WAC deserters must get what's coming to them
What is the world coming to? Aided and abetted by certain Western Athletic Conference university presidents, the Philistines are winning!How can presidents of WAC institutions suddenly secede and disappear into the night, abscond with the central core of institutions and leave behind a Great Divide between the WAC's easternmost and westernmost extremities, disembodied and flailing helplessly?
It is one thing to be blindsided, clotheslined and kicked in the groin by an opponent. But it is beyond belief when these fouls are committed by friends and colleagues, conference mates and even university presidents.
If the NCAA approves the creation of a new league by these eight -- who turned their backs on their fellow WAC members without a word or iota of concern for their future well-being -- it will be time to do away with big-time college athletics.
Richard Y. Will
Old Glory was missing at Memorial Day concert
The May 23 concert at the Waikiki Shell featured our Honolulu Symphony presenting "Stars and Stripes At the Symphony." This free community concert was a patriotic celebration in connection with Memorial Day.The Honolulu Symphony opened with the national anthem, "The Star- Spangled Banner." To my big disappointment and I am sure many others, neither a single American flag nor a single military corps banner was decorating the Waikiki Shell stage. Can you imagine how the veterans present and family members of those no longer present felt? Personally, I felt as if it were of great disrespect to all American war heros, veterans, present and not present.
I wonder how such a mishap could have occurred? What is going on in the symphony's and mayor's offices? Better coordination is required. Perhaps at the next patriotic celebration there will be an American flag and even other U.S. military corps flags to truly celebrate the American tradition of honoing those who have served.
Aldo Boccara
Lindsey is being childish by threatening to move
Lokelani Lindsey's recent comment that "we don't want to work in a place where we're not wanted" is further proof that the Bishop Estate trustees are still not clear about who they are.They seem to think of themselves as the estate, when in reality they are stewards entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining the will and purposes of Ke Ali'i Pauahi.
When we were kids, if someone didn't want to play the game our way, we'd simply gather up our toys and go home. Now that we're adults, do we do the same?
If Lindsey thinks that moving the estate's headquarters to the mainland will end the quest for pono, she's wrong. She can pick up her jacks and hide them, but she can't keep running.
Robin-Gay Poomaikalani Williams Makapagal
Class of 1968
Kamehameha School for Girls
Kaneohe
Harmon deserves thanks for helping unmask estate
Robert Harmon, former insurance executive for Bishop Estate, is a real hero. Many in the financial community respect and admire the tremendous honesty, courage and sacrifice it took for him to challenge the Bishop Estate and its insurance practices.His impeccable sense of duty and justice led him to stand up and challenge questionable practices at the estate. For this, I am sure the adverse consequences have been of epic proportions...the estate and all of its resources pitted against him.
Many in our financial community feel enormous appreciation for his Herculean effort. I am personally in awe at the fact that there are "real life heroes" in our financial community. God bless and reward him and his family richly for his sacrifice for our community.
Bryan D. Enos
Financial Planner
Bishop Estate Archive
Legislation must stop cloning experiments
Human cloning is a subject of great controversy and is comparable to playing God. The level of concern -- within the White House and the scientific community -- over human-cloning experiments is enormous.President Clinton has issued an executive order barring federal funds from being used in cloning experiments. He wants to ban human cloning for at least five years so the national Bioethics Advisory Commission can evaluate its effects on society.
This is a step forward. I ask the public to show support for the elimination of human cloning by sending letters to their representatives in Congress. Urge them to continue the fight against a future plagued with more uncertainties.
Cheryl Hoang
Most people oppose same-sex marriage
Despite Martin Rice's attempt to confuse the issue of same-sex marriage (Letters, May 23), he knows very well what the "nasty, bitter fight" is all about. Simply stated, the vast majority of Hawaii's people oppose the state's validation of same-sex marriage.Hawaii's Future Today (HFT) has represented that viewpoint in the Legislature where public policy should be promulgated -- not in the courts.
HFT respects the rights of all and has reflected that principle in all of its public statements. Marriage does not fall under the aegis of civil rights. It is a special status granted by the state for the betterment of society.
If some corporations wish to provide certain partnership benefits, that is their prerogative.
HFT did not oppose or support HB 118, which purported to give a package of benefits to couples who "could not legally marry."
John A. Hoag
UH program helps fund medical school training
In 1983, I returned to Honolulu after graduating from the University of Washington.I had degrees in psychology and nursing, and began working as a registered nurse for The Queen's Medical Center. Due to financial difficulties, my entire education was funded by scholarships and loans.
In the course of my training, I began to have a deeper interest in medicine and wanted to become a physician. But I didn't think I could afford to go to medical school.
Then my mother sent me an article about a woman graduating from the University of Hawaii's School of Medicine. She was the product of Imi Ho'ola, a program for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds capable of succeeding in medical school. It is a one-year intensive program.
I started Imi Ho'ola in fall 1984, was admitted med school in 1985, graduated in 1991, completed my residency in 1995, and completed my fellowship in June 1997.
As far as I know, I am the only perinatologist (maternal fetal medicine specialist) of Hawaiian ancestry. My accomplishments would not have been possible if not for the Imi Ho'ola program. It has played a major role in increasing the number of Pacific Islanders in the field of medicine.
Jana K. Silva, M.D.
Staff Perinatologist
Kapiolani Medical Center
for Women and Children
Mayor Lingle doesn't run county like a dictator
It doesn't take someone with a Ph.D to realize that Hawaii's economy is virtually dead. Nevertheless, there is one island that is doing incredibly well -- the County of Maui.Common sense makes my choice for governor an easy one this year, since Maui Mayor Linda Lingle has done a fabulous job. What impresses me most is her receptiveness and hospitality, wonderful characteristics that are the direct opposite of a dictator.
In addition to that, she is an honest individual, who treats others like brothers and sisters. Such a demeanor shows that she knows the concept of "aloha" well, which is an important factor in our tourism industry.
Remember, the issue isn't whether a candidate is a Democrat, Republican, yellow, green, purple, blue or brown, but rather his or her track record.
Dean Nagasako
Pahala, Hawaii
Just because it's fed money, doesn't mean it's free
Your May 23 article, "More highway money coming than ever," belabors the point that Hawaii is a "donee" state. That is, we take in more highway money than we send to Washington in gasoline taxes.Does that count the extra tax we've been sending in for years by mistake? Two of our lawmakers are quoted to be sure we understand what a good job they're doing by continuing our donee status.
However, a quick review of the bill's appropriations indicates that, of the 47 states receiving highway funds, 31 (roughly two-thirds) are donee states. Sixteen states paid out more than they received, while the rest of us got more than we paid in. Nothing to brag about, it seems.
Can you spell "d-e-f-i-c-i-t"?
Kevin Feeney
Waimanalo
(Via the Internet)
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