Our "colonized" American Hawaiians are in a ferocious jubilation, including some OHA trustees. History shows that the claim, "Queen Liliuokalani's cries have been heard," is all horse manure. It is the provisional government which is proud of HSEC's work, not the queen, who as a result of the state's HSEC scam is continously turning over in her grave.

Ka Lahui Hawaii has been waiting at "the table" since 1987 and now our jubilating American Hawaiians, who have been the pawns of this state initiative, are saying it is "time to come together."

Will you American Hawaiians please stop doing us any more favors!

Samuel L. Kealoha Jr.
Trustee, Office of Hawaiian Affairs

He believes taxpayers should not be made to bear the entire burden of financing a sovereignty convention in which they will have no say in a process estimated to cost between $6-$12 million.

When Governor Cayetano released state funds for the Hawaiian vote, the Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council pledged to him that it would pursue outside sources of funding in addition to state funding. Just how much, if any, Hawaii's taxpayers will be asked to pay is for the Legislature to decide.

Kathleen Racuya-Markrich
Press Secretary
Office of the Governor

Apparently, Mrs. McMurdo has forgotten that Mayor Harris did testify in front of McMurdo's Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs on Feb. 5, saying, "We believe the state should move quickly to identify new minimum security facilities . . . we will continue to work closely with the state in addressing the shortage of prison space."

McMurdo is right that many people - she says five legislative committees - saw the need for expanded prison space. Mayor Harris began talking about that need as early as October 1994 and kept on the subject until the state Legislature finally appropriated the funds late in the 1996 session.

There is plenty of credit to go around, but it is clear to most observers that it took the outside pressure of Mayor Harris and Oahu's neighborhood board chairmen, as well as dozens of citizens who joined the city's lobbying efforts, to finally get the state off the dime.

His efforts were apparently more effective than the long-held good intentions of state officials.

Carol L. Costa
Director
Office of Information and Complaint
City and County of Honolulu

Does he mean to imply that marriages involving step-parents or adopted children are less worthy of respect than others?

On the other hand, is a marriage where the couple cannot or choose not to have children less valid?

Finally, state Deputy Attorney General Rick Eichor is quoted as saying, "Allowing same-sex couples to marry won't make a significant difference in creating the optimal conditions for children." Then what's the big deal?

It seems to me that the criticism is based on genuine dislike, fear or disapproval of homosexuals.

However, this is not the issue in this trial. The issue is fairness to human beings.

Kimo King