Leaf blower legislation
may be necessary after all

Given that Honolulu has few private residences large enough to justify the use of leaf blowers, leaving their use primarily to high rises and commercial properties, logic would say that common sense rather than legislation should prevail in solving this particular noise problem.

Outdoor maintenance personnel can easily perform quiet duties until 9 or 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. End of problem.

Yet during a recent morning run I went past a certain private school on Punahou Street and saw a maintenance person using a leaf blower at 6:45 in the morning, in the rain, for the purpose of attempting to rid a tennis court of rainwater. Yes, it is true.

My observation has confirmed that, once again, legislation will indeed be required since common sense, not to mention common courtesy, seems in short supply.

Lois Wilson

Don't use vets as excuse
for a major restoration

Stop using the deceased veterans of World War I as an excuse to justify what is to be basically a new Natatorium (after the extensive repairs are completed) that will look just like the old one.

It is patently wrong for the proponents of a new Natatorium to be built on the ruins of the old one to justify their dreams of an architectural/structural reconstruction triumph. They are continuing to "beat the drums" about the need to honor the veterans of WWI with "a living memorial."

If they truly want to honor the veterans with ties to Hawaii, they should establish a trust fund whose annual earnings would be used to provide a UH scholarship in the name of each veteran. If you really care about the deceased veterans, ask the living ones what their recommendations for a fitting memorial should be.

John T. Goss
Combat Veteran, WWII, Korea

National Guard members
pitch in to fight crime

I followed your recent series on crime in Hawaii with great interest, particularly the section on what is being done in the way of crime prevention. The Hawaii National Guard is assisting local law enforcement with its own program.

Na Koa Watch was introduced by Governor Cayetano during his 1997 State of the State Address, as part of his overall crime-fighting package.

Since that time, the guard has trained more than 1,500 of its soldiers and airmen on property protection and crime prevention measures. In addition, more than 400 guard members have helped form new neighborhood watch programs or supplemented existing programs.

For example, Na Koa Watch volunteers patrol the Diamond Head lookout area during weekends. Prior to the patrols, the HPD was investigating three to four car break-ins in the area per day. But while the Na Koa Watch patrols were in progress, not a single car break-in was reported.

Guard members who participate in these patrols are volunteering their own time. Anyone who wants more information on Na Koa Watch can call the guard's public affairs office at 733-4258 or check us out on the Web at http://dod.hawaii.gov/pao/nakoaw.html

Capt. Charles J. Anthony
Hawaii Air National Guard
Public Affairs & Education Officer

American Hawaii will
become a happy monopoly

A recent defense spending bill contains an outrageous provision sponsored by Sen. Daniel Inouye.

His bill is purportedly geared to help us hold onto our struggling inter-island cruise ship service, American Hawaii Cruises.

Inouye is not just giving American Hawaii "a little help from its friend." He's giving it a 50-, 60- or 70-year total monopoly on the Hawaii cruise ship market.

This is as stunning as it is appalling. American Hawaii Cruises wants to build two new passenger ships in an American shipyard before the year 2008. And, until those ships are scrapped 40 or more years later, it will enjoy an era of total monopoly.

I call upon Senator Inouye and our other three members of Congress to kill this provision before it reaches final passage.

Kioni Dudley

Why should state help
rich man become richer?

Forbes magazine lists Sam Zell, owner of the parent company of American Hawaii Cruises, as the 88th richest man in the United States with a net worth of $1.7 billion.

The Hawaii Legislature grants American Hawaii an exemption from the state's general excise tax.

The Star-Bulletin jumps ship and abandons its free-enterprise philosophy when it editorially endorses federal legislation that gives American Hawaii Cruises a long-term monopoly on inter-island cruises.

The Legislature and Congress seem determined to make Zell richer. This is another example of corporate welfare.

Charles E. Frankel

'In and Out' didn't mean
to ridicule homosexuality

While I sympathize with Carolyn Golojuch and her "pain" of being a parent of a gay person in a society that can be extremely judgmental (Letters, Sept. 25), I also saw the movie "In and Out" and at times laughed very much.

I was not, however, laughing at the teacher who could possibly lose a job over his sexual orientation, nor (I would like to think) was anyone else.

I was laughing at the many absurdities portrayed throughout the movie regarding what is considered "acceptable" in our society.

There is nothing worse than someone laughing at what we hold close to our hearts. I apologize if my laughter caused anyone pain. I was, however, laughing in support.

I do not know when Golojuch walked out of the movie. However, the end of the movie was extremely touching and, in my opinion, portrayed a great promise for change.

Julie Powers Pennington
(Via the Internet)

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Bishop Estate Archive

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