Priorities at UH lean to athletics

The University of Hawaii's infrastructure is crumbling, with Gartley Hall recently being evacuated by the Psychology Department because the building is about to collapse. And yet, where did the Athletics Department find the dough to improve its complex of buildings and fields? What are our priorities?

Football coach Greg McMackin is paid $1.1 million per year and is the highest-paid state employee, making more than the UH president and the governor combined. With a so-so record, does he deserve such a high salary?

People tend to love whatever makes them happy and makes them forget their troubles — even if it's just for an hour or two. And they are willing to pay for it.

Take last weekend's amazing victory over Navy. UH was considered a 9-point underdog going in — but, lo, there we were, winning 24-17. Now we can hardly wait to beat Wisconsin, then face SMU in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve!

So we donate and allocate money to what we love and makes us feel good. That's not so surprising, after all, is it?

Taxpayers shouldn't pay for bulky pickup

I'm thinking of buying a home, but am in dire need of complete furnishings. But with the high cost of everything, where could I get the items that I desperately need? Then, as I drove through the neighborhoods, I realized there was a bounty of free supplies and furnishings on almost every street corner. How convenient!

If I were to need a toilet, then no worries, because there is a free one on the grass across the street. I could also recover other valuables including a rain-soaked mattress for my bedroom, sofa and TV for my den, refrigerator and microwave for my kitchen. We are so blessed to have lax bulky item pickup services that encourage anyone to display their throw-away items on any street curb for those who need them.

Seriously, aren't bulky items that are stashed everywhere, throughout each month, an absolute eyesore? Does the bulky item pickup program encourage more stuff to line our streets than before this “;service”; began? Is it time to discard this program and make people responsible to properly take their own discarded bulky trash to the dump, or for them to donate and take to local needy organizations who can use them? Taxpayers should not foot more of the bill for more of someone else's bulky trash.

Canceling parties sends wrong signal

Canceling this stimulus spending for the Legislature's opening day is a dumb idea.

The state's dire economic condition is mostly caused by the lack of spending. If the legislators are allowed to use campaign funds for their office parties, they should continue this tradition.

They are doing what President Barack Obama was criticized for when he suggested that public companies curtail their travel for conventions to places like Hawaii.

Bodies pile up amid health care debate

Putting off health care reform until after next year's election or more than a year will be the Waterloo of the Democrats. How many deaths due to lack of health care will it take? We will be counting the body bags from this health care war unless relief comes soon.

Police right to shoot fleeing Oahu suspect

This is in response to Matthew Kaopio Jr.'s remarks (”;Homeless man was police victim,”; Star Bulletin, Letters, Nov. 26). I share the opposite view. It used to be that when a police officer told you to stop, you stopped and respected his authority. Today's society does not respect the law and that is the reason we have out-of-control crime.

In the incident where the police told the individual suspected of behaving in a suspicious manner to stop and he started to drive off, he deserves what happened to him and we the general public should not question the police officer trying to do the best job they can. I respect them and thank them for doing a wonderful job.

Wailua Beach trail should not be built

Here on Kauai, Mayor Bernard Carvalho has decided to move forward with the plan to construct the bike/pedestrian path along the Wailua Beach. This is disturbing because Wailua Beach is a sacred Hawaiian burial ground. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Sierra Club and others oppose this plan.

The route through Wailua Beach is simply disrespectful. Many people may not see the cultural significance of this issue, but I believe that the majority of Kauai residents do. Kauai is different. We are unique.

Being different is not a bad thing. We have survived many disasters because we are different. We have maintained a somewhat traditional lifestyle because we are different. We continue to enjoy many cultural traditions because we are different. For this, we should be thankful. For this, we should be grateful. For this, we should display the ultimate show of respect to the host culture.

Many native Hawaiians have spoken out. Many non-Hawaiians have spoken out. Our leaders have not listened. For those who continue the push to desecrate the Hawaiian burial grounds at Wailua Beach, shame on you. Please do not disturb those who have left us. Building a recreational path over known, sacred burial grounds is unacceptable. It is not pono. It is disrespectful. It is not the Kauai way.