Letters to the Editor
Friday, June 7, 1996

Is this Looney Tunes
or the City Council?

Council Chairman John DeSoto does not have the authority to act as judge and jury, and pass sentence on Andy Mirikitani by sending him to his tower dungeon. Neither does he have the responsibility to act as police protector to all city employees.

And if John Henry Felix claims to also be a "victim" of Andy Mirikitani's sexual harassment, then why hasn't he also filed a complaint?

This is not Looney Tunes. These people are supposed to be respectable public servants. They are as bad as the Legislature, and can be removed in the next election!

S.D.K. Naluai


Consumers should buy
products with 'aloha'

I hope people have been paying attention to the sweat-shop horror stories brought to national headlines because of the involvement of Kathie Lee Gifford.

Her supposed surprise at the idea that sweat shops exploit, abuse and degrade children producing clothing in her name was disingenuous at best. How else would these outfits be sewn in Nicaragua and Honduras at such a discount?

Check the tag on those cute toys made by Chinese children, slaves and prisoners. Is this the message you want to teach your children, that it's OK to exploit kids in other countries as long as it saves money?

Jim McGee
Kaneohe


Reef tramplers, scofflaws
should be 'shown' the Pali

On June 3, the Star-Bulletin ran a photo on page A-3 titled "What not to do." It showed visitors trampling the reef at Hanauma Bay. The caption said it was "a practice that park managers have been trying in recent years to dissuade to protect what little living coral is still alive."

First, those managers are obviously not managing, therefore they should be thrown off the Pali.

Second, trampling coral reefs should be ho'okapu and any violators thrown off the Pali. The reef would live long and prosper.

Finally, maybe we could extend "Pali Soaring" to vandals, graffiti taggers and other miscreants.

Bob Molyneux


A tribute to teachers from head of the class

Mililani High's Class of 1996 had 17 students qualified to be valedictorian. Because I work at a Mililani A+ program, I was not able to participate in the speech tryouts. Here are excerpts of the speech that I was going to share:

"A valedictorian's address is generally a moment to speak of lofty ideals and post-commencement plans. Instead of extolling these topics, I want to recognize the multitude of inspirational teachers who have assisted me in attaining my goals.

"One of my most inspirational teachers is Pauline Higa, my honors physics instructor. I first met her in 1991, when I was a seventh grader. She took me and a huge group of students and parents to Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala.

"Later, in fall 1994, I found physics to be exceptionally complex and needed her help on a daily basis. Mrs. Higa willingly gave up her 30-minute lunch breaks and her prep periods to review concepts. Before every exam, she held Sunday morning study sessions so that her physics students could ace her test. She even held a study session on Mother's Day!

"I want all of my teachers, especially Kathleen Gerber of Wahiawa Rainbow School, Jean Del Rosario of Mililani Waena, Chris Fukaya of Wheeler Intermediate, and Leslie Lai and Pauline Higa of Mililani High School, to know that they have made a difference in my life. One day I hope to honor their legacy and teach in Hawaii."

Kapuakuliaepilimaeole Asakura-Muramoto
A Mililani High valedictorian


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