Aloha, Moe Keale

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Mansho probably will get off easy

The Star-Bulletin keeps reporting that Rene Mansho "could" get a maximum of 15 years if convicted. You then say she has made a plea agreement with the prosecutor's office, but the prosecutor's office declined to say what that plea agreement is ("Mansho faces prison for theft," Star-Bulletin, April 17).

You know perfectly well Mansho will not get the 15-year jail term she so deserves. She will get less time than former City Councilman Andy Mirikitani got for his transgressions. Mansho probably won't get any jail time at all, even though what she did was worse than what Mirikitani did. She did the crime, but will she do the time? I think not.

Today's politicians are so arrogant that they think they can do what they want and not what the public demands. When we find out what Mansho's plea bargain is we will see that crime does pay, and that if you play your cards right you can get away with anything.

You wonder why people don't bother to vote. What good does it do when we see these kinds of things happen? There should be a box to check on the voting ballot that says "none of the above."

Frank Maxwell
Waianae

Tell judge your view of Arakawa sentence

We've all watched the case unfold in court, in the newspapers and on television during the past several months. There was initially the shock of the horrible, deadly car crash, the preferential treatment afforded Clyde Arakawa by his fellow police officers, the counterclaims and denials of culpability by Arakawa, the videotaped evidence of a long night of drinking before the crash.

Despite all his machinations, Arakawa eventually was convicted of reckless manslaughter. Tomorrow, Judge Ahn will pass sentence on the former police officer for the killing of Dana Ambrose.

Please let the court know how you feel about this case. The court will hear from all interested parties concerning Arakawa's sentence. Send a letter to Judge Ahn with your sentencing recommendations. Letters can be e-mailed to hwong@co.honolulu.hi.us or faxed to 1-808-547-7390.

Blaine Fergerstrom

Arakawa sentence should be harsh

Tomorrow Judge Karen Ahn will sentence former police officer Clyde Arakawa, whose reckless driving stole the life of a young woman. His crime -- killing someone when driving while intoxicated -- is unforgivable.

The people will see if Ahn sends a message about the consequences of drunken driving.

Dana Ambrose's spirit will be in the courtroom, watching to see if justice is served.

Eugene Cordero
Pearl City

Sounds like Watada had no evidence

Bob Watada, executive director of the state Campaign Spending Commission, has dropped the investigation into whether Mayor Harris's campaign illegally made a $100,000 donation to the Democratic National Committee in 2000 ("Harris wins DNC fund-raising fight," Star-Bulletin, April 9). Watada's excuse is that he doesn't have the staff or resources to continue the investigation.

This sounds like Watada is just admitting that he has no concrete evidence against Harris and that he is trying to save face. If Watada doesn't have any evidence, then why does he keep coming up with new charges against Harris?

If Watada had any common sense, he would end this witch hunt and stop making the Campaign Spending Office so blatantly politicized.

Evette Shamon

Not all GOP candidates received soft money

In the April 14 Insight piece, "The Bucks Stop This Year," Lee Catterall wrote, "The Republican National Committee contributed the state maximum of $4,000 to each of six Hawaii state Senate candidates."

For clarification, there were 10 Republican Senate candidates in the last election. I was one of those candidates and received no funding support from the RNC. I suspect that many Republican candidates -- especially on the neighbor islands -- depended, as I did, on their own personal resources, limited contributions from friends and supporters and lots of hard work to run respectable campaigns.

People like us didn't run because someone or some organization promised funding or support. We ran because we are committed to bring new leadership and direction to our state. And we will run again, on our own dime if need be, until enough voters agree.

Paul O'Leary

Volunteers created Kailua town party

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle was delighted to see the color photos of its yearly fund-raiser, the "I Love Kailua" town party, on the front page and on Page 4 in the April 15 issue of the Star-Bulletin. Unfortunately, no mention was made that this fun event was created for Kailua by the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle.

This "I Love Kailua" town party is a celebration of our community with entertainment, restaurant booths, crafts, a plant sale and children's activities. It also highlights other nonprofits such as Friends of the Library.

Scores of LKOC volunteers work all year long to prepare for this day to raise money for the beautification of Kailua. This party has financed such projects as the planting of Alala Point (Lanikai Point), the Pohakapu Fountain and the corridor of Kailua Road heading into Kailua town. We hope to see you all next year!

Lyn K. Turner
President
Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle

Even 'virtual' porn victimizes children

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision on virtual child pornography was based on free speech ("Free speech survives congressional assault," Star-Bulletin, April 17). This decision is a push toward child prostitution.

I wonder if the lawyers making these decisions are thinking of the possibility of their own pleasure, and not the damage that would be done to these young lives. Free speech does not allow slander or verbal threats; why should it allow slavery?

