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Monday, June 29, 1998

Pro-gay marriage group is using a smokescreen

Jackie Young's pro-homosexual marriage group is busy handing Hawaii voters bottles of sunscreen in the wake of a catastrophic tsunami. Hawaiian issues -- as well as other worthy and unrelated issues -- are being exploited as decoys to muffle the urgency of the marriage amendment.

While Hawaii slept, a few state judges legalized homosexual marriage. That's earth-shaking! We, along with our children and our grandchildren, will slog through the aftermath of that decision.

I, like 70 percent of Hawaii residents, believe marriage should be reserved for opposite-sex couples. What can we do to avert disaster? On Nov. 3, reach for a life vest and vote yes on the marriage amendment.

Noelani Foster

Lingle's track record is accomplishment-filled

While Ben and his fellow travelers are busy trying to make her go away, we have time to look at Linda Lingle's record. She isn't the new kid on the block. She has been in island politics for 18 years.

She lived on Molokai and edited a newspaper, after which she was elected to the Maui County Council. She was on the Maui Council for 10 years and was the lone Republican. For 10 years, she served on the Council, then ran for mayor. The entire Democratic machine on Maui tried to defeat her. First, Elmer Carvalho, then Goro Hokama (in island politics for 36 years). Yet she won.

Quite an accomplishment, when you consider the strikes against her -- she's a Republican, haole, woman and neighbor islander. Lingle has never lost an election and, in spite of all his efforts, Ben isn't going to defeat her.

The upcoming election will be filled with mud-slinging and big money. Let's not allow that to cloud our vision of a new and better government, led by a governor who has shown she knows how to get it done.

Elsie D. Hollingsworth
Pearl City

Moses shouldn't get credit for school funds

I am writing to set the record straight. Evelyn E. Souza wrote in her June 15 letter that state Rep. Mark Moses should be re-elected because he made funding a reality for Kapolei High School, Kapolei Middle School and Kapolei Public Library. Nothing could be further from the truth.

During this legislative session, Moses requested funding for a number of school projects. He got none of them included in the House budget. When the House passed the state budget, not only did none of his requests get funded, but the House eliminated $54.7 million in funding for Kapolei projects that were approved last year.

What infuriated me was that Moses voted for this budget, even though it eliminated $54.7 million in critical funding for our community. On the other hand, Sen. Brian Kanno fought hard for these projects. The Senate restored the $54.7 million and added $3 million for Kapolei High School. The real credit should go to Kanno.

Since Moses did not get funding for our school construction, I will be supporting Maeda Timson in her campaign to be our new representative.

Barbara Yadao-Petti
Kapolei

Ask Clinton to protect Hawaii from missile attack

How safe is Hawaii from another Pearl Harbor? The first blow between unfriendly nations in the next century may be a missile attack, launched from land, aircraft, ships or submarines. The missiles may have nuclear, chemical or biological warheads.

Hawaii is somewhat protected from low level missile attack by the forces in the area. From attack by missiles from above the atmosphere, however, Hawaii has little protection.

If Lockheed's preliminary program is successful, Congress is expected to authorize a high level ballistic missile defense program, which the president is expected to veto.

I urge you write to President Clinton, The White House, Washington, D.C. 20500-0001, and ask him to support a ballistic missile defense program to protect Hawaii from another Pearl Harbor.

E. Alvey Wright
Kailua

Seeing play would be tribute to vets

I wholeheartedly agree with Proctor Gilbert's June 12 letter, especially his words, "Let's not ever take our veterans for granted."

The AJA veterans are having their 1998 National Convention July 2-5 at the Hawaii Convention Center. More than half a century since the end of World War II, the veterans are in their eighties or late seventies. Ben Tamashiro of the original 100th Infantry Battalion, known to us as "Harry" of the Bank of Hawaii commercials, is 80 this year.

The heroism displayed by these veterans and those who gave their lives not only helped the allies win the war but laid the foundation for the advancement of minorities in the U.S.

To commemorate them, the 442nd RCT Foundation is sponsoring Edward Sakamoto's play, "Our Hearts Were Touched with Fire," at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall during their convention. It chronicles the lives of three American families from Hawaii and the mainland, whose sons came together in the 442nd and joined the 100th battalion in Europe.

We can pay tribute to these veterans by seeing this enjoyable and moving play, full of humorous scenes that will make you laugh, and touching scenes that will make you cry. By the way, Ben and Gloria ("Myra") Tamashiro play major roles in this play, as they did at sold-out performances at the UH Kennedy Theater four years ago.

Agnes Niyekawa

HPD sponsored dance for a worthy cause

This is a long overdue thanks to the Honolulu Police Department for sponsoring the S.T.I.N.G. (Soaring To Improve Neighborhood Greatness) Dance on May 22 at the Ala Wai Clubhouse. The dance was a culmination for Oahu intermediate and middle school students who had successfully completed work in the P.A.G.E. program.

HPD officers visited once a week for eight lessons on Positive Alternative Gang Education. Students who were selected to attend the dance completed all lessons and met other criteria (behavior, attendance, etc.).

HPD arranged to have the students picked up by bus after school and taken to the Ala Wai Clubhouse, where they were treated to food, refreshments, entertainment and dancing.

Mahalo to Officer Rick De Reuter and all the other officers who worked so hard.

Keone Kuniyoshi
Teacher, Wahiawa Intermediate

Wahiawa

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