Greed drives up price of Sugar Bowl travel
"The more than one-third increase in travel prices this week at Hawaii's largest travel agency is the result of heavy demand to see the Warriors face off against the Georgia Bulldogs on New Year's Day, as well as the extra costs of setting up charter flights and competition from holiday travelers who booked their tickets months ago" (
Star-Bulletin, Dec. 9).
Let's tell the story like it really is: It's called GOUGING. In some states, gouging is a felony offense.
There is nothing in that story that rationalizes an increase in cost except opportunity and greed. "Heavy demand" doesn't constitute an honest reason to increase prices, in this case. It's more a case of "cuz we can."
Bill Martin
Kurtistown, Hawaii
Dawg lovers wish no ill will toward Colt
Greetings from the warm climes of middle Georgia. In the last couple of days, we here have been treated to a few letters in our paper from some of y'all who have gotten the impression (false, may I add) that we want Colt Brennan's "head on a platter." Please allow me to explain that here in Georgia, passion for our beloved Dawgs runs very deep and has run deep for many, many years. We tend to take football very seriously here, and things can be said that perhaps folks who only in recent years have started up a football program misinterpret.
No one here wants any harm to Colt; as a matter of fact, I want him to have a career day against my Dawgs. That, however, will not change the outcome as he hasn't yet seen (oh, he will) a D-line like ours.
But I digress. To those of you who took offense at a local columnist here, lighten up, he isn't Kirk Herbstreit. I hope you all have great holidays, and to those of you making the trip, you are going to have a blast. 'Ceptin' for the game, that is. Take care.
Danny Hinton
Macon, Ga.
A Christmas wish of light and strength
If I could have a Christmas wish come true,
I would wish for wonderful things to come to you.
I wish you all happiness in everything you do,
I hope not many worries or problems will come to you.
I wish you hope that can brighten the cloudiest day,
And strength to accept all that life sends your way.
May you rise each day with sunlight in your heart,
And may all your hopes and dreams never fall apart.
I wish that all your joys, and wishes will come true.
When these special wishes are delivered to your door,
There's no doubt they will be, accompanied by many more.
Of all the Christmas wishes delivered to you yearly,
There couldn't be another that's wished
more warmly and sincerely.
Arsenio Ramirez Pelayo
Aiea
Children have no place in Superferry protests
I have a concern about the Superferry protesters. It is ridiculous how they are starting to recruit children or teenagers to participate in their illegal protests. They can endanger the safety of the children.
I suggest that the authorities should take action to get rid of the protesters because of their impulsive actions on the arrival of the ferry's first trip to Kauai, and also to remove the children and teenagers that are being recruited into these protests, because it is a federal offense to be in the water with a big ship in the water.
Randy Kawai
Senior, McKinley High School
Kapolei lights shine for the whole family
This past Saturday I was in Kapolei for the Kapolei City Lights parade and tree lighting. The whole event was amazing and very keiki-friendly. There were free games and prizes for the kids as well as an outstanding lineup of entertainment. It was very well put together, and the community involvement really showed the amount of pride this side of the island has.
I will be bringing my family to this City Lights event for years to come.
Christina Drake
Mililani
Isn't it time to dump racism in Hawaii?
Regarding "Mother alleges kid was second victim of bullying" (
Star-Bulletin, Dec. 9): It is a shame that this behavior continues in Hawaii. As a former resident who attended the sixth through the 10th grades in Kaneohe from 1967 to 1972, I am quite familiar with what these haole kids are going through. It is hard enough during those years to fit in with others, and with racial biases added to the mix, it can become a horrible experience.
I was involved in one fight my first year of school, and, as in the recent incident on the Big Island, the "f--ing haole" reference was used. Luckily, my experience resulted only in a few scratches.
While I loved Hawaii then and continue to love Hawaii, I remember upon my departure to the mainland that I was glad to be leaving the haole issues in the islands.
I know there are other groups that have to deal with racial biases in the islands, but speaking as a haole, you might as well be using the N-word when you precede it with "f--ing," because that is how it is perceived. You can refer to me as a haole all day long, but use the F-word in conjunction and it becomes a hateful racial slur.
I do understand that some wish the haoles never came to the islands and would rather all the haoles would go away, but that is not going to happen no matter how badly we are treated.
It has been 40 years since my grade school years. Is it not time to lose these hateful feelings?
William Dagostino
Tucson, Ariz.
Former Hawaii resident