Historic H-3 run was
a bonafide success

Thank you, thank you to Jack Scaff and the 3,000 volunteers who put on the H-3 run, the best-ever organized run in Hawaii. To have such a grand, well-run event the first time is truly amazing.

I trust that all the naysayers such as Star-Bulletin reporter Pat Bigold have slunk away and that next time, when someone takes the initiative and sticks his or her neck out to do something positive for our community, there will be more support.

Our economy may be in the tank, but our sense of community is still strong when 20,000 people can come together for a wholesome, enjoyable day thanks to volunteer efforts.

All those who made it happen are to be congratulated.

Lloyd Jones

Trustees are autocratic
in running Kamehameha

The recent controversy involving the Bishop Estate trustees reinforces my concern that they continue to make unchallenged decisions. It brings to mind the trustees' decision 10 years ago to institute a lottery system for entrance to Kamehameha's middle school.

The children were admitted and cultivated for seven years to love their elementary school. Then in the sixth grade, children were required to take an entrance exam to continue onto the upper grades, competing with hundreds of others. Sadly, few passed the exam.

At the end of sixth grade, a heart-rending graduation ceremony was held. The children sang their alma mater for the last time, were given souvenirs such as pencils, rulers and portfolios with the Kamehameha logo on them, and then were "kicked out" of the only school they had known and loved. What a traumatic experience.

This year, the trustees have finally allowed the last sixth grade class of the lottery system to continue on to the seventh grade without having to take the exam. I am happy about the trustees' change of heart. However, I still feel sadness because my child and many others suffered because of an autocratic decision showing a lack of genuine interest and compassion for the children who had to leave their beloved Kamehameha Schools.

M. Kawai
Aiea

Whale sanctuary is not
a smart investment

Hawaii state waters and submerged lands make up 80 percent of the proposed 2,100 square miles of a humpback whale sanctuary. This is a big investment, because this encompasses almost all of our state waters and submerged lands. What do we get in return?

The answer is mostly negative, as testified to by thousands of fishermen and ocean users over the past five years. Unnecessary redundancy of regulations, nominal infusion of capital from out-of-state sources, and real threats regarding waterway restrictions, user fees and crippling fines for violations are some of the negatives.

I see only one "plus" - these measures enhance education, research, monitoring and coordination focused on increasing knowledge of humpback whales and their habitat. However, keep in mind that these measures do not need a 2,100-square-mile sanctuary to be performed.

This is a bad investment.

Eric Mita

Anger over desecration
should be redirected

People are angry over the desecration of our veterans' cemeteries. But after the anger subsides, and it will, what happens next?

We should ask ourselves: If the people who were killed by enemy fire were allowed to come back, would they like what they see?

Would they, for example, be happy with the number of people who vote? That is what they died for, isn't it - the right of a people to freely elect their government leaders.

Some of you are probably saying, "Now wait a minute, this is still the greatest country on Earth!"

I don't think so. Good, yes, but great? A truly great civilization would, for example, treat its poor people much better than we do. And I wonder if all those who died fighting for this country would not agree with that.

We can honor them, if we really want to, by living in ways that would make them proud, by trying to match their valor with our own willingness to sacrifice, even if only sometimes. For example, by voting or by helping our neighbors in need.

We know what must be done. And if we need a thorn in our side to get us going, let us remember the people who died so that we could be free.

Alvin Nakamura

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Same-sex archive

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