$40 MILLION

STATE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF FERRY THAN SCHOOLS

In recent weeks we have read in the news that the state is 400 teachers short in hiring this year, SAT scores are below normal, some schools are failing in meeting the No Child Left Behind federal law, there is not enough money to do normal repair and maintenance to our existing public schools, there is no money to build the Kihei High School, etc.

Yet, our governor and Legislature had no problem finding $40 million to spend on the Superferry. The obvious message is that education of our children is secondary to the Superferry.

Every student, teacher, parent and the public in general should be outraged. Everyone should call the governor's office and their senator and representative and ask: "Why is the Superferry more important than public education?" They should further demand that the $40 million be reversed and spent on public education instead of the Superferry.

Bob Babson | Kihei, Maui

ADMISSIONS

KAMEHAMEHA IS NOT STICKING TO THE WILL

The selection process at Kamehameha Schools is discriminatory and directly contradicts the will of our princess.

The will says: " ... support and education of orphans, and others in indigent circumstances, giving the preference to Hawaiians of pure or part aboriginal blood ... "

Question: What percentage of children orphaned or in indigent circumstances, of pure or part aboriginal blood, have been enrolled or are presently enrolled in Kamehameha Schools, in comparison to those from families whose assets would not qualify them as indigent?

The word "preference" does not imply exclusion of any other child, but rather that those Hawaiian children of pure or part aboriginal blood would have preference in placement.

Question: Should a child of pure or part aboriginal blood whose parents are professionals, and has attended a private school prior to being accepted into Kamehameha Schools, receive preference over another child who possesses only the qualifiers as expressed by the will? Is this in keeping with the expressed desires of the princess?

I agree with another letter's question: What indigent circumstances prevail when the parents of some children attending Kamehameha Schools are professionals, politicians and driving Mercedes and BMWs?

Rather than expressing anger at the Circuit Court of Appeals, people should be more concerned that the Kamehameha Schools has not, and is not, following the mandates as established in the will.

John L. Shupe | Hawai'i Kai

PROFICIENCY

PUBLIC SCHOOLS MIGHT COPY KAMEHAMEHA

The Department of Education wants to "lower the educational proficiency bar" in Hawai'i's public schools. Very soon they will have to start digging a hole so that the lowering bar has a place to go. This is indeed a very "grave" situation.

On the other hand, the Kamehameha Schools is striving to keep the bar high, so that the qualified attending Hawaiian-blood students can rightfully and proudly continue to hold their heads high. Heaven help them!

Stann W. Reiziss | Kailua

RALLY

A MIXED MESSAGE

Disregarding the cause, I was shocked and saddened to see our governor on Saturday morning speaking publicly at 'Iolani Palace in strong support of a group displaying bedsheet-sized banners proclaiming "We Are Not Americans" and "We Will Never Be Americans."

Michael Groholski | Honolulu

TRANSPORTATION

HAWAI'I'S NOT GETTING ITS SHARE OF THE PIE

OK, so Congress passed a $286 billion transportation bill. So how about Hawai'i? We get $146 million and future support for the pie-in-the-sky rail transit system that not many want anyway.

Let's look at the share Hawai'i gets. Taken from the view that we are one out of 50 states, we should get $286 billion divided by 50: $5.72 billion. Well, we all know that's not going to happen, so let's look at it from a population viewpoint. To make the arithmetic simple, say Hawai'i has 1 million people and the nation has 300 million. That means Hawai'i should get $953.3 million.

But wait, we are only getting $146 million.

Is this an indication of the Hawai'i congressional delegation's clout or is it an example of squandered political capital?

Either way, it's time the informed voters made some choices — like replacing the entire congressional delegation and the Lingle faction of the Republican Party.

Bud Ebel | Makaha

UH FOOTBALL

DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR SHOULD BE TARGETED

It is clear the lieutenant governor and the University of Hawai'i are not against alcohol sales at UH sporting events because they are not proposing a ban at the other UH events. They want to stop the disruptive behavior at football games.

Banning alcohol at UH home football games is not the answer to the problem of disruptive behavior. Removing and banning those people who are being disruptive is the solution.

Every person who walks through those gates is responsible for his actions. Every person should also be aware of the consequences of those actions. These consequences should be in place at all UH events, not just football: