Letters to the
Editor

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Thursday, April 2, 1998

Gambling doesn't hurt and it can certainly help

As an officer at the grass-roots level of the Hawaii Democratic Party, I appeal to your fairness and your demonstrated love for the "underdog."

I have followed your editorial stance against gambling for many years. It is impossible to purchase anywhere near one-tenth of the space in your newspapers that you devote to preaching hatred for every kind of gaming.

Even little old ladies are deprived of the social, recreational and health benefits of a "night out" with their friends playing a delightful game of bingo, because your editorials are so effective.

On April 3, at the Oahu Democratic Party Convention, I hope that a resolution urging the establishment of a statewide lottery and bingo-keno parlors will be resoundly approved and adopted.

Many new jobs will be created, us older folks can have a special "night out," the government will realize millions and millions of dollars of income, and we will be able to keep casinos that are owned and operated by overseas corporations out of Hawaii and Hawaiian waters.

Joseph A. Ryan

Folks must band together against dangerous NRA

School shootings are increasing yet Congress and state legislatures are doing little to address the problem. They are afraid of the political clout of the National Rifle Association and the financial support it will provide for opponents of gun control.

Legislators, the church, teachers, parents, students and others must be activists in preventing and stopping gun violence.

Gun crimes have been tragic for those involved. They disrupt education, traumatize students, and cause financial and psychological problems. They are extremely costly in providing security, arrest, prosecution and punishment.

The time is long overdue for our society to prevent these tragic crimes!

How Tim Chang

Three ways to improve ailing visitor industry

Hawaii as a tourist destination is overpriced and boring. Other places offer such superior and exciting experiences, it's no wonder fewer people visit here.

Three proposals which would turn tourism around, right now, are:

Setting up a joint venture with a company like Disney to build a first- class theme park in Hawaii. This would attract tourists from around the world, and promote family fun and excitement.

Setting up a joint venture to build a spectacular aquarium in Waikiki, like the one in Monterey, Calif.

Allowing shipboard gambling but restricting it only to tourists with out- of-state identification, as is successfully done in the Bahamas. Since Asians love to gamble, this would help counter the losses from the Asian recession, and give tourists something exciting to do.

James Lee

Nobody can replace Nani as a Rainbow

Is there basketball after Nani Cockett? Who gave us four great years, thrilled us with drives to the basket and her coast-to-coast breakaway steals for lay-ups, didn't leap but soared, didn't run but glide, endured a year of pain without complaint, maintained her composure despite hard knocks to the floor and bad referee calls, and showed us how to nab a purse-snatcher?

Nani Cockett. How could anyone replace her, or fill her shoes, or wear her No. 20?

Mahalo and aloha, Maika. We will miss you.

Matt Mateja

Mele Kalikimaka Bowl can be played on Maui

It has been announced that the annual Aloha Bowl may have a companion Mele Kalikimaka Classic Bowl in the afternoon -- a Christmas doubleheader for football fans in Hawaii.

Although hotels and businesses on Oahu may be excited about having twice as many football players, family members and supporters in town to attend this extravaganza, Lenny Klompus, chairman and CEO of Bowl Games of Hawaii, should consider having Maui host the afternoon Mele Kalikimaka Bowl.

Consider the following factors:

The Aloha Bowl has never been a sell-out event.

Since local football fans may be attending the "better" of the two bowl games, attendance at the other bowl game may be embarrassingly small.

Maui has shown that it has the football fans to make the Hula Bowl at War Memorial Stadium a sell-out affair.

William T. Kinaka
Wailuku, Maui

Soil contamination needs higher priority

The problem of soil pollution at the waterfront should be taken care of immediately. I understand that the state and six other private companies are doing their best to solve this problem, but is that enough? What happened to the other 20 or so companies also potentially responsible for contamination?

To solve the problem, we should work together to provide a clean and safe environment.

Who wants to work in an area where toxic vapors are causing vegetation to die and people to get sick? Who wants an environment where explosions cause gasoline and methane vapors to fill the air?

The state should be more firm when it comes to inspecting companies that pose a threat to the surrounding area. That way, we may be able to save billions of taxpayer dollars by discovering and solving the problem before it gets out of hand.

Anabelle A. Lozano

Linda Lingle will make difference as governor

Leadership is what is needed in a governor for Hawaii. We can find leadership by casting our vote for Maui Mayor Linda Lingle. She is committed to leadership and vision for all of Hawaii as she has proven successfully on Maui.

Her enthusiasm is contagious. She is vital. What she will accomplish will be amazing.

Marie Carleton

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