HOMELESS

PLEASE REMEMBER VICTIMS WORLDWIDE

I am writing to agree with Rev. Zimmermann when he wrote this week about remembering the hurricane victims on the Gulf Coast. I would like all of us to remember the other victims that are now off the television screen and most newspapers, and thus off our awareness "screen." I speak of the tsunami and earthquake victims in other countries.

I think the conservative estimates are that over 1 million people are displaced and homeless. So let us remember all of the victims.

What can we do? Well today, Christ Lutheran Church in Mililani is hosting a free breakfast to benefit all of the disaster victims. It will be held in the church parking lot across from the Mililani Town Center from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. The donations will be given to Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran Disaster Response, two agencies that continue to assist all these victims.

We can remember and we can assist.

NO ALOHA

UH FANS ARE DISPLAYING LOUSY SPORTSMANSHIP

What is going on with Hawai'i sports fans? Since when do we boo other teams and their fans?

I've been attending UH games since the 1960s. Until recently, local fans always displayed aloha toward UH opponents. We cheered our team and booed bad calls or bad behavior, but we never disrespected the other team.

Over the past several years, that has changed. Nowadays, a large number of UH fans routinely boo the opposition and their fans. The trend hit a new low last weekend when UH fans at the Stan Sheriff Center booed lustily while a Michigan State basketball player writhed on the floor in agony from muscle cramps. It was an embarrassing display of lousy sportsmanship.

Let's try to remember who we are and start showing some class again.

REPEAL LAW

HOME HEATING OIL LINK TO GAS CAP NONSENSICAL

According to an article in your paper on the gas cap, gas prices may rise soon because of a surge in demand for home heating oil. So, to recap the cap law's history: The proponents of this socialistic pricing scheme originally said it would lower prices. When prices stubbornly remained the highest in the nation, suddenly the law became the "Fair Price Gas Law."

Ummm, how fair is it to pay more for gas because of a surge in Mainland heating oil demand, in a state where most people's heating system consists of shutting the louvers?

Funny how the same Democrats who call President Bush a hypocrite for changing the original rationale for going to war in Iraq have no problem with changing the original rationale for implementing the gas cap.

Let's repeal the gas cap — and the politicians who voted for it.

WAIKIKI

BRING BACK THE LEI MAKERS, HULA DANCERS

No more Hawaiian style is right! I couldn't agree with Rick Lamontagne's observations more (Letters, Nov. 30). Mimes and Beatles music are not what Waikiki is about.

Although I respect the performers' rights to perform, you can visit any Mainland city for that type of entertainment.

Bring back the lei makers and the hula dancers. Demonstrate Hawaiian crafts and share the ancient culture that is so uniquely ours.

Who wouldn't love to be serenaded by street performers singing Hawaiian songs? Imagine listening to someone strumming an 'ukulele while strolling down Kalakaua Avenue?

Those are things that we can be proud to share with tourists and locals alike. It seems that we are ignoring the very reason that people come to visit our beautiful Islands, and if we continue this trend, what makes us think that they will still want to come?

FOCUS ON CRIME

STREET PERFORMERS SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE

I like walking around in Waikiki and checking out the outfits, the acts and the talent. That is part of the reason I moved here from Salt Lake.

Have you seen the "One Man Band"? That guy rocks!

Most of the performers offer something different from the norm of retail, especially for the children. Most of the entertainment (clubs, shopping and restaurants) in Waikiki is geared to adults; a few mimes and especially Panda really appeal to the kids walking around with their parents.

Instead of wasting our time, money, resources and energy even considering a ban on street performers, who are trying to make an honest buck, we should be considering and focusing on a ban on prostitutes and pimps walking the streets at all hours of the night, driving around in their "bling" and harassing locals and tourists alike.

The hookers are harassing the men. Say no to them and you are likely to be called names and ridiculed. The pimps are trying to recruit new girls. Attractive women walking home from the nightclubs are often yelled at, followed and harassed.

So, go ahead and ban the street performers — then the only "entertainment" and "performers" who will be left on the streets in Waikiki will be the hookers and pimps. After all, a good, strong performers ban can help keep Waikiki focus on "adult" entertainment.

HAWAI'I BOWL

IT'LL BE EMBARRASSING

The UH Warriors are not in the Hawai'i Bowl. That's like having the Triple Crown of Surfing with no Hawai'i surfers.

All of those empty seats broadcast nationwide should send a message to the NCAA: Depending on Hawai'i to make it to its own bowl game is too much of a risk.

Bye-bye, Hawai'i Bowl!