Stop ignoring needs of small business

How bad is business in Waikiki? For the first time in the two decades I have been doing business there, personnel from a major hotel chain were passing out leaflets, with discount coupons attached, to tourists on the street.

The sluggishness of our economy is having dire consequences across the wide spectrum of businesses in Hawaii.

Managers of large companies are only beginning to feel the intense pain that small businesses and entrepreneurs have felt for far too long.

This incident in Waikiki should be a wake-up call for our lawmakers, who are still half asleep. For a very long time, small-business representatives have been articulating the many problems they face, only to have their efforts rebuffed.

Carlino Giampolo

Why print instructions on how to make bombs?

Your descriptions of the weapons used in the Columbine School massacre were interesting. For instance, I noticed that the pipe bombs were loaded with vinegar and baking soda.

In elementary school, I knew a boy who made a volcano out of plaster of paris.

He used that combination of ingredients to produce an eruption, but who would have thought of making a pipe bomb?

I also found interesting the bomb made with a propane tank and gasoline.

As to why it didn't work, my guess is that the firing switch was too complicated. It could have been greatly improved with little effort. This suggests the young killers did not test them out before using them.

All in all, your little article was a good primer for making some very nasty weapons with common and easily obtained items. I hope no other vicious idiots read the Star-Bulletin.

Scott Israel

Quotables "I try to keep a purity of heart regarding the (slack-key) traditions...but you have to move with the flow of time." Keola Beamer Hawaiian musician Who just released "Kolonahe," an album that debuted two weeks ago at No. 13 on the Billboard World Music Chart "What Chang's decision means is that the old trustees will never again be at the helm of the Bishop Estate." Randall Roth Co-author of the "broken trust" essay After Circuit Judge Kevin Chang, as probate judge, ordered the interim removal of four Bishop Estate trustees and accepted the resignation of the fifth.

Racial stereotyping or teasing is never OK

Your April 23 article on how the state's history nurtures ethnic animosity seems to justify negative treatment, such as teasing and stereotyping, most notably the "locals vs. haoles" because of "Hawaii's tangled history."

Davianna McGregor, an ethnic studies professor at the University of Hawaii, also pointed out that "attitudes towards whites will be negatively colored until past injustices are atoned."

Racial and ethnic bigotry and stereotyping are not unique to Hawaii. One only has to look at the ethnic and cultural hatred in Northern Ireland, Indonesia, Rwanda and Kosovo to observe attitudes that are "negatively colored" by past injustices.

Let's teach our children by our own actions and words that racial stereotyping and teasing are always inappropriate. Paul LeMa-hieu, state schools superintendent, couldn't have said it any clearer: "If it offends and hurts, it's harassment."

Jacob V. Bradley
Waipahu

Lingle helped Maui; now she'll help GOP

I want to respond to Jane Ames' April 21 letter, "Don't let Lingle ruin Republican Party, too," concerning Linda Lingle's tenure as mayor of Maui. Ames derides the tax breaks that Lingle gave Maui hotels and the resultant loss of revenues to the county.

Doesn't Ames realize that Maui has the highest occupancy rates of any county and, therefore, is taking in much more in revenues than the tax breaks given by Lingle?

Ames fails to understand that, in order to improve the economy, the underlying philosophy has to be decreasing taxes, not increasing them.

As for Lingle's quest to become Republican Party chairwoman at the GOP's May 21 convention on Kauai, I will proudly cast my vote for her.

Laurie Von Hamm
Ewa Beach

How do you explain Bishop Estate debacle?

Last year, I explained to my students that people are occasionally corrupted by ambition and emboldened with power. They seemed to buy it. As their questions continued, the discussion thickened with details of intimidation and misuse of Bishop Estate funds. We settled on an impromptu lesson on the seven deadly sins.

Last semester, I assured them that in the midst of continuing revelations of hostesses and credit cards, indictments and men's restrooms, the state government and probate court were looking out for their interests. They were pleased to hear this.

Yesterday, I was forced to explain that elected officials often ignore the voice of the people (the vocabulary word was "cronyism") and sell their souls to various devils. My attempt to draw a parallel between the heroic Margery Bronster and various fictional martyrs bombed. That caught me by surprise.

Tomorrow, I have to explain to these students that the unfathomable arrogance of three, maybe four, individuals might well have jeopardized their educations.

Will someone either find a way to make the former trustees understand what they have done or suggest a lesson plan?

James Slagel
Kaneohe

Queen's has healthy commitment to Hawaii

Regarding your April 16 headline on Queen's community health programs: Queen's has a long history of supporting programs to improve health-care outcomes for Hawaii's communities. That commitment has not and will not change.

The decisions made recently are intended to improve the effectiveness of our community health initiatives, particularly those directed toward native Hawaiians. Our commitment to community health has always been quite substantial.

I also want to make clear that the decision regarding Queen Emma Community Health does not affect any of Queen's direct patient care programs.

In particular, your readers should know that the clinics at The Queen's Medical Center will continue to function just as they always have.

Joel B. Kennedy
Vice President Corporate Communications
The Queen's Health Systems

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