Kailua Beach Park needs some TLC

It was named one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It is enjoyed by local residents and visitors. So why does Kailua Beach Park look like hell? Why is its parking area so chaotic?

The beach park and parking area have been covered with sand from heavy winds. Now, months later, the sand is piled up in drifts that look like they were dumped there with reckless abandon.

The parking area (especially on the Kalapawai Market side) hasn't been repaved in years. There are no lines to help people figure out where to park. On any given weekend, police are there issuing tickets and towing cars to as far away as Waimanalo.

Now that Kailua has a new bridge for bicyclists, Ala Moana Beach Park has been completely renovated, and a new parking lot and pavilion are being built on the North Shore, can someone please take care of the most beautiful beach in the world?

Patrick V. Bullard
Kailua

Chandler is doing fine job at DHS

I read with great dismay of Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii's opposition to the reappointment of Susan Chandler as director of the Department of Human Services.

I have worked in the area of child abuse and have known all of the DHS directors since 1970. My program does not receive any funding from DHS but often partners with it.

Chandler is the first director who has made child abuse a priority. She has increased services, supported her overworked staff and provided increased management oversight, although this may not be obvious to the public.

I would love to see a director who could abolish the problem of child abuse, but that person doesn't exist.

In Susan Chandler, we have a committed, knowledgeable and caring department head. She deserves not only reappointment but our thanks for doing one of the most difficult jobs in our state.

Judy Lind

"I would like to be Jupiter and kidnap everybody and lie down in the firmament making love with everybody!" Roberto Benigni Writer, director and star of "life is Beautiful" After winning the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film and Best Actor "I'm so impressed with myself." Carol Goto Kaneohe resident and winner of the Star-Bulletin's Oscarama contest On hearing that she was the only contest entrant who accurately predicted all of the Oscar winners

OHA wants benefits for Hawaiians only

Taxpayers would do well to pay attention to the ongoing negotiations between the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and state government. If you are angry now with all the new and increased fees and taxes we'll be paying, just wait until OHA starts collecting the millions more of ceded land revenues gleaned from these negotiations.

OHA says it's a matter of "fairness" and that it's the law. Fairness? The ceded lands were to be used for the benefit of all the people of Hawaii. This sounds "fair" to me.

As for the law, judges can and do make unjust decisions. If this ruling were challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court, it could very well be reversed.

But wait, OHA wants more: for taxpayers to pay its trustees a pension and to also pick up the tab for Hawaiian students to attend UH, regardless of their economic status. Where does this end?

Art Todd
Kaneohe

OHA Ceded Lands Ruling

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Estate should pay for Hawaiians at UH

Bishop Estate stands to make $450 million from selling just a part of a fortuitous investment.

Assuming it costs $50,000 for tuition, books, room and board for one student to attend the University of Hawaii for four years of college, this one sum could send 9,000 Hawaiian students to UH.

This way, the "free" tuition that Hawaiians want wouldn't come at the expense of taxpayers or other students.

James Ko
Via the Internet

Bishop Estate archive

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Cockfighting is detrimental to society

A bill that would legalize cockfighting under the euphemism "gamebird testing facility" (SB 1642) not only has received a hearing but has been passed by the Senate Economic Development Committee and is headed for Ways and Means. "It's in them to fight," says a breeder.

But as civilized human beings, we have an opportunity to choose what will be our culture. We long ago chose to establish a law against this kind of cruelty to animals. Shall we now make exceptions, to glorify and capitalize on the "natural" impulse for these birds to fight, and to amuse ourselves in this way? Is this the sort of industry we want in Hawaii?

A different bill before the Legislature this session gave us an opportunity to outgrow another barbaric anachronism -- this one already long established in our culture. SB 708/HB 1722 would have spared elephants from exploitation as performers for our "entertainment" in traveling exhibits. Yet our lawmakers decided that such legislation wouldn't even get a hearing. What kind of culture do we want?

R. Elton Johnson III
Via the Internet

Youth will leave Kauai until economy improves

While I appreciate the care for Kauai's natural resources -- exhibited by those opposing the Lihue Airport runway extension -- there is another core issue to consider: the value of family. Most of those who have lived here for many generations are saddened that current economic conditions don't allow our young people to live and work here.

As long as we are not as passionate about providing for a healthy economy as we are about alien plants, Kauai will become home to another alien species -- the financially privileged few who would maintain that status at the expense of those whose family members have departed this island.

Nawahine Mansfield

Waimea, Kauai

Estate lawyer's barb was unjustified

Bishop Estate attorney William McCorriston's ridicule of Governor Cayetano's statement -- that the "dysfunctional trustees" should resign -- was uncalled for. McCorriston referred to what the governor is doing in public education and hypothetically asked who is really "dysfunctional" and should resign.

Then we have Henry Peters, who brags that he and the other trustees have made billions for the estate, which should excuse them for the millions they lost a few years back.

While they are making billions for the estate, they are also collecting millions for themselves. Wonderful. The longer they remain, the richer they get.

Bertha K.Y. Char

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