Excuse for campaign violation seems too pat
Looks to me like Linda Lingle's campaign people were so taken aback when they were caught violating campaign ethics rules that they had to reach into their little bag of tricks and retaliate with a story of Cayetano's campaign being equally guilty for mailing a fund-raising letter to Lingle's finance director, Georgina Kawamura, at her county office building.Cayetano spokesman Lloyd Nekoba said the addresses for campaign mailings are drawn from what people give the campaign, and "if we knew it was the county building, we wouldn't have sent it there" (Star-Bulletin, June 20). If this is true, Kawamura or someone other than her listed the address at the County Building as a place for the Democratic Party to send her mail without realizing it would be a problem, or Lingle's campaign people purposely set this one up so they could cry foul.
I am inclined to believe the latter.
Maggie Cabais-Jacang
Ben Cayetano's slogan needs slight changing
Ben Cayetano's campaign slogan should be modified as follows: "Think about re-electing Governor Cayetano, because when he says he's going to do something, he says he's going to do something, and then he says he's going to do something else, and then he doesn't -- so he gives up!"After watching the state economy go down the drain during his last three years as lieutenant governor and almost four years as governor, Cayetano has proven beyond a doubt that he lacks the vision, wisdom, courage and ability to turn things around. The clear choice is Lingle. Make your vote count!
Message to Frank Frank: You did a great job as mayor but you are not a viable candidate anymore. Stop being a tool. If you really care about Hawaii's future, give your ego a rest and throw your support behind Linda.
Matthew Lanin
(Via the Internet)
Hawaiians must get past annexation question
Sovereignty, illegal annexation? Hawaii get over it! Hawaii is part of the United States, now and forever! As one of only a few "people's republics" in the world (Cuba is the other one?) there are other real issues to address such as a bloated state government that cannot be supported by the declining economy and the need for innovation in education and lower taxes and job creation.I suggest Mililani Trask and Ka Lahui Hawaii forget about wasting time getting the U.N. to declare Hawaii a colony and spend more time getting Hawaiian kids educated for the future as doctors, lawyers, software engineers and business executives.
I want to see Hawaiian kids leading government and businesses and university research in genetics, not in jail and not fighting to become part of some Third World vision by elitist cultural leaders. There are many Hawaiian values that the world could use in addressing the problems of the future. Ms. Trask, build on the positive, prepare for the future and don't dwell on the past!
Y.T Kealoha
Falls Church, Va.
(Via the Internet)
Silva's discovery sheds light on annexation
Accolades to Noenoe Silva for her persistence and hard work in discovering a very significant document, the 1897 petition against the annexation of Hawaii by the United States in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.It will shed new insight into the history of the annexation.
H.T. Chang
Would turning back clock benefit anyone in Hawaii?
Was this archipelago better served when Hawaii was ruled by kings and queens?Hawaiian activists are quick to point to the alleged injustice of the 1893 overthrow of the monarchy. It seems to me that the Republic of Hawaii eventually brought modern representative democracy to this fleet of islands.
But some activists argue that Hawaii was better off being ruled only by the indigenous people. They want to turn the clock back, leaving non-native Hawaiians out in the cold. This would strip not only the haoles of political and economic power, but also most of the rest of us who have immigrant roots (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Samoan, Filipino, etc.).
Even now, there are those who document land title transfers who would seize our real estate property with native Hawaiian sovereignty.
I understand that the native Hawaiian leadership of the 19th century treated commoners harshly. For example, the demanding hard work that the nobility required in order to trade sandalwood for imported luxury goods.
Under Hawaiian sovereignty, would we still have civil liberties? Besides, wasn't it decided in 1865 that states could not secede from the union?
Mike G. H. Chun
When will we forgive Japan for World War II?
Sohei Yamate, in his Aug. 6 letter to the editor, said he was dismayed that the Japanese consul general had been invited to the AJA veterans national convention. Yamate could have stopped the invitation more effectively by contacting his own organization before the convention, rather than by writing a letter to the newspaper.What bothers me more is that he listed all of the "wrongs committed by Japan" during the war. How many more years do we need to forgive the Japanese people?
The consul general did not have to attend the convention, but I hope that he did to show respect to America, and to build a strong and friendly tie between the two countries. Many Japanese people, including myself, have the same feeling.
Sage Sugimoto
Saunders was champ of public education
All of Hawaii shares a loss in the recent passing of Marion Saunders. She spent her life giving of herself so that others' lives could be enriched. She believed in quality education for Hawaii's children and worked selflessly and tirelessly for that cause.I did not know Marion long but it did not take long to be touched by her. Our friendship began when she testified on behalf of an educational bill that our school was supporting. She gave me the inspiration to continue to fight when I was ready to give up.
I was honored to have known Marion Saunders. Her selflessness should be an inspiration to us all. If we could give of ourselves just as she did, the world would be a better place. Marion, you will be dearly missed.
Sally Wilburn
Mountain View School
Mountain View, Big Island
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