Raw fish, fruit good for Hokule'a crew
I was surprised at the diet the Hokule'a crew members are sustaining themselves with on such a historic voyage (
Star-Bulletin, March 13). Living up here in Vermont in this ocean of trees and hills and valleys (and snow) for 18 years has made me crave food I have been so ono for such a long time. After not having Hawaiian food for so long, I know I can go five months straight on the Hokule'a eating the healthiest, purest, most ono-licious food.
First of all, any age poi, the older the better. Second of all, fish -- raw, dry, palu, no problem. And last of all the veggies, raw onion, limu, yams, sweet potato, breadfruit, banana, mango, dry, boiled, overripe, mo' old mo' sweet. How much healthier of a diet can you ask for?
Willard Hashimoto
White River Junction, Vt.
Former Hawaii resident
If Superferry needs EIS, so does new barge
Young Brothers proudly introduced the "Kaholo" barge, for vehicles only, that provides the automobiles protection from the elements (
"Business Briefs," Star-Bulletin, March 10). What a coincidence! Is this vessel required to provide an environmental impact statement? This new barge cannot compare to the freedom that the Superferry will provide to taxpaying residents of Hawaii.
Young Brothers should be scrutinized exactly the same way as the Superferry. The Superferry has raised the bar for environmental awareness and sensitivity for Hawaii's waters and animals. Barge service would not go to the lengths to protect wildlife that the Superferry has provided for ocean inhabitants.
The Superferry is a threat only to the shipping options that are now entrenched at our harbors. These options are restrictive, expensive and risky to our possessions. The residents of Hawaii deserve this fantastic alternative to visit friends and family on the outer islands. Maybe it will help nurture aloha in general. Think about it.
Todd Hart
Kailua
Bit part in 'Five-0' led to speaking roles
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the articles about "Hawaii Five-0" in
Sunday's edition of the Star-Bulletin. Reading about the show and the people who were involved brought back many memories.
While it was mentioned that Gov. John Burns liked the show in Emme Tomimbang's special DVD, it is a little-known fact that then-Chief of Police Francis Keala also supported the show and allowed the script writers access to Honolulu Police Department files to help them develop story material.
Another not-too-well-known fact was that the majority of the police officers on the show were real HPD officers. The show's producers liked using real police officers, since we had our own uniforms and equipment.
While I was not a local celebrity or personality, I did appear in a number of episodes as an extra before landing my first speaking part in 1971, which eventually led to 20 speaking roles before the series ended its run. Unfortunately, I was "typecast" as a police officer, but it was still fun.
Needless to say, I still watch the "Hawaii Five-0" reruns, as I did not get to see many of the shows that I was in, due to my working hours with HPD. I am looking forward to the release of more seasons of "Hawaii Five-0" on DVD.
Robert L. "Bobby" Silva
Kailua
Students will meet higher expectations
I wanted to comment on Kriss Conley's "Waianae Intermediate is hitting critical mass" column (
"Gathering Place," Star-Bulletin, March 11). You get what you expect! Children learn more than just facts and strategies in school. They also learn roles, values, identities and ways of knowing. One of the ways we tell children what we expect from them is by the learning environment we provide for them. Several research studies suggest that students can interpret the expectations we have for them before they reach elementary school age.
If these children are 11- and 12-year-olds, they are just acting the way they feel they should act. We need to move way beyond the rhetoric that professes our commitment to providing Hawaii's children with access to a quality education. If we want to evaluate our commitment to this goal, all we have to do is to read this column. His actions speak so loud, I can't hear a word he's saying.
Louis M. Kealoha, Ed.D.
Honolulu
Ethanol fails to live up to its promise
According to the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Agency, Brazil is becoming oil independent by drilling offshore oil wells off Rio de Janeiro.
According to Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy, 40 percent of nondiesel Brazilian transportation fuel is ethanol, or 13 percent of the total transportation fuel.
Because Brazilians drive much less than we do, this amount of ethanol is equivalent to less than 2 percent of U.S. transportation fuel.
Furthermore, ethanol does not reduce greenhouse emissions.
So if we want a future, we should think of something else.
Henry Curtis
Executive director
Life of the Land
Honolulu