Schools' significance lost on lawyer
David Rosen (
"Gathering Place" column, Star-Bulletin, May 27) is one more in a long history of individuals who reside in the islands with little appreciation for their native hosts. The Kamehameha Schools (for all of its controversy) is a true gem to native Hawaiians. It is the visionary gift of a beloved princess to her children.
While it is true that her gift was not given to all residents of what would eventually become the state of Hawaii, Princess Pauahi's intent was not to exclude anyone but rather to ensure the inclusion of native Hawaiians who had been pushed to the margins of society. She saw the rapid decline of our people (from well over 400,000 at the time of Western contact, to fewer than 40,000 when she established her trust), and she felt a burden to assure our survival.
In his May 27 column, Rosen tried to compare his actions to the fight for civil rights in U.S. history. But if Rosen took the time to understand Hawaiian history, especially our unique history as the oppressed, indigenous people of Hawaii, he would understand the vital role Kamehameha Schools plays in the restoration of Hawaii's original inhabitants and he would leave us alone. To use his words, it's a "matter of principle."
Noelani Jai
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Suits against school insult princess
David Rosen's brewing suit against Kamehameha Schools insults Princess Pauahi Bishop's legacy and every Hawaiian, including our kupuna before us. He states he was raised in Hawaii and that all children deserve a quality education. It is hard to imagine he was raised in Hawaii and completely failed to learn the values of respect and integrity. He must realize his total lack of respect for the will of Pauahi Bishop. He must realize as well that there is no integrity in his continued efforts. When Pauahi's will was completed, the Hawaiians were an oppressed people in their own homeland. By his own actions, he continues the same oppression of Hawaiians.
He fails to think of the thousands of Hawaiians who apply to Kamehameha Schools every year and are not selected. Though disappointed, you don't hear about disrespectful lawsuits against Kamehameha when not accepted. We do not like receiving such regret letters, but the values we were raised with prevail and we respect Princess Pauahi's will.
Ka'iulani Damaso
Waikoloa, Hawaii
Past wrongs don't justify discrimination
In regards to the
May 27 letter by Rodney Souza concerning the Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy: How can you justify racial discrimination just because it was done by someone else? So because missionaries started whites-only schools, that gives others an excuse to exclude someone else, despite laws enacted to prevent just this sort of thing? I guess African Americans should overthrow the country and put everyone under the yoke of slavery and oppression. Or us Native Americans should massacre all white people. Maybe Israel should invade Germany and put everyone into concentration camps. These may be extreme examples, but you can see where I'm going with this. Hawaii is quickly becoming a place where nothing is ever anyone's fault, it's all because of something someone else did.
Let's all take some personal responsibility, grow up and start worrying about doing the right thing. Not just what's easy.
James McWilliams
Waikele
Rearranging map will fix illegal immigration
All this worry about current immigration issues in America can be easily resolved. Instead of a wall along the Rio Grand River, America should move its southern border to Mexico's southern border. At the same time, move the northern border to the Arctic Circle. Look at all the opportunities opened for all Americans now. Lots of oil in the south and north. More mineral wealth to exploit. Millions of jobs in improvements.
Then they can finally leave Ka Pa'e 'Aina O Hawai'i to the descendants of the kingdom.
Sharon Pomroy
Anahola, Kauai
Murder suspect should be tried as adult
Karen Ertell was somebody I loved very much.
Karen was a pillar of this community, who had a heart of gold. For many years she used her vacation time to volunteer for the children's cancer camp at Camp Mokuleia, on Oahu's North Shore. She has volunteered for many things in Honolulu, has hired women from the women's prison work program, and high school students on internships -- just to name a few. Karen is the type of person our world needs more of.
Karen was taken from us Friday in a brutal murder ("Murder charge as adult sought for teen," Star-Bulletin, May 28). It appears to all of us that this was a premeditated, heinous act. She was attacked and killed. It was no accident. The Oahu community should be outraged at this brutal crime, especially the Ewa Beach community.
We are asking everyone who knew Karen, both on Oahu and the mainland, to start calling and writing the Honolulu district attorney's office and Family Court and implore them to try this murderer as an adult; this person cannot go free in a short period of time from juvenile detention. We need the community's help for a better and safe Hawaii.
Kevin P. Callahan
Boyfriend of Karen Ertell
Why no ethics review for the BOE?
Regarding
last Friday's editorial supporting an ethics review of the Charter School Administration Office: I don't really disagree with the general point of the editorial. However, it seems strange that there isn't a similar request of the Board of Education, whose member accepted the $97 lunch in question.
Richard Behenna
Volcano, Hawaii
McCain too volatile to be president
Without Mitt Romney's presidential good looks or Rudy Giuliani's leadership during 9/11 still fresh in people's minds, Sen. John McCain has his work cut out for him in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.
His resume is built on his five years spent in a Hanoi prison 40 years ago, and, at age 70, it doesn't measure up to the rest of the Republican pack.
To make up for these perceived deficiencies, he sings old Beach Boy tunes with lyrics about bombing Iran and now, in frustration, hurls the "F" word at a fellow Republican senator.
Does anyone want a president who's in desperate need of anger management at the controls of nuclear weapons?
I don't have a crystal ball, but I believe the world stage will not settle down, humans will not be holding hands any time soon and world leaders will not readily fall in line behind the United States.
Paul D'Argent
Lahaina, Maui
Dems might win if they curb spending
If the Democrats want to take back the White House in 2008, they should try to be fiscally responsible to taxpayers. After all, the IRS requires us to keep our own personal tax records and properly account for ourselves on an annual basis. If the Democrats were to make an effort to be fiscally responsible, I think they would appeal to America's mainstream.
We are now paying for the war on terror and the octopus-like Department of Homeland Security, not to mention future government programs, such as universal health care. Is this going to hike the taxman's annual take from an average of 40 percent of our income to 55 percent or 60 percent of our income? What are taxpayers to think when they see all their hard-earned money wasted on things they do not even support with a majority?
Phil Robertson
Honolulu