Court made the right move in Bishop controversy
It was a smart move for our Supreme Court to slip that huge, struggling octopus, the Bishop Estate, overboard before it completly swamped the justices' raft. Arguments against the justices' appointment of trustees had begun to stick out like tentacles from the judicial robes. Our first court's propriety had been questioned.Future success for the Hawaiian culture won't depend on political patronage, the ravings of vengeful activists, or the manipulations and litigious power-grabbing of a self-proclaimed alii.
Long-term success will depend on the steady, thoughtful cooperation of quiet, educated and considereate mainstream Hawaiians (and non-Hawaiians), willing to put the Hawaiian people's needs before their own and keep them there.
Perhaps the next positive step will be the appointment of a new, appropriately compensated and accountable estate trustee.
Michael Colgan
Non-Hawaiians, politicos should leave estate alone
The Bishop Estate controversy is a continuing pattern of outsiders using the alamihi crab syndrome (Hawaiians attacking Hawaiians) to dismantle yet another Hawaiian institution. Divide and conquer always works.It is somehow bemusing that the executive branch of this state can't handle the struggling economy, but feels compelled to meddle in the affairs of a sound economic Hawaiian entity because the alamihi demand action.
What justifies taxpayers' dollars for a six-figure contract to a private detective firm and who knows how much the attorney general has spent so far?
We have an essay from five people ("Broken Trust," Star-Bulletin, Aug. 9) stating their "opinions." If opinions can trigger an attorney general investigation, then government abuse is alive and well.
To you outsiders I say, back off! Let Hawaiians handle Hawaiian affairs.
To the trustees I say, "Onipaa!" Stand fast! You were appointed legally by the Supreme Court, and the fact that my daughter was a National Merit Scholar at Kamehameha is indicative that the school can do its job.
As for you disgruntled Hawaiians, bring in kahuna Papa Auwae of Hilo and engage in some hooponopono with the trustees. A Bishop Estate spokeswoman said it best: "The family needs to heal."
David Heaukulani
Hilo
Leave Lindsey, trustees alone to do their work
I write in support of Bishop Estate trustee Lokelani Lindsey.I have known her for 20 years. It is obvious to me, and to everyone who really knows Ms. Lindsey personally, that she is being unfairly criticized in the media.
Lokelani Lindsey is a compassionate, caring and objective professional, who deserves praise for her deep commitment to the education of children in Hawaii. She has dedicated most of her career to the betterment of both public and private schools.
Please, let us restrain ourselves from judging her and her intentions to improve Kamehameha Schools until all the facts are in. Allow the trustees to address the issues involving the estate, without media interference.
Let them hooponopono kakou with each other to find solutions to improve the education of students at Kamehameha, and to implement the will of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.
Pearl Friel Petro
Kaunakakai, Molokai
Bishop Estate Archive
Letter trivialized importance of recycling
I disagree with Quentin McKenna's Nov. 3 letter, "Recycling is becoming too much like religion." Recycling is not about making money or making life easier. Its purpose is to reuse aluminum, glass and plastic instead of throwing it away.These compounds are a nonrenewable source. That means that once it's used up, there will be no more of it. We can't just keep dumping into landfills because we will run out of space.
The benefits of recycling are not direct or received right away. The benefits are long-term, part of the big picture.
Janson Young
McKenna brings up a good point when he writes: "Are we seeking atonement from the material excess of a consumer society when we recycle needlessly?" There is much truth to this question.
Waste seems to be our number one pastime. The average person in America discards four pounds of trash daily.
In the past decade, we have begun to realize and witness the effects from our wastes. Blame and guilt are laid heavily on our society, especially since Americans, who make up a mere 5 percent of the world's population, consume more than half of the world's processed resources.
Due to the blame and guilt, there are many who feel the need to seek "atonement." They know they are the ones messing up Mother Nature's balance.
Instead of doing things such as not producing wasteful products in the first place, recycling seems to be the most popular alternative.
Mishell May
McKenna states that recycling is wasteful, and that landfills offer a safe and cheap alternative to recycling. However, recycling is actually an alternative to landfills.
Landfills are quick and efficient ways to get rid of garbage, but there is only so much space to use as landfills before there are none left. On the other hand, we can recycle as long as we want.
Referring to recycling as a religion or ceremony implies that it is unnecessary. In truth, though, we practice recycling solely because it helps to conserve our earth's renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.
Todd Yoda
Editor's note: These letters were submitted by students of Gail Tuthill, who teaches a course in chemistry in the community at Iolani School. Other letters were submitted by classmates Olivia Lun, Chris Rothschld and Brant Yasaka.
Bishop Estate Archive
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