Frank Fasi was an approachable mayor
This is a tribute to Mayor Frank Fasi who was the local government's boss in the 1980s and 1990s. ("The Fasi legacy," Star-Bulletin, July 28.)
He was a mayor who was fastidious about keeping the Honolulu Hale very clean -- almost spotless -- throughout. The air-conditioning units were maintained regularly and workers felt the air was kept fresh and free of dust. There were no such things as dust mites in the whole building, as far as memory can recall.
Fasi knew his employees, down to entry level workers and was, in fact, quite approachable. He could step out of the building, be accosted by a stranger who wanted to just talk with him or ask questions. It was not unusual for Fasi to spend time explaining what an inquiry or subject matter was about.
Being a Filipino, I daresay, Fasi did gather us Filipinos to his office to support his candidate, Victoria Bunye, for the position of lieutenant governor. My candidate was Ben Cayetano for the position. I told the mayor that Cayetano was a friend and I believed in him. I said if you want to fire me, please do so.
Fasi's face got very red, he looked down, then said: "I forgive you!" I was, of course, not fired. His sense of justice would not allow it.
There is a scene at City Hall that comes to mind once in a while because it was rather funny.
The mayor was going up the split stairway from the open court where I was watching. Fasi took the right stairway, was half way up the steps and was urging his dog to follow. The dog took the opposite stairway and refused to follow the mayor.
It went on a little while, Fasi whistling, but the dog moved up and away from Fasi. The mayor was forced to follow his dog. I laughed loud. The mayor waved.
Fasi was a lover of the arts, encouraged art exhibits in the open court and always announced regularly his support of the Honolulu Symphony.
The garden area surrounding City Hall is beautiful, and we can thank Fasi for that and the handsome Municipal Building surrounded by the floral displays that highlight the place.
Jovita Rodas Zimmerman
Honolulu
Senator's persuasive powers have dwindled
I sat watching the Akaka-Case forum last week, and about half way through I felt a great sense of sadness for a once great man, Dan Akaka. If his performance at this hometown forum was any indication of his power of persuasion, how can he properly represent us on the floor of Congress?
Helen Kohashi
Kaneohe
Akaka's moral compass is needed in Congress
If representation was about glibness and debating skill, the nation would be led by TV personalities, and not men of substance like Sen. Daniel Akaka.
Akaka had the guts to dig deeply into his convictions voting with only 23 other senators in opposing the sham arguments made to justify the war in Iraq. Now that Iraq is in a sectarian civil war, Akaka has the courage to say "enough."
He did not say "get out now" as his opponent characterized it. He's for a one-year timetable to force the Iraqis to get it together or face the fact that our country will not be there permanently, which is what his opponent's position really amounts to.
His opponent has a history of being a loner in the Legislature and in Congress, which is why he is not a leader.
Akaka may not be the dynamic 50-year-old he once was, but he leads by moral example, not by following the politically useful. In addition to his moral leadership on Iraq, he has led in raising awareness of Hawaiian issues and veterans' rights.
He deserves to be rewarded as he continues to be a moral beacon for peace and real commitment to us all.
Harry Palmer
Honolulu
Inouye loses sight of his higher duty
It has been said that Senator Inouye is the second best industry in Hawaii because of all the federal funds he has been able to direct here. However, the U.S. Senate has a larger role, that of leading the legislative branch to balance the executive and judicial branches of government. What has Inouye done in leading the nation to help solve our many serious national and international problems?
Inouye endorsed Sen. Joseph Lieberman in Connecticut's Democratic primary and again when Lieberman declared to run as an Independent, despite his rejection by Democratic voters. Now, he endorses Sen. Daniel Akaka for another term, in spite of the advanced ages of both our senators. While I am sure Akaka is a very nice man, what has he done to advance the good of the state and nation during his tenure? Is Inouye really putting the state, Senate and nation above personal friendships in endorsing both Akaka and Lieberman?
Vernon Wong
Waipahu
President sees a different reality
If anyone needed another example to illustrate that President Bush is out of touch with reality, look no further than his recent visit to hurricane-ravaged New Orleans.
In a place that looked more like a Hollywood movie set, Bush pointed out how well his administration responded to the disaster and the terrific progress being made. I guess living for a year in a one-room trailer is his idea of the high life.
This mirrors his constant repetition of how well Iraq is going, all the while the daily news reports come in about more U.S. soldiers and countless civilians dying.
Next up, Bush will hold a press conference along the U.S.-Mexican border and proclaim he has illegal immigration under control.
Paul D'Argent
Lahaina, Maui
Couric's waistline should not be big news
Katie Couric was to begin telecasting the CBS Evening News yesterday, but I was not watching!
If Couric is truly the best person in the United States to deliver the news, it should not have been necessary to conduct the advertising campaign of the past few months to tell us how wonderful she is. In my opinion, no person alive in America today is worth the salary of $15 million per year, which I understand she will receive!
During recent days, the network has resorted to altering her photograph to make her appear slimmer, and to darken her clothing for the same reason. Now we have a gallery of celebrities jumping on the bandwagon to tell us how great she is going to be. Included in this group are one former president and, unbelievably, the sitting president!
Please decide whether you wish to be manipulated in this fashion. As for myself, I would rather not.
Don Burger
Kailua
Traffic lanes needed narrowing for safety
I would like to address Mike Wo's Aug. 6 letter complaining about the narrowing of Keaunui Drive. I am the one responsible for asking the city Department of Transportation to narrow the lanes. I realize that traffic has been affected, but after more than two years of trying to educate drivers through media publicity, students holding signs and having police presence, drivers were still speeding and creating a safety hazard in front of our school.
Here are the facts:
» Motorists would not stop for the crossing guard helping children cross. They would speed in the lane closest to the sidewalk in an attempt to cut in ahead of the car stopped.
» Motorists were not stopping for the buses with flashing lights loading and unloading students. I witnessed two Ilima students almost get hit because cars were overtaking the school bus with its flashing lights.
» Four of our students have either been hit or nearly hit by cars in the last two years.
I have to stand up for student safety. Our crossing guards have come to me concerned not only about student safety but their own. Several parents already have voiced their appreciation to the school for increasing the safety of crossing students.
The bottom line is that there were too many drivers rushing to work completely disregarding children's safety. The choice was student safety or traffic. I would like to thank the city Department of Transportation for working with the school and putting children's safety first.
Norman Y. Pang
Principal
Holomua Elementary School
On vacation
Cynthia Oi is on vacation. Her "Under the Sun" column will resume Sept. 27.
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