Fantasia can't compare to Jasmine's maturity

Hear, hear to Harmony Bentosino of Kapolei (Letters, May 20)! I agree with you 100 percent when you emphasized in your letter that the show is called "American Idol."

Fantasia can't even compare to Jasmine's poise and maturity. Jasmine is the epitome of what I consider an American idol. She's a down-to-earth, all-American girl who was able to spread the aloha spirit and show America that Hawai'i has talented people, too.

Fantasia thinks she's "all that" and then some, and it doesn't help that the judges are constantly feeding her overweening ego. She's so cocky and has an irritating voice — not exactly the kind of person I would want representing "American Idol."

The judges seem to think that Jasmine wasn't one of the best singers on the show, but she certainly has a natural gift and has done our tiny state of Hawai'i proud.

Well done, Jasmine

Kudos and mahalo, Jasmine! What a gallant run at the prize! You represented us admirably with your talent and by sharing your inner spirit of aloha. Many of us have adopted you into our hearts forever.

Pearl Harbor bridge proposal won't work

Regarding Jeremy Bowman's opinion on a Pearl Harbor bridge (Letters, May 21): Mr. Bowman, you've got a point, and everyone knows how bad the traffic out of 'Ewa is, but you need to think your proposal of a bridge through a little more. Here are some points to think about:

• A bridge the size of the Coronado Bridge in San Diego would not work over the entrance to Pearl Harbor due to the aircraft approach to Honolulu Airport.
• A bridge at that location would only benefit the military community since it would be on a military installation.
• Lack of infrastructure planning and thought processes on O'ahu would kill any project that makes sense.
• A better option would be to build a bridge/tunnel/roadway over to Waipi'o Point, then to Ford Island to connect with the existing bridge and come out at Aloha Stadium to connect with the existing freeways in that area. This area has less military development and has room for a project, and it would help with the planned development of Ford Island.

Strangers', policemen's kindness appreciated

On Mother's Day, on my way to church, I had a flat tire on the freeway in Wai'alae. I didn't have my cell phone and was in distress.

A young couple also on their way to church stopped and asked what happened. They saw I had a flat so they started to change the tire for me on the very dangerous freeway. Soon a young police officer came to assist. Then two more officers came, and one with the blue flashing light blocked a lane of the freeway. It made it safer for the men to work.

In the excitement, I only got Monica's name but failed to get the names of Monica's husband and the three young officers. My heartfelt appreciation to these brave, courageous men. I am forever grateful. (Monica, I hope you didn't miss your church service.)

Thank you all again.

Police should target more serious offenses

It is again time for the annual "Click It or Ticket" campaign. This is blatant revenue-raising and politicking.

In the last week, I have seen numerous red (2003), a few blue (2002) and even two yellow (2001) safety stickers affixed to cars on O'ahu roadways. To me, this indicates a much larger hazard to the public (i.e., no insurance, patently unsafe automobiles), than an individual who forgets to fasten his seat belt.

Why doesn't this violation get the media and police attention that is being paid to seat belt violations?

Hot till the last drop

In response to the Honolulu man who wants someone to invent a cup that will keep his coffee hot, try this: When getting a to-go cup, get another small cup, pour a small quantity into the cup, keep the rest in the original with the lid on. It will stay hot till the last drop; also if it were to spill on you, it won't be so auwe!

Empty coffers already?

Let's recap: The bus fares increased. The vehicle weight tax increased. Now, a proposed parking meter fee increase?

Sounds as if the City Council has holes in its pockets, or is in need of a calculator with big buttons on it to keep things simple for it.

Kudos to the BOE

To the Board of Education:

Thank you, thank you, thank you for making surfing a scholastic sport.

Support for our troops is missing in Hawai'i

My son, a sergeant with the 25th Infantry Division (Light), was deployed to Afghanistan. He served in the first Gulf War. I know he will do his duty and serve his country with honor again.

The state of Hawai'i has benefited from the military for over 60 years. Billions of dollars have been added to our economy.

My wife and I decided to drive around the island, from Kane'ohe to Wahiawa, around the Windward and Leeward sides. We could not find or see one banner that said "We support our troops." The fact was, there were very few American flags visible.

Being 62, I often wonder about the young men who lost their lives on Omaha Beach and Iwo Jima, in Korea, Vietnam and Gulf War I. Were their lives in vain because we take freedom and liberty as words without any gratitude for their sacrifice?

Hawai'i willingly accepts all the benefits the military provides but shows such a lack of support for our young men and women in harm's way. Ten thousand soldiers from the 25th Infantry are in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Not one banner in the town of Wahiawa. Not one banner in Kane'ohe.)

Staff Sgt. Oscar Medina, one of our own from the 25th Infantry Division, was interred at Punchbowl with full military honors. Where were our state officials that day?

I know some people will be upset that I have questioned their patriotic motives.

If freedom is worth living for, is it also worth dying for? How many of us are willing to make that commitment and sacrifice for freedom that we enjoy so much?

Have we become a nation of individuals where freedom and liberty are words just spoken without any meaning or sacrifice?

"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country" — President John F. Kennedy.