DON'T CRY WHEN WE LOSE HAWAII BOWL

As longtime members of Nā Koa, my wife and brother and I purchased tickets to and attended the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve. We had hoped, as no doubt so many other Warrior season ticket holders did as well, that SMU would be matched up against the Warriors, pitting current against former head coach.

Well, it didn't work out that way. So I can only assume that local folks stayed away from the game, literally in hordes. Fan attendance was terrible and embarrassing. Why? I don't know, but have heard everything from "the weather was bad," "the Warriors didn't play," "the day wasn't convenient," to the most shocking to me, "we don't support June Jones!"

Huh? What? Coach Jones put Hawaii football on the national NCAA map, and no doubt will do the same for SMU, most likely on the verge of returning SMU football to its Eric Dickerson/Heisman Trophy days.

Coach Jones as well as the WAC entry, Nevada, deserved Hawaii's respect, and didn't get it.

Don't complain, Hawaii, when the Hawaii Bowl is taken from our islands as was the NFL Pro Bowl. It's surely going to happen unless we as a football-fanatical state support all things football, to include bowl games that our Warriors don't attend or participate in.

P. GREGORY FREY | HonoluluHonolulu

TERRORISM

44TH PRESIDENT REMARKABLY CAVALIER

Our 43rd president established the Department of Homeland Security as well as a meticulously effective, layered in depth, domestically and internationally well coordinated, information-intensive, air passenger security system that did thwart post-9/11 terror attacks for the next 88 consecutive months of his administration.

By contrast, the serial, sequential and multi-point failure of this rapidly crumbling, obviously neglected system leading to near-catastrophe on Christmas in the sky over Michigan — coupled with the fact that neither secretaries of DHS nor State have yet been given their walking papers — reveals the remarkably cavalier attitude our 44th president has toward national security.

His DHS Secretary Napolitano instantly blanketed TV news shows with brazen, hastily contrived damage control spin to assert "the system worked."

State Secretary Clinton has no excuse for the decision her department made extending a visa to this obviously suspicious foreigner who (1) bought a one-way ticket to the U.S., (2) paid cash, (3) had no luggage and (4) whose own father had blown the whistle on him.

Let us pray next Nov. 2nd hastens toward us on wings of eagles. We voters have much heavy lifting ahead of us.

THOMAS E. STUART | Kapaau, Hawaii

OBAMA STAY

VISIT TO BASE CHAPEL WOULD BE REASSURING

You would think that the president of the United States spending a Christmas holiday in Hawaii on a Sunday would desire to attend one of the several services at the base chapel. President Obama spends time every day caring for his body at the gym. The Bible tells us in I Timothy 4:8 "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come."

Military families would have been encouraged, as would we in the community, to know that the one leading our country believed attending a Sunday morning worship was important for himself and his family. It is difficult for me to trust a president who does not see the greater need for feeding his soul and seeking wisdom from the God who created him.

JOYCE LYON | Kailua

IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE PRESIDENT IN TOWN

This is in reference to A. Ashton's comment (Letters, Dec. 28) regarding being annoyed by the security surrounding the president in our neighborhood.

As a lifelong resident coming up on 60 years, I feel honored that the president and his family have chosen Kailua out of the entire nation to enjoy their much-deserved vacation. It's been a rough year for him (as well as the rest of the country) so shouldn't we respect their privacy even if it comes with heavy security? Take the opportunity to instill some pride in the children when you are sitting in traffic waiting for his motorcade to pass by, watch in awe as the military personnel salute him with respect and perhaps you will help strengthen his spirits by applauding him at the curbside to remind him where he comes from and not what he is going back to.

Come on, Kailua, scoot over and make some room, the president of the United States of America is in the house!

TERRY KAANAPU KAOLULO | Kailua