Mahi is precious treasury to visitors

Shock, sadness and disbelief were our reactions to the news regarding the Royal Hawaiian Band and the status of its longtime bandmaster, Aaron Mahi.

As perennial visitors to Hawai'i, we regularly attend the band concerts and consider them, along with 'Iolani Palace, the Bishop Museum, the art center and the symphony, as representing the best in history, art and culture that Honolulu has to offer.

The band is a splendid, talented musical group blending an interesting mix of traditional band literature and preserving the historic music of Hawai'i in new and interesting arrangements.

But the one element that sets apart the concerts is bandmaster Aaron Mahi, himself. He is a wonderfully gifted musician and a skillful conductor. But what is special and adds so much to each concert is his rapport with his audience. His commentary explaining the historical and musical significance of the selections, his fluency in both English and Hawaiian languages adds so much to the musical significance and integrity of the performances. And most important is the warmth and sincerity he conveys to each of us in the audience.

And a caveat to those supporting a change in programming and leadership. Many of the great musical organizations of the 20th century such as the big bands of the '30s and '40s passed from the musical scene, and many of today's major symphony orchestras are in dire straits, because along the way, they became more concerned with playing for themselves and each other rather than their audiences. There is good reason why the Royal Hawaiian Band is the last full-time municipal band in the United States. Don't change it or its leadership!

Program disrupting old recycling routine

On Dec. 31, I took my recycling to the Puako transfer station on the Big Island as I have done for the last seven years. To my astonishment, the recycling bins were no longer there.

I asked the security guard and he said that from now on, only items labeled "HI 5¢" could be recycled. I asked, what do we now do with the rest? He took my box and threw it in the transfer station. He said, from now on, the state of Hawai'i is only interested in recycling items labeled HI 5¢.

What went into the dump? Seven glass wine bottles, four glass salad dressing bottles, one A-1 steak sauce bottle, two glass pickle jars and one glass horseradish bottle. That means that over the next year, since the state eliminated the regular glass recycling at Puako (based on this week's collection for landfill from my home), 780 glass bottles will go to the landfill instead of the recycling center.

By eliminating the regular recycling centers at Big Island transfer stations and only recycling the "HI 5¢" items, the state Legislature has taken one step forward and five steps backward. Does the Legislature really think that Vlasic pickles will charge 5 cents to get its glass jar recycled when, for the last seven years, I have been able to do it and now cannot? Is this for real?

Longevity's secret: Always be happy

My patient, Mr. Harry Nagahisa, was the only person I knew who lived in three centuries and enjoyed every moment of living in them (1899-2003). He was a very charming man.

After his 100th birthday celebration, which was well attended by hundreds of his family members and entertainers like Frank DeLima, I asked him, "Mr. Nagahisa, what is the secret?" He smiled and said, "I have a good doctor." I said, no, no, tell me the real secret. With the same lively smile he said, "Because I am always happy."

Here is looking at you, Mr. Nagahisa. Happy New Year, everyone.

Secretary Rumsfeld being treated unfairly

I sincerely believe Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has been treated unfairly by critics such as Sen. John McCain and Sen. Chuck Hagel and others fanned by the news media.

The secretary is not God, who is perfect, but a human being who is doing or has done a superb job leading our armed forces during wartime. Sure, we made some mistakes on the war fronts in the Middle East, but corrective actions were promptly implemented in the best way we know how, within our means and limitation.

The charge of not listening to his field generals does not stand tall to me. Sending more troops to Iraq to effectively control Saddam's country only adds more casualties to our coalition forces. The more troops committed, the more targets for the terrorists to hit. We have to consider that our enemies in Iraq are invisible.

Let us support our leaders and our troops.

It's just sour grapes for Councilman Djou

Regarding Jeanne Hamasaki's Dec. 29 letter: Charles Djou's complaints of "dirty politics" ring rather hollow coming from someone who changed residence to be eligible to run for his council seat, and while in the state House wanted to simultaneously be minority leader and a member of the powerful Finance Committee, apparently violating a bipartisan agreement.

Like many in his party, Djou appears to be an elitist and opportunist. He fully understands and plays the "political game" when it suits him. He is just whining because he lost out this time around. But if he can't stand the heat, then he should get out of the kitchen.

H-1 fatality points up our traffic problem

The recent closure of the H-1 Freeway due to a traffic fatality, which caused major gridlock all over the island, makes me wonder, do we have a huge traffic problem?

Hawai'i is one of few states that actually close their freeways due to a fatality. Even the Hono-lulu Police Department said that Hawai'i has too many cars and too few roads. It seems that Hawai'i needs to fix its traffic problem. Quick fixes such as road widening are not the answer.

The only solution is building an expressway that runs from downtown to Makakilo — with no merges. Think about it; if there were an expressway, we would not have major gridlocks on O'ahu. It's time that Hawai'i builds one.

School dress code, IDs aren't worth it

I remember the May 21 letter "School staff should exemplify dress code" from Miulan Nihipali, and I don't think I'm the only parent to disagree with this dress code.

My son Jeremiah goes to King Intermediate School, and I was very upset when he was disciplined for having no ID on him. And he does forget. So I talked to one of the staff members who was in charge of the discipline. He said that after so many times, students get suspended. I disagree.