David Burton

Voters should get rid of Matsuura

No one person should ever, ever, ever have the power that Sen. David Matsuura thinks he has ("Assisted-suicide bill appears to be dead in state Senate," Star-Bulletin, April 18). I sincerely hope that the voters in his district get rid of him in the blink of an eye. What colossal nerve!

I hope that Senate President Robert Bunda and the rest of the Senate pull the assisted-death bill -- and any other pending bills -- out of Matsuura's committee right now.

Better yet, pull out Matsuura.

Don Neill
Kailua

Defeat of Talivans was citizens' victory

Congratulations to the citizens of Oahu for their ongoing and assertive efforts to rid the island of the Talivans.

We have been successful in our fight against a government program that clearly revealed the state Department of Transportation's arrogance and incompetence in its handling of this whole situation. Every step taken to justify the program or make it workable made things worse and we, the people, saw through it and responded.

From start to finish, the DOT demonstrated that it believes the citizens of Hawaii will believe anything they are told. The prevailing point of view of many government officials is that the citizens are here to serve the government.

They have it backwards. They are here to serve us. This time, we stood up and won. We can do it again and again, if necessary, until they get the message.

Good job to all of us who wrote letters, made phone calls, threatened and cajoled and those in government who listened.

Bob Kern

Roads more dangerous without van cams

It's unfortunate that the van-camera program could not be sustained. Last Saturday was the first day I had been on the freeway since the program shut down and, as you warned in a recent editorial, the speeders have taken the demise of the program as a green light to do what they want.

We redid the rules for dealing with driving under the influence by enacting laws of implied consent and made the processing of these offenses an administrative matter rather than having the courts handle it. It seems to me the same could have been done with the van cameras. If we could do it for DUI -- a much more serious offense -- then why not for speeding?

At the end of the day, one could only expect the Legislature to repeal the law. I've never seen legislators run for cover as fast as they did on this one. Increasing the speed limit to 60 or 65 will not solve any problems; it will just make legal what was once illegal.

The folks who now routinely drive 10-15 mph faster than the speed limit will continue to do so. This means that some folks will be going 75-80 mph, depending upon what level is set.

Nothing will change -- speeders will continue to speed and the Honolulu Police Department will continue to ignore the problem.

Bill Nelson
Haleiwa

State libraries should be made more inviting

When one sees the plight of our state libraries, one detects a critical and chronic lack of legislative and administrative initiative.

In Kapolei, a major library building stands unused and unfinished due to lack of funds. Our short-sighted state administration is planning to close or reduce hours at libraries. What a sad commentary on our island priorities and our leadership.

Borders, Walden and Barnes & Noble are packed with customers, browsers and readers, day and night. They serve food and beverages and allow talking and socializing. Yet our state libraries are underused, underpopulated and underfunded. Why not learn from these private enterprises and today's clientele and book-reading culture?

Silence is not necessary throughout a reading area or throughout a library, and food and beverages are part of the culture.

At least some of the state libraries could be refurbished to allow sections that allow conversation and accommodate food and beverage vendors, with tables for patrons. The libraries also could sell off extra books or old books at sale prices, as is done annually by the Friends of the Library.

A partnership of public-sector libraries and small, private food caterers could do the trick and also provide the library system with more patrons and funds (lease money and/or a percentage of vendor sales). The Kapolei library could be a pilot model, and this could help kick-start it in the so-called "second city."

Other projects might be attempted at the larger libraries and throughout the islands. The only sure way to failure is to try nothing new.

John Witeck

Israel rightly defends against terrorists

I find the reporting on the Israel/Palestine conflict disturbing, for the following reasons:

>> The news media are always referring to the Palestine (Armed) Security Forces as "Palestinians."

>> The media refer to armed terrorists and militia members as "Palestinians."

Israel is fighting a war against the terrorism attacking it. Israel is not targeting innocent "Palestinian" citizens. It is of utmost importance that we characterize the combatants in this conflict correctly. Doing otherwise would indicate that Israel was on the order of the Third Reich.

It is amazing that civilized people of the United States condone the actions of the Palestinian leadership and the terrorist countries that support the destruction of Israel.

Perhaps it would be better to look at a similar conflict in Hawaii: the descendants of the the Hawaiian kingdom not having rights to their land. Would it be OK for these people to resort to bombing Ala Moana Center, or perhaps your home?

I would ask you what country in the Middle East has offered a place for the Palestinians to stay, what country has assisted the Palestinians with their health needs, and what country provides economic benefits to the Palestinians?

Answer: Israel.

Peaceful coexistence is not what all the Middle Eastern countries want; they want the elimination of Israel. Stop fooling yourself.

