STAR-BULLETIN
Boise State Broncos fans appeared dejected during the waning minutes of the game against the University of Hawaii Warriors on Friday, Nov. 23.
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Warriors for Boise State
Many in Idaho will cheer Warriors past Bulldogs
I just want to send a congratulations to the Warriors on their WAC win. Even though I am a serious Boise State fan, I have sucked it up and decided to give some love from Idaho to you folks across the pond. Colt Brennan and the boys showed up this year and most of us here are happy for them.
Hawaii will have a good-sized cheering section here in Idaho when the Sugar Bowl rolls around. We would love nothing more to see the Warriors kick the crap out of Georgia ... especially due to the fact that they lack the excitement to play you guys. I have a feeling they are going to get dealt with.
Please give the SEC a good punch in the mouth for all of the "little guys." P.S. Cheer for our Broncos when they come and visit on Dec. 23.
Jeff Sessions
Nampa, Idaho
Isle residents should return Boise fans' kind wishes
There have been a number of letters from Idaho residents who support Boise State, their team, congratulating the Hawaii Warriors on their win and wishing them success in the Sugar Bowl. At the same time we know many supporters of our Warriors are having great difficulty getting to the Sugar Bowl, either due to game ticket shortages or airline accommodations.
I hope those who can't make it to New Orleans as well as those who don't plan to go anyway will support Boise State and the Hawaii Bowl. It would be a great demonstration of aloha for that worthy opponent of Hawaii as well as return of the support their fans have demonstrated for Hawaii.
James V. Pollock
Kaneohe
How does football team contribute to Hawaii?
In defending University of Hawaii football coach June Jones' high salary, Elaine Hoffman asks, "What have they (UH professors) done to bring name recognition, good feelings and pride to our university and state?" (Letters, Dec. 7). I pose two sets of questions for Hoffman.
Regarding the football team, what exactly is the value of name recognition? What kind of positive effect on our island life will be delivered by people who had not heard of Hawaii before this football season? Is there any proof whatsoever that the well-being of local people is dependent on the success of the UH football team? And do good feelings help solve our transportation problems or improve our dilapidated schools?
Regarding UH academics, the chief function of UH is to educate people, not provide entertainment. Aren't the eventual contributions made by well-educated students a source of name recognition, good feelings and pride? Is Hoffman aware of the large amount of money garnered by UH faculty?
One final question: If the UH football team generates such elation and pride, why will many of Hawaii's brightest high school students attend mainland colleges, and not UH, next fall?
Todd Shelly
Honolulu
Enjoy the game wherever you are
Congrats to University of Hawaii Warriors Coach June Jones for having faith in Colt Brennan. Congrats to Brennan for having faith in his team. Congrats to the team members for believing in themselves through each opponent and every play. Congrats to the fans who have backed this team through thick and thin for so many years.
Is the Sugar Bowl ticket situation less than ideal (Star-Bulletin, Dec. 7)? Sure, didn't those guys realize that this is the Super Bowl for an entire generation of UH fans? I guess not. But we shouldn't let that detract from the excitement of the day and the meaning of the occasion.
There are lots of great locations from which to enjoy this game, whether it's the cheap seats at the Hawaiian Sugar Bowl, at a local pub, or at your own private tailgate party in the comfort of your favorite chair.
You know what? It doesn't really matter which one it is, because June, Colt, the team, the cheerleaders and some very lucky UH fans aren't the only ones making it all the way to New Orleans. Wherever UH fans may be, we're all making it.
Go Warriors; scare the Dawgs!
Jim Dorsey
Kailua
Other letters
Fliers on utility poles degrade communities
Last week hundreds of ugly yellow fliers were illegally posted on Windward Oahu utility poles, especially at pubic parks, in front of schools, close to commercial businesses and in residential neighborhoods. Another example of someone trying to make money at the expense of Hawaii's beauty and the sanctity of our communities.
The fliers advertised a concert at Kualoa Ranch which denied any knowledge of the advertisements, as did the concert's promoter. That's par for the course. Hundreds of fliers posted -- yet nobody knows who did it. Hmmmmm.
We encourage venue owners to tell the promoters that illegal advertising will result in stiff financial penalties and cost them their ability to book future events. Both could face fines and even criminal prosecution, but the law is rarely enforced. In the meantime, a big mahalo to the state Department of Transportation for quickly dispatching a crew to remove the signs -- unfortunately, at taxpayer expense.
If you see illegal fliers on utility poles anyplace on Oahu, please call the event venue to complain, then call the Outdoor Circle and we'll see that they are removed.
Bob Loy
Director of Environmental Programs
The Outdoor Circle
Storms are no excuse to cut down trees
The recent winds caused a lot of damage from falling trees. We have already lost so many beautiful trees lately to big business and politicians who make a living convincing the fearful that trees are dangerous, potential lawsuits that are better cut down.
Yes, the wind caused trees to fall and much damage was caused to people and property. Thank God nobody was killed by the storm. But please do not let us use fear of another storm as an excuse to kill trees.
