Mayor Harris is indecisive about which job he wants

The inability of Jeremy Harris to determine whether he's a 365-day-a-year candidate or a mayor reveals one of his most glaring weaknesses: indecision. Ever since his election, Harris has been toying with the idea of running for governor.

He's teased the public with repeated declarations that he may run. He promised -- and has broken his promise -- to tell us of his final decision this month. He has manipulated the media to follow every hesitant step he's taken en route to his "non-decision" on Feb. 4, when he said he's "more inclined" than ever to run.

That's great for publicity, bad for public service. He attracts attention to his career but detracts attention from his job performance.

We have a mayor who'd rather run for governor than run the city of Honolulu. It's no wonder he's been plagued by housing scandals in Ewa and rat infestations in Waikiki. Enough campaigning. Get to work, Mayor Harris!

Jimmy Tamura

Let's say aloha to best Wahine basketball team

A big fat "auwe" to KCCN radio for pulling the plug on the Wahine basketball game at San Jose State on Jan. 31, with four minutes remaining to play. It was a crucial span of time in which a comfortable lead shrank from 21 to 11 points.

Wahine fans are grateful for radio coverage of road games, but consider it an undeserved slight to abruptly cut away before completion of the game for that same old yadda-yadda pontificated Portnoy prattle.

I urge all to attend the Wahine's final home game tomorrow against Southern Methodist, when a new attendance record will be set. It should be a decisive win, and an opportunity to say aloha to four seniors on the best-ever Wahine basketball team.

Matt Mateja

Wahine basketball players are winners on, off court

I am writing this letter to thank the wonderful ladies on the UH Wahine basketball team and to acknowledge what a great job Coach Vince Goo and his staff are doing up in Manoa.

On Jan. 9, fifth and sixth graders at Maemae School were treated to a short visit by some members of the Wahine team, along with assistant coach Serenda Valdez, who coordinated the activity.

Nani Cockett, Kylie Page, Brandi Ashby, Raylene Howard and Sarah Petersen patiently answered students' questions in the cafeteria. They then spent the last 10 minutes of their time playing a "just-for-fun" scrimmage with some of our students.

Everyone knows that the Wahine are winners on the court. But what really distinguishes this team, and past Wahine teams, are their accomplishments off the court.

Their visit to Maemae School revealed the genuine aloha each of them has for the sport, each other, their coaches and their growing legion of devoted fans.

Matt Nakamura
Counselor, Maemae School

Don't blame parents; HHSAA is the villain

Why are Maui soccer teams upset with Oahu teams? We should all be upset with the Hawaii High School Athletic Association for kicking around girls and girls' athletics, in general.

All we parents did was hold the HHSAA to the original schedule -- for the girls' state soccer tournament to be played at Aloha Stadium. Teams traveling to state tournaments should always be sponsored 100 percent. The kids should not have to fundraise after winning berths.

The bad guys are not the Oahu teams but the guys who still have their hands in our cookie jar. They still have our $25,000 (from promoter Tom Moffatt to move the tournament from Aloha Stadium for the Mariah Carey concert).

We need to make changes in our athletic association. Let's overhaul this together.

Diane Wong

HHSAA has problems, needs to be revamped

The recent controversies involving the Hawaii High School Athletic Association are only a symptom of the ineffectual way that high school sports are run in this state. The HHSAA is controlled by five leagues, rather than the other way around.

Something is wrong:

When the OIA and the ILH, both affiliated with the National Federation, are allowed to use non-federated board officials.

When the preseasons are longer than the regular seasons.

When the seasons (soccer, softball, women's basketball) are played at inappropriate times of the year.

With the lack of teacher-coaches in this state; the DOE's mandate that athletic directors can't coach.

When communications between the HHSAA and schools are such that the schools don't have enough time to raise money to go to a state tournament. (Why they have to pay to go is another story.)

When coaches, who as a rule don't know the rules, have a large say in who will referee the games.

When the leagues rely on youth leagues to train players and coaches rather than having JV and intermediate school programs.

I call for a complete restructuring of the leagues and of HHSAA -- its personnel, philosophies, policies and procedures. It must be made responsive to the needs of the student/athlete. To resolve some of these problems, proven policies from similar size states should be adopted.

Jeffrey Bottalico
Kailua

Auto-insurance changes resulted in real savings

With all of the bad news about the economy, my personal economy just got better! My auto insurance rates went down.

I'm going to save about $200 under the new law. I just thought I'd say thanks to the legislators, the insurance companies and all the citizens who testified to help pass the new legislation.

The money will come in handy.

Thanks!

Iona Melyan

Fast-tracking prison is objectionable to Kau

I, along with 200-plus residents, attended a meeting to oppose the prison in Kau on Saturday evening. Big Island Sen. Andrew Levin was the only politician who chose to attend. This was the second public meeting to discuss this issue.

The first was when Oahu Rep. Nestor Garcia received testimony for and against the prison. Here again, it was evident that more were against this project than in support. So I am dumbfounded by the representation through the media and the governor's office that Kau supports a prison.

Two other communities have already rejected this project. This district is also loudly protesting, if only we are given the time to be heard.

There is legislation attempting to fast-track this project, allowing for state/county requirements to be eliminated. People feel a strong pressure that the powers-that-be are pushing this through quickly. "Steamrolled" is the term being used.

Helen Behrmann
Waiohinu, Kau, Hawaii

Food, drugs and medical should be tax-exempt

Now that the governor has reset the general excise tax to 4.75 percent, why not go one step further and give the elderly, senior citizens and low-low income people a break -- exempt food, drugs and medical services from this tax?

This group of citizens mostly eat and go to doctors. They do not buy other unnecessary items which they do not need.

Grocery-buying and going to doctors are their concern. I beseech the governor and legislators to give this suggestion due consideration.

Bill Wong

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Bishop Estate Archive

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