I asked the staff member who makes these rules. He said there's a committee that you can talk to. So I did. I was explaining to a committee member that everybody forgets now and then. And she told me that they are trying to teach our kids responsibility. I told her that they are there to educate our kids, and being suspended will not benefit the kids. Then she showed me an ID that was broken in half, saying, How responsible can that be?

I asked her what was the punishment when students break the dress code. She couldn't answer me. There's a lot that was said, and I disagree with them. But they said that when children go to work at McDonald's and don't have a uniform on, they can get fired.

Schools need to concentrate on our kids' education instead of confusing them.

Dobelle's travel, protocol fund use misunderstood

As counsel for former University of Hawai'i President Evan Dobelle, I write to follow up and amplify upon certain matters in the Dec. 28 article by Derrick DePledge, especially with a headline that could be considered misleading ("Ethics panel rules Dobelle failed to report gifts: Protocol fund used by ex-UH president included in decision").

The Hawai'i State Ethics Commission, in an informal advisory opinion, found that Evan Dobelle should disclose, as gifts, a trip he was asked to make by the Moloka'i Chamber of Commerce and paid for by an airline ticket voucher from the Moloka'i Chamber of Commerce, and a trip to Japan he was asked to make by then-governor Ben Cayetano, with a number of other public and private leaders in Hawai'i, including former governors John Waihee and George Ariyoshi, shortly after 9/11. This was to encourage Japanese students to attend the University of Hawai'i and was paid for by the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau. He did not benefit personally on either trip, and both involved a good deal of pre-trip preparation and work upon arrival, and were solely working trips.

Dr. Dobelle had no decision-making authority over either the Moloka'i Chamber of Commerce or HVCB. The purpose of disclosures is to prevent the exercise of undue influence over government officials who have the ability to affect the gift-giver's interests, such as by secretly supplying them with vacation trips or other benefits. This was not in any way the case here.

With respect to protocol funds Dr. Dobelle used, they were used solely to benefit the University of Hawai'i. Use of the University of Hawai'i Protocol Fund to benefit the University of Hawai'i has been the custom for university presidents going back to when the Protocol Fund was initially established through the University of Hawai'i Foundation in 1986. Every penny that was authorized by Dr. Dobelle was used solely to benefit the University of Hawai'i and did not benefit him personally.

Most importantly, Dr. Dobelle was advised by the University Office of General Counsel that he was not required to report expenditures from his Protocol Fund on his annual gift-disclosure statement. A letter dated March 1, 2004, from University of Hawai'i made it very clear that the general counsel of the University of Hawai'i so advised President Dobelle. The letter states in part, "The purpose of the Protocol Fund is, therefore, for a legitimate state purpose and clearly not for any personal benefit to the president, and thus not a gift to the president." This followed a statement that, "The University of Hawai'i Foundation, a non-profit corporation established to raise funds for the University of Hawai'i, provides a Protocol Fund as a resource to assist the president in performing the duties and functions of his office."

The informal ethics panel decision has overruled the advice that Dr. Dobelle received from the Office of General Counsel. Dr. Dobelle feels strongly regarding openness with respect to the items covered in the recent opinion, and has always been a great supporter of complete openness. He himself was on the Connecticut State Ethics Commission from 1996 to 1998. In these matters, he followed what was his understanding of the disclosure policies and is now instructed by the commission's recent decision.

Blessed must be the caregiver

Thank you for your recent series, "The Graying of Hawai'i," which was very informative; however, there were two points that the series did not discuss regarding caregiving: As caregivers, we all have continual stress, but more than anything, we have a tremendous sadness and guilt that constantly affects the very depths of our souls.

There is a profound sadness in caregiving for parents that no one can explain to you until you live through it. As a child, you see your parents in a certain way, how they protected and comforted you, then before you even know what is happening, you now are the parent and taking care of all their needs. As they age, get sick and lose their memories, you pray these problems are only short term, but then the reality sets in that they are not what they were and how you remembered them as a child.

Every day you try to maintain a normal day-to-day life, but the truth is, nothing is typical and you hope this will not be the day they fall or go into convulsions or die. You constantly worry about their health. Are they eating enough, sleeping, taking their medicine? Sleep deprivation is the norm for you.

Then the day comes and they look at you and don't know who you are and you have two choices: be angry or cry. For most caregivers, we cry.

The guilt comes because you are angry with them for aging. You want them to be whole again, but they can no longer be what they were or what you remember.

In their last days when they are so sick, you feel guilty again because on one hand you want them to go, but they are your parents and you want them to stay, the love and bond are so strong.

When they finally do go, there is a sadness of loss, but also a feeling of relief as they are no longer suffering or in pain. And there is liberation for you too because as the caregiver, you have suffered having to watch someone you love die.

It was my honor to be the primary caregiver for my mother, Catherine, for over seven years until she passed on this last September. I was fortunate that I had a full-time nurse and am self-employed with flexible work hours.

I tell everyone that caregiving is a rewarding experience and I would do it gladly again for Mama, but it is not for the faint of heart. And as a caregiver, you must be willing to step up to the plate. It will involve every aspect of your life, and for the baby boomers of today, the reality of tomorrow will be a lot of hard work, demanding schedules, financial stress and sacrifice.