Tailgating encourages excessive drinking
I don't understand the lack of using common sense and showing respect for others, as well as yourself, when drinking alcohol period! I don't see the harm in having a couple of beers and watching the game. But these so-called tailgate parties where people bring in cases and even kegs of beer ... come on, I find it hard to believe they really came to watch a football game.
Seems to me that whatever the vendors sell should be enough beer to drink and still have a good time watching the game. Maybe they should even raise the price more to discourage anyone from drinking too much and apply the extra money toward removing those die-hard drunks that remain in the parking lot.
AL Wilcox
Mililani
U.S. has come far in fighting injustice
I believe Alfonso L. Largo is off base in
his Oct. 7 letter responding to Joseph Gedan's
Sept. 29 commentary. First, the commentary by Mr. Gedan was right on the money. Aloha, aina, pono were given to all citizens of Hawaii, not only the kanaka maoli. Second, if my history is right, slavery did not start in the Americas but was a way of life in Africa, China, the Middle East and, basically, throughout the world. The Inca and Mayan societies were known to have slaves. So slavery was in the Americas for much longer than 250 years. As far as segregation goes, we have come a long way to abolish it. But no law will change how a person thinks. And finally, should one generation pay for a previous generation's transgressions? I don't think so.
Robert Rodrigues
West Melbourne, Fla.
Former Hawaii resident
1 person does make a difference at beach
Ever notice all the litter on Oahu's beaches? For many years now, a man named Vince rides the bus weekly from Kahaluu (four hours round trip) and spends an hour picking up trash on a small stretch of shoreline near Sandy Beach. He doesn't do it for money or even community recognition. Rather, this is his own personal commitment to a piece of Hawaii that has given him much joy.
From my brief encounter with Vince, I am inspired to make a more personal commitment to the environs that give me joy everyday. More than complaining, more than money, more than new laws, we need more people like Vince who are willing to personally care for the land, willing to give back to the land. One person makes a difference every week near Sandy's. How can you give back today?
Charissa Raynor
Honolulu
Patrolling NWHI could be costly endeavor
I really wonder how the state of Hawaii intends to enforce
the recently announced ban on fishing in the state waters of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. I doubt that the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Marine Fisheries Service can legally enforce Hawaii state laws.
Realistically, to patrol the 1,200 miles of the NWHI, the state would need one or two 150-200-foot, high-speed, long-range patrol ships, along the lines of the U.S. Coast Guard's enhanced Island Class cutters. Operating and maintaining these ships, as well as boarding offending fishing vessels, would require an 18-20-man crew for each ship. The state would also need one or two long-range, multi-engine patrol aircraft such as the C-130 or the P-3 Orion, as well as flight and maintenance air crews. The cost would probably be somewhere in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Gary F. Anderson
Waimanalo
Title IX tips balance too far toward women
I'm all for equal rights, but what's so equal about Title IX? The University of Hawaii's women's athletics can't support itself so the UH men's program has to flip the bill! Faith P. Evans (
Letters, Oct. 12) states, "More than 25 years have passed and while things are not perfect, women athletes enjoy a better environment at UH." I agree. They got it better than any man could hope for. And what's so equal about Evans' boasting that Hawaii passed the Equal Rights Amendment because of Rep. Pat Saiki? Was it not passed by the entire state Legislature, comprised mostly of men, and signed by the then-male governor?
Society is lucky that the men in elected office are sensitive to the needs of women, minorities and basically everyone. Too bad people like Evans are too stuck on what women could do for women and not what people should do for everyone. The people of Hawaii are getting savvy to that kind of bias, and that's probably why she's a "former state representative."
Raymond Kam
San Francisco, Calif.
Former Hawaii resident