Bishop Estate

Lindsey claim that she was 'overthrown' is insulting

In your May 8 article on Lokelani Lindsey, Lindsey referred to Judge Chang's ruling as the "second overthrow." As a Hawaiian, Kamehameha graduate and officer of the Kamehameha Alumni Association, I was offended by her remark.

By following the various cases against the trustees for the past two years, it became apparent that Lindsey thought she was a queen. But to actually come out and compare the removal of corrupt, self-serving trustees to the overthrow of a legitimate queen is unforgivable.

I say good riddance to the four ousted trustees. I hope the courts find them personally liable to repay the millions of estate dollars that they wasted on their self-preservation attempts.

Thanks, Oswald Stender, for your dedication to the school. At no other time has the cry "Imua Kamehameha" had so much meaning.

Duke Mossman,
Heber City, Utah
Via the Internet

Trustees' greed exceeds their shame

I watched in dismay the Bishop Estate debacle. These incredible events made me wonder how we Hawaiians came to inherit such a morass of deceitful proceedings.

I heard a conversation at a dinner table where a child, unable to comprehend the issues and incapable of understanding the trustees' behaviors, asked her mother how any group could work against the trust of Hawaiian children.

The mother put down her kitchen utensils and released a heavy sigh. Then she sadly shook her head, explaining simply, "To those people, greed is more powerful than shame."

Walter Kaneakua
Via the Internet

Bishop Estate drama is better than fiction

Since I live on the mainland, I check the Star-Bulletin's Web site each day for the latest developments on the Bishop Estate. What compelling drama -- better than TV or the movies. Shocking, unpredictable and emotional.

Lately, this whole thing reminds me of old "Hawaii Five-0" episodes. The minute you heard a character say, "I'm not guilty; prove it!" you knew they were just that.

Hey, Wong and Peters, I think you gave yourselves away.

Kathy Lake
Kamehameha Schools, Class of 1974
Redondo Beach, Calif.
Via the Internet

Stender should be asked to serve as trustee again

I hope that when the smoke clears, Oswald Stender gets back his job as a Bishop Estate trustee.

I've had a couple of opportunities to talk story with him and was totally impressed with Stender, his character and his absolute devotion to Kamehameha Schools and their students.

It would be a terrible waste if the estate is unable to utilize his talents and leadership in the future.

Robert "Rabbett" Abbett
Kailua
Via the Internet

McCorriston should reimburse trust

Judge Chang's order places Bishop Estate attorney William McCorriston in an interesting situation. In effect, he has been defending the majority trustees while milking the trust for his legal fees.

Now McCorriston's shibai has become untenable. He can no longer communicate with the trustees and is not really working for the benefit of the trust. So why is he on the payroll?

Hopefully, the interim trustees will not only sack McCorriston but force him to repay legal fees paid to him by the trust.

William Blackwell
Via the Internet

What will elite do about ceded land revenues?

Political corruption, graft, sweetheart deals, campaign finance abuse, quid quo pro. Anywhere other than Hawaii, these violations would be sanctioned by fines, jail time or at least removal from office.

Fortunately, we in Hawaii have been taught by the ruling political class that these "offenses" take a back seat to that most reprehensible crime against society: micromanaging a private school system.

We Hawaiians should thank our lucky stars that we have the elite of the Democratic Party, the UH Law School and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin to look after the legacy of our princess. Now that they've settled the Bishop Estate chaos, just wait and see what a GREAT job they will do protecting ceded land revenues.

I can't wait. Can you?

Kaola Kamaunu
Via the Internet

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Bishop Estate Archive

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Quotables "We're not interested per se in making green mice. I just wanted to see if this would work out of pure curiosity." Tony Perry UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SCIENTIST On the "Honolulu transgenesis" experimental technique, which transferred genetic information from a green gene in a jellyfish to the DNA of mice, making them green in color, and which could lead to advances in human organ transplants "The first thing we heard was loud thunder. The first thing I saw was a cloud of rocks." Anselmo Desaavedra HICKAM AIR FORCE STAFF SERGEANT Describing the landslide at Sacred Falls State Park that killed his niece, Danielle Williams, and injured his nephew, Dorian Williams

New Council leadership is welcome change

What a relief! The Honolulu City Council reorganization, with Jon Yoshimura as the new chairman, makes a lot of sense. We just weren't getting much done under the old leadership, with the bickering having more to do with politics than public service.

