CHRISTMAS

RETURN NATIVITY SCENE TO HONOLULU HALE

As I was running the Honolulu Marathon this year, one thing saddened my heart: the missing Nativity display at Honolulu Hale, which has been in place all the years that I have been in Honolulu.

If someone is offended by the Nativity display and the hope and peace it gives, then we need to think of where our values are taking us.

Are not people offended by verbal profanity in public or the signage on the back of T-shirts?

We are displacing Christmas because some are offended by a celebration of true peace and goodwill.

Freedom cannot be just for the people who make "their own" truths. Are they asked to take down their comic book characters that may offend me? No, because I understand the awesomeness of the Nativity and its meaning.

Please put up the Nativity scene for those of us who exchange gifts of love and kindness, otherwise there is no real reason for Christmas.

ALOHA STADIUM

FANS' BEHAVIOR LOUTISH DURING HAWAI'I BOWL

My Hawai'i Bowl experience this year was disappointing on two fronts.

First, the University of Hawai'i lost decisively to Notre Dame.

Second, we witnessed again the embarrassing, unsportsmanlike behavior of some Hawai'i fans.

Does aloha now include throwing popcorn, beer and verbal insults at visiting fans and players? Clearly, the intake of alcohol on the stadium grounds cannot be disassociated from the loutish behavior that has become all too common at UH football games.

It's a mystery to me why our community doesn't insist on stronger policies at "Aloha" Stadium.

ECONOMIC CRISIS

FUNDING CUTS MAY HARM KEIKI IN LONG RUN

The economic news has been distressing for months. Very few Hawai'i residents or organizations will escape the pain.

Those of us running for-profit or not-for-profit organizations understand that lower revenues adversely affect our bottom line. For nonprofit human service organizations, that "bottom line" is our mission.

What concerns me is what all of this will mean for Hawai'i's keiki.

When we see funding cuts to programs like Healthy Start that prevent child abuse and strengthen families, we have to ask how this makes sense in human or economic terms.

At a time when we know families will be at increased risk of child abuse and domestic violence, cuts to programs that prevent abuse or intervene to help people heal and reject domestic violence in their lives, only exacerbate the effects of the weaker economy.

When we reduce services like these, we know the costs will be greater than the savings in the long run. More children will have to enter the foster care system because we could not intervene to prevent family disruption. Healthcare costs will rise because of greater numbers of abused children and adults who will require more intensive/more expensive treatment.

The impact of trauma on more children will have lasting debilitating effects without adequate treatment services to help these children heal.

Let's put children first when we make public policy and resource decisions in our state so that all of Hawai'i's children will have as bright a future as possible in difficult times.

Let's raise our voices for children.

EDUCATION SYSTEM

ISLE SCHOOLCHILDREN ALSO NEED ARTS, SPORTS

Yes, our schoolchildren need to learn reading, writing and math but they also need to know how to focus and channel these skills to achieve their goals. Successful people are able to set and achieve their goals by keeping their eyes on the prize. They are focused.

We need the arts and sports. Here, children learn the need for repetition and practice. They learn discipline and goal-setting in a way that is interesting and fun. Even hyperactive kids will focus on something they are interested in.

We need these disciplines to make a complete educational system.

Here in the Islands we have the Eastern arts that train both body and mind. We have yoga, tai chi, aikido, tae kwan do, etc. Other arts include the Japanese tea ceremony and calligraphy. These are arts that have evolved long before America was born.

We are also very fortunate to be living in Hawai'i, the paradise of the Pacific, which has its own rich cultural heritage. Here, children can be seen on any campus practicing their hula moves and playing the 'ukulele.

WAIPAHU

NEIGHBORS NEED RELIEF FROM NOISY FIREWORKS

The fireworks law is not working. We have been hearing deafening fireworks every night since Halloween in Waipahu. The worst ones sound like bombs exploding.

I know this goes on in every neighborhood.

Calling the police is useless because we have to give the exact address and they have to catch the culprits lighting these fireworks.

Short of police patrolling any given neighborhood to catch thoughtless and inconsiderate people, what recourse do we have?

POTHOLES

CITY BUDGETS $77M TO RECONSTRUCT ROADS

Mr. Francisco Clemente's suggestion (Letters, Dec. 22) to fill potholes with ready-mix concrete is not the answer.

Potholes develop because the existing pavement has failed as a result of water deteriorating the base structure. Filling a pothole is a temporary means of providing a smoother and safer drive, but does not remedy the base failure.

As with filling potholes with asphalt pavement, unless there is some stratus for any patch, including concrete to adhere to, it will fail with the next rain.

Further, concrete requires a solid foundation and depth to provide strength. Many times these are not conditions associated with potholes. Concrete also requires a curing period to gain strength, which means roads will need to be closed.

The only permanent solution is to reconstruct the roadway. To more aggressively address the problems with our roadways, Mayor Mufi Hannemann's administration has budgeted $77 million in the city budget.