Will tourists want to visit a barren, sun-baked rock? Do you stop in the shade at a red light? A tree-shaded home and yard is a pleasure every day and saves on energy expense every month. A wind storm like the one last week comes once a generation.
Every tree we have left is a gift to our children. We must resist the arguments of those who have financed expensive tree-cutting machinery and must keep it busy. Do not allow yourself to be persuaded to have your trees cut down. Keep our island cool, with clean air and refreshing breezes, more shady spots to park our cars and a good feeling in our hearts.
Brenda Upchurch
Wahiawa
Turn the natatorium into a play court
The old natatorium in Waikiki, which been closed for more than 20 years with no progress in sight, can be put to good use if the city converts the broken-down swimming pool into a world class play court for basketball, volleyball, tennis or even skateboarding.
There are existing bath and locker facilities available, which might require some maintenance or upgrading.
Parking is another problem. A mini-multideck parking structure could be implemented into this project for the benefit of public access to the beach. The proposed parking structure would eventually pay for itself with reasonable parking rates.
Standford Pa
Honolulu
Prostitutes are bad for the neighborhood
I live by the Pali Safeway store, where prostitutes are seen walking the streets at all times of the day and night. Every time I walk to the bus stop, prostitutes are out there standing at the corner waiting for cars to stop. It just makes me sick to see those women sell themselves short just for money. Prostitutes can get hurt out there for what they are doing. Some can get seriously hurt and even die. Prostitution can lead to lots of problems, including drug use and violence. Most prostitutes are eligible for jobs that could pay them good money.
When the police see prostitutes out on the streets, they should stop and ask them to leave the area, or remove them from the area. There are no laws that say you can't stand out there on the sidewalk, but if the police see any illegal transactions, then that is a crime. Prostitutes should be fined. The money could be used to fix up parks and playgrounds for the children. I hope that we can all come together with ideas to solve the problems we are having in our neighborhoods.
Chelsea Hendrickson-Meyer
Senior, McKinley High School
Abstinence programs waste taxpayer money
The nation's teen birth rate has risen for the first time in 14 years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention in a new report. The birth rate had been dropping since 1991, but it jumped 3 percent from 2005 to 2006!
The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate of any developed nation. Yet federal funding is increasing for dangerous abstinence-only education programs, which every study has shown to be ineffective and do nothing to prevent unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections. One hundred million dollars is spent annually in the United States ($900,000 in Hawaii) on these programs that deny teenagers information to prevent pregnancy or protect their health.
Our youth need comprehensive, medically accurate information about abstinence, contraception, prevention of STIs, communication and responsible decision making. Planned Parenthood of Hawaii has introduced legislation for many years requiring sexuality education in public schools to be medically accurate and age appropriate. It failed to pass.
It's time to put our money toward real solutions. Virginia just became the 14th state to reject federal funding for abstinence-only programs because they just don't work. Gov. Linda Lingle should make Hawaii the 15th state to reject federal funds for the dangerous and ineffective abstinence-only sex education programs.
Barry Raff
CEO, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii
City should fix things before building more
As mayor, Jeremy Harris deferred maintenance of road repairs and our sewer systems as well as other city essentials. There's no political gain in spending our tax monies on nonvisible stuff if you're ambitious to climb that political ladder. The Vineyard Boulevard "beautification project" now grows weeds along the median strip.
Now Mayor Mufi Hannemann is going down that same road, ignoring an ever-growing number of potholes and ignoring a potential multibillion-dollar lawsuit from the feds for not treating our sewage. Let's find a cheaper alternative to the rail and fix what needs to be fixed first.
Bruce Wong
Honolulu
Superferry could be good thing all around
The Superferry is not a monstrosity that has been created. It is a grand opportunity for the residents of Kauai and Oahu. The ferry is a means of interisland travel, and for an affordable price compared to airline fees. The ferry also might be a godsend for those families who have relatives on other islands but might not have the money to travel often to visit.
Residents of Kauai are also worried that people from Oahu will ruin their beautiful island with garbage and more crime. But really, it's not like the locals here would pay to go to another island just to vandalize it. Give us more credit than that.
This is a huge opportunity for the residents of Kauai. Having the Superferry could mean a better economy for the island, an easier way to travel island to island, and if people come and visit, they can gain a greater knowledge of the culture. Why would anyone try to push this chance away? They should embrace it instead.
Sarah M. Rebar
Senior, McKinley High School
Ferry might be useless during disasters
Does anyone else see cause for concern that harbor and barge damage is occurring under moderate weather conditions? How will it fare in a real natural disaster?
The Superferry won't be able to pull into harbors and use loading barges, which are critical to the loading and unloading. It's not an amphibious ship!
Bollards ripped out, lines snapped and the fragile loading barges have suffered repeated damage before service actually began in full.
How exactly is the Superferry going to help in a natural disaster when Kawaiahae Harbor piers suffered significant damage in the earthquake last year, both Hilo and Kahului harbors are notorious for their harbor swells and even Nawiliwili got clobbered in Hurricane Iniki?
We got a fleecing during the environmental review, and now Hawaii residents and our representatives are falling for the idea that this ship will actually be of service following disasters!
Tobias Koehler
Honolulu