The new Council leaders deserve our thanks for ending the logjam at City Hall. It's one thing to have checks and balances, but we had reached a point where the Council and administration were canceling each other out. That's not how government is supposed to work.

Kudos to the members of the new Council majority for their courage. Now, time to get to work.

M. Hayashi
Kahuluu

Fireworks use will remain unchecked

State legislators ironically sang "Aloha Hawaii" and congratulated themselves at the end of their 1999 session. But they did nothing to restore the aloha which they destroyed a few years ago, when they took away power from the counties to regulate the sale of fireworks.

Aloha used to mean caring, but that spirit may die altogether during the next New Year's Eve fireworks inferno.

Our isles are too overcrowded to tolerate unregulated fireworks melees. Perhaps it will take a natural disaster like Oklahoma or worse to cure those who long for a mock war.

Perhaps when the breath of legislators becomes labored, only then will they prefer a safer, more loving way to celebrate the holidays.

Rosemarie H. Tucker

Lingle shouldn't waste time running GOP

Republicans will be picking a state chairperson in a few days. Linda Lingle wants to run for the position, but she should be spending every minute on her campaign for governor.

We desperately need change for more jobs and better schools, and Lingle is our best hope. That's why I support Jimmy Kuroiwa for GOP chairman. He can build the party.

Linda for governor, Jimmy for chairman. It's that simple.

Mark Terry

Heroes abounded in Sacred Falls landslide

At first, like so many others, I was horrified and saddened by the carnage from a totally unforeseen act of nature at Sacred Falls State Park. My heart aches for those who died and for their families, since this could have happened to any one of us. I pray for those who were injured and wish them speedy recoveries.

When a tragedy like this occurs, an unbelieving numbness sets in as we search for answers to the question, "Why?" But almost before the question can be uttered, reports of acts of courage, duty and compassion filled the newspapers.

Firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, military helicopter crews and state officials lived up to their responsibilities. They are heroes to be lauded and thanked.

There are other heroes as well -- everyday people who rose to the occasion, perhaps unaware of what they were capable of. I wish I could embrace them and relay how humbled I am by their goodness and bravery.

Colleen Meyer

Local media covered tragedy admirably

The media is often portrayed as a flock of hungry vultures waiting to swoop in on innocent victims of tragedy. Fortunately, there are only a few of those "journalists" working in this town.

Being responsible for dealing with the media for both Chaminade University and for the parents of Mark and Jennifer Johnson, I dealt with local and mainland reporters as the Sacred Falls tragedy unfolded. The Honolulu journalists were, by far, more compassionate and professional than their counterparts from the mainland. They also more accurately reported the often confusing and breaking story.

On behalf of Chaminade and the Johnsons, I commend the local press for maintaining such a high level of respect, while providing the community with important information.

Peter Wolf
Director Office of University Relations
Chaminade University of Honolulu

Drug laws contribute to deaths such as Tuinei's

The tragic death of Mark Tuinei is but another example of the negative fallout from our misguided and failed drug policies. He joins more than a score of other young people in Plano, Texas, who have died from heroin overdoses during the past year.

We would all agree that Tuinei should not have taken the drugs he reportedly ingested: heroin and Ecstasy. But he did, as do thousands of our fellow citizens. Fortunately, most people who experiment with drugs survive; some, however, are victimized by the drug policies that contribute to the harm.

Specifically, Tuinei's death could have been avoided if he had received an honest and factual education about drugs, and if his friends, equally ignorant, had not been afraid to report his early symptoms.

Until we recognize that substance abuse is a medical, not a criminal issue, we will continue to see the tragic consequences.

Donald M. Topping
President Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii
Via the Internet

Cayetano said health was a priority

I agree with and appreciate all of the letters to the editor in support of the University of Hawaii School of Public Health, especially the call for Governor Cayetano to support the school.

Indeed, the "Health State" would be a sad joke without a fully accredited public health school.

If the governor is serious about supporting health tourism, telehealth and health exporting, he should not contradict himself by remaining silent while a major educational resource for achieving many of these goals is allowed to die.

Is health a priority or not?

Joel Stringer
Via the Internet

Legislature Directory
Hawaii Revised Statutes

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