Letters to the Editor

Thursday, April 18, 1996


Students didn't pass, why should Joe Blanco?

Governor Cayetano should not reappoint Joseph Blanco.

On Nov. 3, Governor Cayetano at a public forum at UH-Manoa said that he would not appoint even one of the 50,000 UH students to the Board of Regents. He said that the Board of Regents should be independent and having a voting student on it would cause a conflict of interest.

Now he is trying to explain why having his personal, paid, executive assistant serve as the board chairman is not a conflict of interest.

Hogwash! The governor should be consistent.

Patrick Grandelli
President
UH-Manoa Graduate Student Organization



'Free Lunch' bus gives taxpayers a sour stomach

"A Free Lunch Shuttle Service" pilot program and Hawaii taxpayers' are footing 40 percent of the bill?

That's sure a free lunch for the restaurant business. And, pray tell, where did the Aloha Tower Marketplace, which owes the state millions, come up with the funds to participate?

What about the restaurants whose regular customers are going to be shuttled away, and what about the restaurants that will not be reached by the shuttle? Aren't they being discriminated against? Just some food for thought.

John Weil



Trees' old age forced their removal by city

To set the record straight regarding the photograph titled "Workers fell trees," appearing in the April 10 Star-Bulletin, the City and County of Honolulu's Beautification Department was being proactive to remove those trees.

The African tulip trees, whose stumps are shown in the photograph, needed to be removed due to old age. They were potentially hazardous.

I do not know when that photo was taken, but immediately after it appeared Outdoor Circle volunteers checked out the site. Twenty-four mature rainbow shower trees are now planted in their place.

Kudos to the city this time.

Mary Steiner
CEO
The Outdoor Circle



Oahu needs an airport more than sports complex

Recently I attended a briefing on the use of Barbers Point as a civilian airport. While I am not an expert on airport operations, I have been involved in civil defense and emergency management planning in Hawaii and other areas of the Pacific.

When (and not if) Oahu has a catastrophic hit - be it hurricane, tsunami or earthquake - the other major airports could well be unusable. If Honolulu Airport is usable, the tourist effort to leave would cause confusion and gridlock.

Hurricane Iniki showed us that experience.

Barbers Point would be absolutely necessary for incoming and outgoing disaster relief supplies. I fully endorse the governor's suggestion for its extended use.

Realistically, how many sports and recreation complexes are necessary to serve the residents of Oahu?

Jerry B. Norris



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