Why so out-of-the-way?

Why is the state Office of Youth Services sending six girls all the way to Utah for the purpose of temporary housing? I'm sure we can house these teens in a facility here on the island, which would save the state money and save the families of these girls a lot of grief. Is this solution too easy or what?

Awareness, not separatism, the object

In response to a letter on racial separatism written by Ken Conklin, I feel that some people did not fully understand the cause of our march.

There have been many losses in Hawaiian history, from the illegal overthrow in 1893 and continuing to the present. The march, which was held on Sept. 6, was peaceful and meant to remind people or make them aware of things that are still happening to Hawaiians. The march did not exclusively include Hawaiians but included people of other races who wanted to participate. The march affected people and the participants also found personal fulfillment.

The Kamehameha Schools has owned many places, but the amount continues to diminish. They are just trying to keep what they have. Racial separatism or discrimination was not the problem, especially in Hawai'i, where racial diversity is common. Our school gives preference to children of Hawaiian ancestry according to Ke Ali'i Pauahi's will.

Remembering days of Willie Willie Mongoose

We all remember Kahuku Sugar Mill and the fun we had there with our children. A ride from 'Aina Haina was long and inspiring with all the beauty along the way. But, how many of you remember Kahuku Mill's mascot? Yes, it was Willie Willie Mongoose. We would ride out just to see Willie Willie and give him his favorite morsel, Oreo cookies.

After the mill closed, we stopped going out to Kahuku until one day in the early '80s, only to find the mill rusted and dying. We walked around back where there was an old plantation house occupied by an old Filipino man. We asked him what happened to Willie Willie Mongoose. He told us that they released him when the mill closed.

We all started calling for Willie Willie, and guess who came sliding on the train track doing all the tricks he had been taught? We were so happy to see him; I guess he remembered us. We handed him his Oreo cookies and have not returned since.

We'd like to think Willie Willie is still living or at least has fathered a bunch of little Willie Willies. Gosh, those were the days.

Judge's rulings are contradictory

Robert Rees' Sept. 19 commentary concerning the unjust conviction of Shaun C. Rodrigues illustrated the American legal foundation that it is more unconscionable to send an innocent person to prison than allow a guilty individual to be free.

Judge Virginia Crandall had many factors to signal reasonable doubt in her ruling, but found Rodrigues guilty of a dangerous crime, then set him free pending appeal since he posed no danger to society.

It all comes down to commitment

As an American citizen in Hawai'i, I find the mayoral race to be entertaining. We have a doctor millionaire vying against a Hawai'i local man who's committed to public service after graduating from Harvard University. So who will win in November? The millionaire posed with a broom, proposing to sweep corruption from the city after Mayor Jeremy Harris and himself in political office. We have the Harvard Hawai'i local man reinforcing his public service.

Hawai'i voters, I believe, will acknowledge their choice for a person who has shown honest commitment to Hawai'i, to strong family values, to his chosen profession as trained and to bettering Hawai'i for our hard-working families.

True success is not accumulating millions of dollars, it's how many lives have you bettered. Upon death, success is measured by the number of people who remember your commitment and service, not your money.

Let us do away with the broom act and let us talk commitment to Hawai'i. Really, what is your commitment and vision for our city and our Hawai'i? Millions of dollars can't buy a committed heart, it's innate.

It's a God-given right to fight 'ad nausea'

In regard to the Sunday Focus centerpiece "Ad nausea: Today's ads are enough to make your kids sick":

Since when, or from where, does the Legislature have the jurisdiction to pass a "Parents' Bill of Rights"? Parents already have jurisdiction over their children given them by God — things such as dress, style, television, etc.

It is dangerous to allow the government to "give" us more rights. Doesn't that give it the authority to take them away?

The author stated that almost all 8- to 12-year-olds in our country are already enveloped in a materialistic world view. I too have struggled with that same world view. But now, with the help of my parents and my Lord, I have come to realize that it doesn't matter what you wear, but it is your character that determines who you are.

Hellish Unit 731: Japan still has a lot to answer for

Thank you for printing Eric Talmadge's article on Japan's hellish Unit 731 ("Work in Japanese biological warfare lab recalled," Sept. 19). As a scholar in Japanese studies for almost 60 years and a UH-Manoa professor of Japanese literature for 37 of them, I'm sadly only too familiar with the horrors of Unit 731 and with the Japanese reaction to the reports on them. Hence I must take exception to one sentence in the article: "Even peace activists told him (Shinozuka) that talking about Japan's role as an aggressor 'wasn't constructive.'"

