Candidate is a woman
in the eyes of the law

With regard to the Star-Bulletin's Nov. 2 article, "Women's group backs man switching sex," the statement regarding my gender is in error. The correct statement would be that I am now legally a woman.

The most rudimentary and basic research of the facts would have revealed the legal requirements and definitions about the main factual support for your article.

My response to questions on Friday explicitly provided your writer with that information.

Because of the factual error, I demand that you print a retraction, giving it the same position and coverage as the article.

Tracy Ryan
Candidate
12th House District

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Superfluous questions after
death of sergeant

After observing the news coverage of the police sergeant who fell to his death from the airport overpass, I have a couple of questions:

1) Who cares if he had a recent divorce?

2) Who cares if he had a couple of drinks while off duty?

The issue here is that you don't throw people off bridges if you happen to disagree with them.

Ken Wooley

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Cops can’t be ‘on duty’ every
moment of the day

The recent unfortunate situation where a Honolulu police officer fell to his death during a traffic incident brings one factor to light. I am sure that there is a scenario for police officers to follow when acting independently, while not in uniform and off duty.

This tragedy may have been averted if regular uniformed police officers had been notified and the situation monitored, until they arrived. In this age of drive-by shootings and violence, anyone would be ill-advised to "pull over" at the suggestion of another motorist.

How does one know if a person is a police officer? Remember past incidents of people posing as police officers?

This student's life is going to be totally changed by this incident. Maybe if police were not officers 24 hours a day and just put in their "eight" like most people, we would not be mourning the loss of a police officer and lamenting a student for what he is about to go through.

Donald J. Donnarumma

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Subpoena ads
smear Morgado opponents

I am compelled to respond to recent television advertisements aired by mayoral candidate Arnold Morgado, which falsely state that I refused to respond to a subpoena "issued" to me. As Mr. Morgado's attorney admitted in a press conference Thursday, I have never been served with any subpoena. In fact, Mr. Morgado agreed to withdraw the subpoena when faced with a court hearing this week which likely would have resulted in sanctions for abuse of judicial procedure.

I have nothing to hide from any legitimate legal inquiry. However, Mr. Morgado has elected to misuse the legal process in a desperate attempt to smear his opponent and myself.

The advertisement aired by Mr. Morgado is defamatory and libelous per se. Under Hawaii law, every broadcast and republication of the ad is a separate libel which increases the damage to my reputation. Mr. Morgado's attorneys are fully aware of the legal consequences. I have requested Mr. Morgado withdraw the ad. He has refused.

This entire episode leaves one wondering whether the subpoenas were timed for the purpose of setting up a defamatory political advertisement. It is a sad commentary on political campaigning, and reflects poorly on the character of the persons involved. The voters deserve better.

John Waihee

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Samoan teens got off easy for
beating youth to death

The four- and five-year sentences for the three guilty Samoan teens who deliberately beat to death my nephew, Misiona Faumuina, in 1995 were a mockery of justice.

Note the difference between the punishments given by Judge Perkins in 1996, and Judge Aiona's seven consecutive life sentences on another Samoan teen, Saofaiga Loa Jr., in 1994. Loa didn't even kill the non-Samoan couple he abused.

Explain the justice between these two sentences. How did these judges determine these contradictory decisions? How can Americans live quietly in the comfort of our homes when we plainly see the ostensible violation, or the exploitation, of our sense of justice by these unethical professionals?

First, they write the laws with manipulative or abstract lingo. Then they charge us $200 an hour just to interpret it! Then, they set more laws to promote themselves to play God, and judge the hell out of everyone!

High Chief "Cy'' Faumuina
Executive Director
Faa-Samoa Religion Inc.