SUPERFERRY

ILLEGAL FIREWORKS WILL BE SMUGGLED ON FERRY

If you think that there were too many illegal fireworks for the New Year's celebration, wait until the Superferry begins service to the Big Island, where aerial fireworks are allowed and those returning from the Big Island to O'ahu before the next New Year's celebration will secretly stuff their vehicles with these "illegal fireworks" to use and/or sell here.

VOLCANIC ASH

CRITICISM OF LINGLE ON GRANTS ISSUE IS OFF BASE

Columnist David Shapiro (Volcanic Ash, Jan. 2) was correct to question the Legislature's process for approving grants-in-aid to nonprofit organizations.

However, he was off base in his criticism of Gov. Linda Lingle's input, and gave the public a false impression of the governor's position.

When asked for a comment from the administration, I explained that the governor wanted to highlight how Maui County approved grants when she was mayor in order to emphasize the importance of having an open and transparent process and also to present a model that the Legislature might consider using.

Under Maui County's process, which is mandated by county ordinance, each year the county designates how much is available for grants. A grants review committee, nominated by the mayor and confirmed by the council, holds public meetings to review each application and makes recommendations to the mayor.

Everyone — the nonprofits, the public and county officials — knows up front how much money is available for grants, who applies for aid, how the money will be used, how recommendations and approvals are determined and who is accountable for those decisions. As The Advertiser's articles reveal, this transparency and public confidence are sorely lacking in the Legislature's process.

While the governor does not have control over how the Legislature approves grants, her administration carefully reviews each appropriation before releasing any grants to ensure that public funds are administered in the most efficient and effective manner, are meeting a public need and achieve measurable results.

SPORTS FACILITIES

NEW STADIUM SHOULD BE PART OF WEST O'AHU

Since we can now openly discuss sports facilities, what about Aloha Stadium? June Jones' departure would pale in comparison to a stands disaster during an emotional game.

When the Mississippi River bridge collapsed, immediate thoughts were turned to the integrity of this aging structure, which was promised to be movable and never rust.

It seems we are now ready to acknowledge that Division I football is lucrative big business. To acquire land and build a new stadium in the quarry area around UH-Manoa is a virtual impossibility.

However, a new stadium as part of a master-planned West O'ahu campus is visionary and strategic.

Manoa has rainbows, while the Warrior identity is well-suited to the Leeward Coast. Manoa is severely impacted by Stan Sheriff emptying out.

Instead, an acceleration of undergraduate programs and housing being offered through West O'ahu would have a dramatic impact on reversing traffic flow and increase the attractiveness of a mass-transit linkage. Manoa could develop more graduate programs and enhance research.

Can the UH, elected officials and unions come together to make this a reality in the next 10 years?

UH FOOTBALL

JUNE JONES' STRENGTH WILL BE MISSED HERE

The state of Hawai'i finally woke up and got a taste of what June Jones has been trying to convince them of: Step up to the next level and earn respect.

We all know the real truth, and that is that nobody thought football could bring such greatness to our state.

For once, the state of Hawai'i was on the map and all of our competitive hearts were on the field with the team.

Too bad he did not get any support from the state, university officials and, yes, the Athletics Department. He took criticism from some for changing the name of the team, while bringing the team and community together.

Maybe next time, we must "believe" in his vision, so we may never be heartbroken again. Coach Jones, thank you for the ride — we will miss your strength.

ATTITUDE IS A PART OF UNIVERSITY'S PROBLEMS

With many people associated with the University of Hawai'i apparently pondering what went wrong in the departure of coach June Jones, I am reminded of my student days there and how I was negatively impressed by what I saw as the smug and often arrogant attitudes of many of the administrative and professorial personnel there, and a prevailing negative ethos that would seem to hang over the institution at times.

By all appearances, it seems that June Jones had the ability to lead people (such as his players) through positive means, rather than by the pressure and manipulation that I frequently observed in much of the university.

If the mindsets of those associated with the university today are anything like what they were when I was a student there, then I would have to say that the problems at the university are not merely financial, they are also greatly attitudinal.

CRITICAL QUESTIONS OVER UNIVERSITY'S MISSION

The tempest in a teaspoon over June Jones abandoning UH for more lucrative Texas turf raises critical questions about the proper role of football at a state university.