Ian Rothstein

Adjust speed limits to prevailing traffic

Now that the reign of terror known as the Talivans is history, it seems that someone higher up has decided that maybe, just maybe, our speed limits are a little out of whack.

The H-3 alone has more loopholes than a Madonna pre-nuptial agreement. You enter from Kaneohe on a ramp marked 25 mph, which dumps you onto a stretch marked 45, on which no one is doing less that 60.

Going back to the Kaneohe side is just as absurd. You proceed for a few carefree miles in the stretch posted 55, and then it's 45, then 35, until you are dumped into the merge lane of a 55.

Someone once observed that water seeks its own level. To borrow upon that truism, may I suggest that safe speed seeks its own limit? You would be hard-pressed to find a law-enforcement officer who would not agree that the safest speed is to keep up with the flow of traffic. I have driven Hawaii's highways for many years and noticed that most drivers are a lot more akamai than most lawmakers think.

We have the technology in place to know at any one moment what the average speed is on most of our major thoroughfares. We should replace the posted speed limit in those areas with the average speed in the traffic one-half mile ahead and place these little flashing "your speed is" trailers with a display showing what the prevailing traffic pattern is and see what happens.

Even as you read this, some legislator is getting ready to call a mainland firm for multi-million dollar quotes on how to do this, while some sophomore at Farrington is saying, "Piece of cake."

My bet is that our Legislature will spend millions for a study and maybe increase the limits a maximum of 5 mph.

Larry Solomon
Kaneohe

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Aloha, Moe ...

Keale was rooted in spirit of Hawaii

My wife, whom Moe Keale affectionately dubbed "Hula Hair Pattie," and I always regarded our visits to his poolside bandstand at the Sheraton as the most important reason we visited Hawaii. Whenever I requested something offbeat, like Beethoven's "Fur Elise" or a blues tune, he always obliged.

Once, during a break, he painstakingly dictated to me the chords to his version of "The Hospital Song," one of my wife's favorites. One of the most compelling things about his act at the Sheraton was his thorough knowledge of the background, setting and intention of each song, which he always presented before treating people with his smooth, emotive voice and melodic, rich ukulele stylings.

Moe was deeply affected by the plight of his people. You could see it in his eyes and his reverence for the songs, the places and the spirit of Hawaii. Most of all, you could see it in his restlessness in private moments, his muted dissatisfaction with the world.

I am griefstricken by his passing, mostly because of his cat-like restlessness in a world that seems determined to forget that all of us are continually hurting under the yoke of our compromises with a homogenized, deadening culture. When he snuck "Ain't Nobody's Business" in the middle of a tourist-oriented set, I heard the entire world's longing for aloha.

Love forever to Moe and his family and friends.

John McFadden
San Francisco

His music was loved through the decades

I had the privilege of knowing Moe Keale in the 1970s and early '80s, before I left Hawaii and moved to Asia where I remain -- now 20 years on -- but I still call Hawaii home.

Moe was aloha. He taught me to forgive, he helped me to love my brothers and sisters from the heart and he always made time to share. His music was passionate yet soothing, his talent unquestionable.

Although I never saw Moe after 1981, his music and his aloha stayed with me...I am honored to have known such a man. I am absolutely sure there are many more like me with whom he shared his gift.

Moe always will be remembered with heartfelt aloha.

Richard W. Riley
Manila

Moe spread his aloha to California college

It is with great sadness that I learned of Moe Keale's death. As manager of the Shannon Center at Whittier College, I was privileged to know Moe and to have presented him on multiple occasions. His last performance here, on March 23, was full of the special spirit of aloha that always surrounded him. He looked good, his voice was stronger than ever, and his sense of humor was unbeatable.

On Friday, March 22, Moe and his son, Nalani, provided two outreach programs to local elementary school children in Whittier. These two programs were the most powerful and moving of all the programs that we have presented. Their history, stories, songs and dance helped our children understand more about the Hawaiian culture, while at the same time providing an insight on their own heritage (most of the children are of Hispanic descent, and the cultural history is similar).

Moe was a man who gave us a philosophy that he lived by every day -- the spirit of aloha. Thank you, all Hawaiians, for living aloha. Thank you, Moe, for sharing aloha. We will do our best, here in Whittier, to carry on with that spirit. Aloha, Moe.

David C. Palmer
Whittier, Calif.

Keale's music gave listeners chicken skin

I was shocked to learn that Moe Keale passed away. I frequently made sure to see him and his trio play at the Sheraton Waikiki whenever my wife and I came home on vacation and to visit family.

His music will live forever on his CDs in my collection. His songs just give me chicken skin when I listen to them. I can feel the true meaning of aloha in his songs.

He will be sorely missed, but, as his nephew said, he was full of aloha.

Clayton Lum
Coon Rapids, Minn.

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