— ADVERTISEMENT —
Starbulletin.com


Letters to the Editor


Write a Letter to the Editor




Ball players should avoid others' mistakes

As all of us here at the Federal Detention Center (Unit 5A) watched you, Ewa Beach, represent Hawaii at the Little League World Series, we were granted a temporary sense of relief from our stressful surroundings and were in spirit right there in the bleachers cheering your efforts and talent.

Many of us were taken back to our own wonderful times at bat and in the field as young men, and for that we thank you.

Our hopes for you are that the sense of teamwork, dedication and determination will serve as a solid foundation on which to build your lives, and that you don't make the same mistakes some of us did, getting involved with drugs and crime.

If the success you've experienced has created even bigger dreams, you must remember that while each and every one can come true, the wrong decisions can keep them from within your reach.

In closing, we again want to offer much-deserved congratulations to our world champions. Now, go enjoy the sweet taste of victory you worked so hard for and deserve.

Yasu Arakaki
Federal Detention Center
Honolulu

Little Leaguers deserve more rewards

It would be so brilliant if Governor Lingle, Mayor Hannemann, Campbell Estate and/or others would give recognition to such a deserving group of young baseball players by giving them a U.S. Savings Bond or starting a college scholarship program for them or something.

Their performance on and off the field does more to put young people and the state of Hawaii in a beautiful light than does most of the advertising put out by the visitor industry.

Tim and Karen Wilson
Kaneohe

Honor the joyful news along with the bad

In his Aug. 31 letter to the editor, Howard S. Okada states the Ewa Beach team's Little League World Series win did not warrant front-page coverage, given the fact we had a war and hurricane disaster going on. On the contrary, I think it was very much warranted and welcomed. We are barraged daily with news of war and disaster, and it takes its toll on the human psyche. True, these events are happening. We have dealt with the war, front page, for two years. We never forget. There are times, however, when we need a break and we desperately need to celebrate whatever good we can find in this crazy world.

The bad news will always be there, but what good does it do a society to consume ourselves with only the bad? Does it make us feel guilty to celebrate the good? We need this brief joy, the team deserves it, they've brought Hawaii together for a time. Soon enough, we will be back to the inescapable daily bad news, but life is also about joy, and it is so rare these days. Let's grab it and honor it whenever we can.

Caroline Viola
Kailua

Civil service workers deserve memorial, too

How about a memorial to all those island civil service workers who answered the call on Dec. 7, 1941? My dad was one of them. He and his car pool drove to Pearl Harbor from Kailua before the bombing stopped. He didn't come home for almost a week. He worked at Pearl for 42 years and died at age 91 in January of 2003.

He used to wonder why there was no memorial to those workers from Kaneohe Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor, Fort Shafter, Schofield Barracks, etc.

These were men (mostly) who couldn't vote in the national elections, as we didn't achieve statehood until 1959. Yet their loyalty was beyond question.

The death of my father two years ago started me thinking. He never went back to see the Arizona Memorial, nor the Missouri. He couldn't bring himself to do so. He told how he had been the last civilian to sail on the Arizona during a "dry run." The ship's captain asked him to come aboard the Friday after my dad's shop repaired a slight damage to the Arizona. My dad got off the ship when they returned to dock, where she was sunk two days later.

I understand there is planning at this time for a new memorial center for the Arizona and the Missouri. Isn't this a perfect time to consider adding these brave, loyal Americans to the rosters of island defenders?

It's too late for my Pop, but never too late to acknowledge their contribution.

Anita Marciel Williams
Wildomar, Calif.

Somber anniversary marks end of war

This day in history marks the end of a brutal world war and the beginning of a new era for Japan, the United States and the world. Sixty years ago former enemies became allies and partners in a new world that has brought countries back from the brink of destruction to prosperity and fostered an era of communication before conflict.

On behalf of the Pacific Aviation Museum-Pearl Harbor and crew of the Enola Gay, I would like to thank all the men and women of the military and our leaders for their diligence in keeping watch over the safety of the world. We pray that reason will prevail among leaders before we ever again need to call upon our nuclear might.

Gen. Paul W. Tibbets

Pilot, Enola Gay
Member, Advisory Board
Pacific Aviation Museum-Pearl Harbor

Editor's note: The B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 9. 1945. The Japanese formally surrendered aboard the battleship USS Missouri on Sept. 2, 1945.

Warriors, you can beat the mighty Trojans

I want the University of Hawaii Warriors to know I believe the USC Trojans can be defeated tomorrow. They will arrive cocky, overconfident and sunburned. They are primed for an upset. They can be knocked off their Trojan horse. Didn't UH soundly defeat the previously unbeaten BYU Cougars a few years back?

Never before has there been such an opportunity to put the Hawaii football program on the national map. It is a matter of mind over matter for the Warriors. Just ask the Ewa Beach Little League team or Chaminade's basketball team.

The USC offense is no secret. They try to wear you down. Don't turn the ball over or they will make you pay if you do. They will try to score quickly on you on special teams kickoff and punt returns. Don't give them any opportunities. Close the lanes. Arm tackles won't stop them. Tackle sure and strong. And keep some troops fresh for the fourth quarter when you try to win the game. They will mount a furious charge. This could be an upset of epic proportions. This is what football legends and lore are made of.

The Trojans think they are coming to Hawaii to soak up some sand and surf and play a "warm-up game." Show them no aloha. Instead, show USC the fighting spirit of King Kamehameha and Duke Kahanamoku. Good luck and bring it to them.

William Richardson
Boca Raton, Fla.

Cement-type patches better for potholes

During the past year I have observed how our potholes have been fixed and refixed, and almost always during rainy days these asphalt patches come out again. I am told that this is due to the compression of the weight of the tires and water on the asphalt patches, and that this is unavoidable due to the consistency of asphalt and the method in which the patch is applied.

I have also noticed that in a few areas on the Pali Highway there have been cement-like pothole patches on the road. One of the more noticeable areas was just past the onramp to Pali Highway coming off Kamehameha Highway. I have never seen any one of these cement-like patches come off, during heavy rains or otherwise.

Are there others who have noticed this amazing possible answer to our pothole problems? I would like to ask our director of transportation, Rod Haraga, why this obviously superior pothole patch is not being utilized.

Clifford K. Honjiyo
Kaneohe



How to write us

The Star-Bulletin welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point (150 to 200 words). The Star-Bulletin reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed and include a daytime telephone number.

Letter form: Online form, click here
E-mail: letters@starbulletin.com
Fax: (808) 529-4750
Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210, Honolulu, HI 96813




| | |
E-mail to Editorial Page Editor

BACK TO TOP



© Honolulu Star-Bulletin -- https://archives.starbulletin.com

— ADVERTISEMENT —
— ADVERTISEMENTS —


— ADVERTISEMENTS —