Ego keeps Aki from fully apologizing for his actions
I am writing in response to the recent James Aki article.Aki was so worried about people getting the wrong information about whether he was ordered or he voluntarily agreed to the Senate's actions against him. That is irrelevent to the real issue. As a landlord he is responsible for what happened on his property. Or has he forgotten the laws under which he was elected?
He talks big now that he can still serve in the Senate, but I can remember during the hearings he was so sorry! All this is bull. Time is being spent on this issue, which should be cut-and-dried.
There are more pressing things than his problem. And a no-contest plea doesn't mean he is innocent either. He needs an ego check-up!
Neal Sakumoto
(Via the internet)
Holt's expenditures could have sent student to college
Princess Pauahi's money was set aside with the intent to educate Hawaiian children. Like Lokelani Lindsey said, not all Hawaiian children, however. I applied for college assistance and received nothing. It upsets me to know that the expense and importance of my education was ignored in order to compensate for frivolous spending such as Milton Holt's.
Lindsey made a comment about Holt's replenishment of his charges being a personnel matter. Holt did not take the money from Lindsey; he took it from children in need of assistance, like myself, which no longer makes it a private issue. We deserve to know the truth.
When I graduate in June, I will owe approximately $20,000. It will take me more than 10 years to pay off what Holt spent in six months. This is unacceptable and irresponsible and there is no excuse for such outlandish behavior.
Joseph Kimiko
Phoenix, Ariz.
(Via the Internet)
After 19 Pro Bowls, you'd think they'd get parking right
The same day I read in disbelief about the UH women's softball field that is fan unfriendly, my family ventured out to watch the Pro Bowl with 50,000 other people to see Hawaii's premier sporting event. We were stuck in traffic for an hour and a half before kickoff and still managed to miss most of the first quarter.Passing through the stadium parking lot I saw one of the causes of the lack of stadium parking. Tailgating fans were occupying up to three stalls to set up their grills and blue tarps and one group was still out there with their guitars and a drum set. It's amazing that after 19 Pro Bowls there are still parking problems. Signs were posted warning about full parking lots but only on roads after you have exited for the stadium. There were no traffic reports on the radio. Drivers were on their own to find alternate parking.
It's very frustrating to have to listen to a game you have tickets for on the radio after dropping your passengers a mile away from the stadium. If the stadium personnel refuse to restrict parking to one stall per ticket-holding vehicle, they could at least arrange to broadcast parking updates on the radio for those stuck in traffic and have knowledgeable personnel at choke points directing traffic.
Tony Plana
Wahiawa
(Via the Internet)
Pro Bowl is worth every penny in publicity for isles
Do we pay too much for the Pro Bowl?Millions of TV viewers have just watched four hours of football interspersed with beautiful images of Hawaii. There's no doubt the state gets its money's worth in terms of impressions across the various media that cover the game.
That's only part of the story. During the entire season an exceptional play is usually followed by an announcer saying, "Plays like that will get him to Honolulu." In football parlance, Hawaii equals the best.
That symbolism is essential in Hawaii's fight to remain the top tropical destination in the world. Other cities and countries spend tens of millions of dollars to lure our visitors away.
In the minds of football players, or couples rekindling the romance, or families seeking quality time, or newlyweds starting their lives together, or sales people trying to qualify for a company incentive trip -- Hawaii needs to represent the best.
Our state and county agencies and the business community do an excellent job promoting this image through advertising, public relations and special events like the Pro Bowl. Continuing these efforts provides the fuel that will help the state's economic engine move into high gear.
Jim Kennedy
Kihei, Maui
Funniest comedian isn't DeLima; it's Souki!
And the Dan Quayle award for early 1998 goes to (drum roll, please)... House Speaker Joe Souki!Interviewed by Fox 2 news on Jan. 19, just before the legislative session opened, Souki expressed his views on saving the environment. On both the 6 and 10 o'clock news shows that day, he stated, "All future hotels, all future planning, is to be built mauka of the ocean and not makai."
Thanks for clearing that one up for us, Mr. Speaker. Frank De Lima himself couldn't have put it better.
However depressing things get in Hawaii, at least we know that we can count on Joe for a laugh.
Paul Berry
Home Depot
Home Depot will hurt local economy even more
The proposed introduction of Home Depot into the economic stream of Hawaii will, as studies have shown, result in a further decline in the state's desperate doldrums. In other mainland localities, the opening of a "big box" resulted in the closure of many family small businesses in the proximity of the superstore.Why is the city bending rules, giving "sweetheart" deals and groveling to get the "big box" operators in? On the surface, the low prices seem like a good deal. But look beyond the glitz and you will see, in the case of Home Depot, predatory pricing and tactics designed to drive small businesses to closure.
Before any other "big box" operators enter the Hawaii market, the city should demand an economic impact statement by an impartial authority.
Gordon Loui
Home Depot will bring many jobs to islands
I was born in Hawaii, grew up in Pearl City and graduated from Kamehameha Schools. But I had to move to the mainland. Fortunately, I was able to find a job with Home Depot in San Diego and have worked for the company for several years.I urge the Honolulu City Council to allow Home Depot to build a store in Pearl City. Hawaii cannot let an opportunity like this slip by. Not only will consumers benefit from the increased competition, but Home Depot will invest millions of dollars and will create hundreds of jobs in the state.
I have always dreamed of coming back to Hawaii, but the local economy prevented me from doing so. Now, thanks to Home Depot, I may have the opportunity to transfer and finally return home. I'm looking forward to serving my friends and family in Hawaii.
Lorraine Cano
Lemon Grove, Calif.
Small stores are best for the typical shopper
I am a homeowner in Kailua. My house often needs repairs and upkeep, and I am glad there are stores in Kailua and on the Windward side where I can shop for what I need. These neighborhood stores are having a hard enough time as it is without the big discount stores coming in and making it impossible for the little stores to stay in business.It's expensive and time-consuming to drive over to Waikele or Pearl City every time you need some small thing. Besides, I've tried shopping at those big stores and the service is terrible.
B. Kam
Kailua
Bishop Estate Archive
Want to write a letter to the editor? Let all Star-Bulletin readers know what you think. Please keep your letter to about 200 words. You can send it by e-mail to letters@starbulletin.com or you can fill in the online form for a faster response. Or print it and mail it to: Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802. Or fax it to: 523-8509. Always be sure to include your daytime phone number.