Nash needs more time to come into his own
Mark Terry (
Letters, Dec. 29) knows not of what he speaks when he advocates pulling the plug on the brand new University of Hawaii men's basketball program and its brand-new coach. Any sports fan knows that it takes at least three years before a new coach's program truly becomes his own. Bob Nash is doing a great job selling his system to coach Riley Wallace's players. In the preseason of his first year, give coach Nash a break. Nash's team, improving with each game, should be, with a little more discipline, ready for WAC play. What is more necessary than preseason wins is okoles in the seats. UH can help by cutting ticket prices and better public communication. It is ultimately up to the fans to support coach Nash and our UH men's basketball team. Then, time will tell.
Mel Sakamoto
Kaimuki
Symphony offers feast of creative talent
This past Sunday, the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall was an electrifying place to be. The Honolulu Symphony and Symphony Chorus wowed a packed house with their performance of Beethoven's Ninth and Missa Latina, written by Puerto Rico-born Roberto Sierra, one of America's most significant living composers. Before the concert, Honolulu Symphony executive director Tom Gulick thanked the musicians for continuing to play even with missed paychecks. The audience rose to its feet in appreciation, applauding for quite some time.
Then the music. Through the artistic force of renowned principal conductor Andreas Delfs, the musicians delivered a fresh and incredibly moving performance. Delfs took us on an unforgettable journey, and by the end of the night, the house was on its feet again, cheering in jubilation.
Having attended symphony performances for the past seven years, I've never been more excited about the symphony's artistic promise with its new conductor. If you've never been to a concert, now's the time - the Symphony Pops plays this weekend. The orchestra then performs with the Hawaii Opera Theatre, and in March, the symphony season continues with not-to-be-missed programs until May.
Ruth Shiroma Foster
Honolulu
Ask any driver if roads are well-maintained
I must take issue with facility maintenance director Laverne Higa's Dec. 30 letter defending the City & County of Honolulu's efforts to maintain our roads.
It has been the practice of the Hannemann administration to attack its critics rather than their criticisms. However, to try to convince the drivers here on Oahu that the roads are being taken care of is insulting to everyone's intelligence.
It destroys the mayor's credibility. It also assures us that his plan to fix the roads is denial; where does all the money go?
Ward Stewart
Hawaii Kai
Hawaii fans a pleasure to have as visitors
As a resident of St. Bernard Parish, I wanted to say how great it was to walk through the French Quarter on New Year's Eve. The Hawaii fans were fantastic. Very outgoing, friendly and just plain nice. It's great to see a program like yours have this kind of success. Enjoy, and come back soon. On second thought, I might just come visit you! Mahalo ya'll.
Michael Montgomery
Chalmette, La.
Is bad management behind isle traffic?
I have been away from Hawaii for work for the last nine months and returned to what seems like an exponentially worse traffic problem. It makes me wonder if the issue is the number of cars on the road or just the way that traffic is managed.
I keep asking myself questions like, "Why does traffic always magically clear up going eastbound on H-1 at or near the Punahou Street offramp?" and "Why do I seem to get stuck at every light on Nimitz/Ala Moana Boulevard?"
And sometimes I wonder if the island's traffic engineers live in a bubble, or if they actually observe the traffic when they are driving themselves home . I can't imagine having that job and feeling the least bit satisfied while stuck in the mess.
Dan Ching
Honolulu
Now you must pay for holiday indulgences
I hear the same New Year's resolution year after year
From many of my dear
So I say to them
'Twas the new year after the holidays, all through the house
nothing would fit you, not even your blouse.
The cookies you'd nibbled the beer you'd taste ,
All the holiday and UH parties had gone to your waist.
So - away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the steaks, fruitcake and chip
Every last bit of holiday goodies that you like must be banished
till all the additional pounds have vanished.
Don't have the chocolates. Not even a lick.
Just only to chew on a long celery stick.
Don't have hot prime rib, rice and pie,
Just munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
Arsenio Ramirez Pelayo
Aiea