Moanalua High musicians shone at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall, a performance of a lifetime! That's what our son, Bret, a member of the Moanalua High School Orchestra, had. It was an incredible experience for those who had the opportunity to see it and literally brought tears to our eyes.The music was indescribably beautiful. Equally beautiful, however, was the discipline and control these students exhibited.
For making this trip possible, we thank Elden Seta, Michael Englar, June Masuno, Stan Tamashiro and his committee. A special mahalo to the Moanalua Elementary Strings and Music program under Carol Nishita and Darren Kimura, and the Moanalua Intermediate Orchestra under Yvonne Yokoe, who help provide the musical foundation for this fabulous high school program.
JoAnn and Harley Sugiyama
Tiger and Fuzzy made for uplifting photo
Thank you for the cheerful, smiling April 10 photo of Tiger Woods and Fuzzy Zoeller on the front page of your sports section. With the economy wreaking havoc, we really needed your prominent picture to show us that something broken can be fixed. One picture expresses a thousand words, indeed.Last year, Woods won the Masters at Augusta National with a resounding record of 18-under, 270, winning by 12 strokes and emerging as the Masters' youngest champion. Zoeller jestingly murmured to reporters that Woods "should have fried chicken, collard greens or whatever the hell they serve" on the menu of the champions' dinner. A huge uproar followed, denouncing these insensitive remarks. Zoeller apologized to Woods, who graciously accepted the apology.
Although whirling winds and rain may prevail, the human race can feel a pronounced peace and "chicken skin" when good sportsmen become good sports. To err is human, to forgive is divine.
Mabel Chang
Why the preoccupation with Clinton's sex life?
When I was talking to my brother in Europe the other day, he asked me with consummate disbelief, "When are you Americans going to quit your morbid preoccupation with your president's penis?" I am sorry to say, I could not answer his question.He also suggested that it would be more appropriate to praise Clinton's great accomplishment of creating peace in Yugoslavia, a feat that even the European Union could not achieve.
Gerhard C. Hamm
UH fund-raisers send a mahalo to givers
As student fund-raisers for the UH Foundation Annual Fund, we appreciate this opportunity to address the concerns mentioned in a March 28 Kokua Line column.Since fall 1994, students have been fund-raising for various schools, colleges and campuses in the UH system, including the community colleges. Our purpose is to build pride in UH academics, foster relations with alumni and friends and support this great academic institution.
In the last fiscal year, we raised more than $556,000 in pledges. This year, we are at 79 percent of our goal of raising $600,000.
We would like to express our gratitude to all UH friends and alumni who have taken the time to talk with us. They may not realize this, but their stories of victories, struggles and post-college experiences help us in our personal development and in planning our future.
Marion Bigelow
(Editor's note: Eighteen other students also signed this letter.)
Bank's extravagance shows in copper gutters
I am wondering about the obviously opulent copper rain gutters that First Hawaiian Bank's Moiliili branch (under construction) has running the length of its well-tiled tiered roof. They may be aesthetically pleasing but smack of a deliberate indifference to our economic woes.What's next? Separate drive-through windows for FHB's affluent accounts, with tellers sporting Ralph Lauren shirts and Gucci watches?
As we approach the new millenium, we need to encourage pioneering approaches toward restructuring and redefining our goals, our vision of Hawaii and the ways in which our citizens interact with one another.
Focus could be on positive, productive, imaginative ways that will infuse our spirits with the energy to preserve our aina, economy and ultimately improving the quality of our way of life.
Shawn K. Bombard
Answer the telephone with a friendly 'aloha!'
I noticed that one of the members of the Legislature suggested more companies answer their phones by starting off with, "Aloha."Our company started this more than 40 years ago and many people, especially those on the mainland, enjoyed the "aloha" greeting.
I urge all Hawaii companies to do the same.
Ray Milici
Chairman, Milici Valenti Ng Pack Inc.
Lind's local journalism led to national investigations
Your March 16 editorial on the Ron Brown probe failed to mention the significant role that Star-Bulletin writer Ian Lind played in the investigations that led to a series of convictions, including those of former Hawaii residents Eugene and Nora Lum.Lind's early work uncovering questionable conduct on the part of the Lums served as background for a PBS "Frontline" documentary and a 14-page article in the New Yorker magazine. These are generally credited with rekindling the entire investigation after Brown died in an airplane crash.
Good investigative reporters are a rare commodity in Hawaii. This is a state where corruption is too often the norm instead of the exception. We need more Ian Linds, and you as a newspaper should not be shy about blowing your horn.
Thank you for the reminder that results are being achieved out there in the rough world of campaign funding abuses.
Anthony P. Locricchio
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