Perhaps some activists did say that to Shinozuka, but I can testify to the fact that all of the many Japanese peace activists I've known over the many years I've been involved in the Japan peace movement were incensed at the crimes of Unit 731 as they were about all of Japan's war crimes. I particularly wish to mention my close friend Hidehiko Ushijima, an indefatigable fighter for justice and against injustice in both Japan and the world, who died five years ago. In a tribute to him I presented at UH on Oct. 1, 1999, I stated:

"I know, from lengthy conversations with him on the topic, that he always emphasized that the Japanese people were both victims and victimizers. I remember, with special vividness, his rage upon learning of the diabolical medical experiments on living subjects of Special Unit 731 in Manchuria and of his shame that his own government should have ordered them to be carried out." Of course his stance and that of other Japanese peace activists in no way exonerate the present Japanese government for not compensating its wartime victims.

One further very important point: What has the U.S. government done with all of the information it acquired of the horrendous activities of Unit 731? As U.S. citizens we must demand full disclosure!

Fishing waters under siege

Nearly all of Hawai'i's fresh seafood is subject to a general market price barometer influenced by the supply condition of the three A's of local seafood: 'ahi, aku and akule. When one of these three main species is in short supply, the price of all seafood tends to spike upward proportionally.

Of these three pelagic species, only akule (bigeye scad) is harvested nearshore in sandy bays and river mouths. Because akule has a very short life cycle and is a pelagic species (open ocean), the biomass continues to reproduce in great numbers and is extremely healthy, sustaining a vibrant commercial fishery that produces between 500,000 and 1 million pounds for domestic markets in Honolulu as well as Los Angeles and San Francisco Asian markets each year.

Hawai'i's nearshore fishermen feel the akule fishery is worth preserving and protecting. Not only for the fishery itself but also for deeper cultural, socioeconomic and market reasons. All reasons our policymakers as well as visitor industry representatives should take note of and support.

Of the many threats facing Hawai'i's nearshore fishermen and the mere existence of fresh nearshore-caught species such as akule are the ever-increasing ocean user conflicts. As O'ahu's land population bulges at 1 million, residents jostle over much-needed open space while developers quietly gobble up tract after tract, tree after tree, stone after stone.

The ocean, Hawai'i's special gift and our last place of solace, has now become a battleground. Sometimes presented as conservation or environmental disputes, more accurately, our nearshore waters have become centerstage for a host of resource allocation conflicts. Everyone wants his or her piece, most often at the expense of another, perhaps less politically savvy, user.

Among the nearshore fishermen's worries: overfishing, federal area closures such as military restricted zones, marine protected areas that are not really protected (only fishing is prohibited). Vast dead and barren reefs caused by runoff, silt and pollution. Newly dredged harbors, as well as historically dredged channels and harbors that continue to blanket the reefs with suffocating dust. Jet skis, kayaks, night divers, day divers, dinner cruises, day cruises, yachts, ships, tankers, eco-tours; it's a wonder any fish species can find a place to mate and have a bite to eat.

Makua Beach, one of the last untouched spawning and schooling grounds for akule, is currently going through a dramatic change. No longer untouched, this historically and sustainably fished West O'ahu basket of plenty is under siege. The Hawai'i state Department of Land and Natural Resource has recently issued ocean use permits granting selected commercial tour operators exclusive access to conduct dozens of different ocean recreation tours along O'ahu's west side, including Makua Beach. These seemingly benign activities — specifically, dolphin tours, snorkel tours and kayak tours — sometimes disrupt the spawning and schooling trails of akule and threaten both fish and fishermen access.

Hawai'i's nearshore Fishermen understand the importance of a healthy tourist industry as high visitor counts directly push seafood prices in an upward direction benefiting fishermen. In other words, both parties benefit from each other's presence. In addition, Hawai'i's nearshore fishermen have always been, and continue to be, willing to coexist with other ocean users.

It is in this light that we would respectfully ask both the ocean recreation industry representatives and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to further investigate and mediate with a caring hand this conflict and place equal importance on the culturally and historically necessary art of nearshore fishing and gathering as well as the new industries of nearshore ocean recreation as well as nearshore coastal development.