Do we want a university with the academic stature of a Cal-Berkeley or the football prowess of a University of Georgia?

Is it UH's mission to provide the state's residents with the substitute for a professional football team? Should the university's football coach have a salary that dwarfs that of the governor, chief justice of the Supreme Court and president of the university?

Should such faux drama be played out on the front page of this newspaper for days, when other newsworthy items are ignored or pushed to back pages?

To ask those questions is to answer them. It is time for a reality check on UH's future. If the state wishes to diversify its economy and develop a high-tech sector, the model for UH should be the Golden Bears' stellar academics, not the Bulldogs' gridiron achievements.

The UH Athletics Department should focus on getting all UH students involved in daily, personal physical fitness, not just a vicarious experience on weekends at Aloha Stadium.

This newspaper should keep sports on the sports page. (I am no egg-headed "hater" of college athletics; I attended a Big 10 university on an athletic scholarship, where I learned there is more to life than sports and how to use a semicolon.)

UH MUST INSTILL PRIDE ACROSS WHOLE CAMPUS

Until August 2005, I was a faculty member at the University of Hawai'i.

I returned recently for a conference, and visited the campus during the June Jones controversy.

I came away saddened by the continued decline of the facilities, knowing the impact on faculty. How much credence can be given to the research work carried out by faculty when they work in conditions like this?

Yet, I saw no one concerned about the research faculty — only about the coaching staff.

There may be Warrior pride, but there is little evidence that this pride carries over to the academic side of the university. I have not seen the level of concern shown for a coach leaving when an academic faculty member leaves.

I hope that the university administration can find a way to instill the Warrior pride across the entire campus.

UH SHOULD RETURN TO RAINBOWS NICKNAME

All the best to June Jones, no longer the highest-paid public employee in Hawai'i nei.

Maybe now we can go back to calling our team the Rainbows, a name unique to my alma mater. That name, Rainbows, fits so well for a team from the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, and there is no other team, anywhere, with our name.

There will no longer be headline confusion with the Kamehameha Warriors, Golden State Warriors, etc. Go Bows!

TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, DONATE TO UNIVERSITY

Why worry about coach June Jones now? He's gone. He made his choice and that was not to be here.

Why cry over spilled milk? It's not going to bring him back.

Now we must move on and give the next coach our trust and loyalty.

But to really make a difference, we all should do our part and donate to the athletic program at the University of Hawai'i.

HONOLULU SYMPHONY

MUSICIANS OFFER THANKS TO HAWAI'I FOR ITS SUPPORT

On behalf of the musicians of the Honolulu Symphony, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the community for the tremendous support it has shown in recent weeks.

The enthusiastic attendance and ovations at concerts, generous donations, and supportive letters to the editor, editorials and comments have been greatly appreciated.

Artistically, this is an exciting time for the Honolulu Symphony. We have embarked on a new era with principal conductor Andreas Delfs. His plans for next season and his vision for the future show a level of innovation and artistry that promises to bring orchestral music in Hawai'i to a new and inspiring level.

The Honolulu Symphony has served Hawai'i since 1900, presenting exciting performances, world-class guest artists and high-quality music education. There are still some significant challenges ahead, but with the proper support of the city, state and community, your Honolulu Symphony can and will continue to serve Hawai'i and thrive.

FUND MUST BE MATCHED TO RECEIVE THE INTEREST

It is heartening to see so much community support for the Honolulu Symphony.

I would like to clarify information that has been printed in news stories, an editorial and letters to the editor regarding a $4 million grant-in-aid from the state for the Honolulu Symphony Endowment Fund.

On Dec. 30, 2006, in keeping with a bill passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Linda Lingle earlier that year, the governor allotted $4 million to the Department of Accounting and General Services to deposit into the endowment fund for the Honolulu Symphony.

The legislation that authorized this grant stipulated that the interest from the endowment fund shall be used for the Honolulu Symphony "provided that the funds appropriated are matched, dollar-for-dollar, by private funds."

Thus, by law, the symphony can only receive the interest from the $4 million if it raises matching private donations. To further help the symphony, the law was amended this past legislative session to include matching pledges.

We support the public's desire to see the Honolulu Symphony succeed, and we hope symphony officials achieve their goal of raising private funds and pledges so they can be matched by state funds.