Canoe spreads imperialist message

In response to the "Crowds at Yokohama greet Hokule'a" (Star-Bulletin, June 9): Has the voyaging canoe Hokule'a transformed into the Trojan horse of Western imperialism, American expansionism, the U.S. military industrial complex and the international tourism industry in the Pacific region?

Don't hear chickens? Count your blessings

Lucky Kim Kido says, "I haven't heard one crow in years" (Letters, June 12). That is precisely why she is not qualified to discuss living in residential neighborhoods next to chickens that crow as loud as ambulance sirens at 4 a.m. Perhaps if she parked her car right next to her bedroom window and set her car alarm to "on" at 4 in the morning while trying to get some valuable sleep, she would understand what the rest of us who live next to chickens are talking about.

Fly the symbol of hope for mankind

Tomorrow has been proclaimed by President Bush as Flag Day, and this week as National Flag Week. The Hawaii Society of the Sons of the American Revolution calls upon our officials to appropriately display the flag. We also urge all Americans to fly the Stars and Stripes from their homes and other suitable places.

The Hawaii Society's Web site features a section on the history of the American flag and proper flag etiquette at www.hawaiisar.org/patriotic_educational/flag_etiquette.html

In his proclamation, Bush said, "Two hundred and thirty years ago, the Second Continental Congress officially made the Stars and Stripes the symbol of America. The Founders declared that the 13 stars gracing the original flag represented 'a new constellation,' just as America embodied new hope and new light for mankind. Today, our flag continues to convey the bold spirit of a proud and determined Nation."

The president's Flag Day and National Flag Week Proclamation may be viewed at: www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/06/20070606.html

Maybe things aren't that bad after all

I owe Gary Rogers (Letters, June 7) one big thank you!

Unlike Rogers, I had been worrying about how things have been going under our "idiot President." Things like our troops being killed and wounded in an illegal war bothered me. Secret CIA prisons, waterboarding, Gitmo and Abu Ghraib were keeping me awake at night. Plamegate, Alberto Gonzales, illegal wiretaps and the death of Habeas Corpus all seemed pretty bad. Record deficits, no-bid contracts, Hurricane Katrina and all the other debacles certainly didn't help.

But I'm feeling a lot better now and I'll tell you why -- Gary's 401(k) is soaring!

Vote for the person rather than the party

In regard to Adam Lee's June 9 letter about President Bush's failure: I used to vote as a lock-stepping big "D" Democrat. Then I realized that most of what happens on any given president's watch is in spite of him, not because of him. We give credit and blame too hastily.

I now vote as a small "i" independent per the candidate running and not for the party. Mr. Lee, please consider this.

HECO discourages private generators

Robbie Alm, senior vice president for public affairs for Hawaiian Electric Co., wrote a fluff piece about its support for alternative energy ("Another view," Star Bulletin, June 9). It appears they want to do it themselves while discouraging others!

Please, Mr. Alm, explain in simple terms why HECO discouraged, in strongest terms, the installation of a co-generating system at the Pohai Nani Retirement Community where I live. It uses heat generated in the kitchen to run our air-conditioner and heat our swimming pool. It saves thousands of dollars each month while helping the ecology.

More lately, HECO appealed to the Public Utilities Commission for a tariff on our system and others like it (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 14). The reason stated was HECO's need to build, maintain and run a back-up supply when ours goes out. What a laugh! Two points: 1. These systems are spread throughout the island and are no way connected. No way are they likely to all go out at the same time. 2. It is HECO that blacks out all or large portions of the island.

If HECO is successful in its outrageous request, you can expect every hospital, hotel and others who have to install, maintain and operate standby generators to supply essential services when HECO fails. Same rationale!

Kamehameha parade deserved live TV

King Kamehameha, through his knowledge and fairness, was able to unite all of the islands of Hawaii. Throughout our grade schools, the history of King Kamehameha has been taught to our students. He is a role model for our youth in the state of Hawaii. He was respected and accomplished what no other person did before him.

With the $700 million surplus in the state budget, I wonder why there was no live telecast of the floral parade held in his honor. Many of the children and even adults who are elderly, disabled and bedridden could have observed the celebration of this remarkable man. A month ago, we all celebrated the death of an island entertainer with a live telecast. Why wasn't the same afforded to our alii King Kamehameha?