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Saturday, May 15, 1999

Judge's ruling finally provides justice

I am happy that the five trustees have been removed from office. The sooner their removal is finalized, the better.

This is a great day for Bishop Estate and Hawaii. If these five individuals had any courage, decency and true compassion for the Kamehameha Schools, they would have resigned months ago.

Perhaps they will never see themselves as others do. But if they can look past their own egos and all their money, they may become enlightened.

We should be thankful that citizens such as former Attorney General Margery Bronster had the courage to rise to the challenge for the people of Hawaii. Justice has prevailed!

Robert Dunn
Waipahu
Via the Internet

Even the trustees knew they were overpaid

It seems to me the five former Bishop Estate trustees made a clear determination as to what the fair compensation of a trustee should be. They contended that their duties were similar to that of a CEO, so they hired one at a salary of $300,000. Why, then, were they each accepting salaries of $1 million annually?

In the past year alone, that's a total compensation of more than $3.5 million. How many computers have could have been placed in Kamehameha classrooms for that amount of money?

Carlino Giampolo
Via the Internet

Why is Kanno running to union for advice?

The Quotable column on your May 1 editorial page highlighted the comment by Sen. Brian Kanno that he went to Russell Okata, chief of the HGEA, and asked Okata's opinion of Margery Bronster before her confirmation vote.

I don't live in Kanno's district, but the first thought that crossed my mind was: Why would an elected official go to the head of a union to ask for an opinion on anything, when he should be going to his constituents and asking theirs?

Kanno's statement speaks volumes on who has the real decision-making power in this state.

Jim Fromm
Via the Internet

Special bumper stickers need to be printed

Islanders are noted for their short attention span to political and social events. Perhaps the public should be reminded of the vote that ousted Attorney General Bronster by a "bumper sticker" that reads: "Remember Margery?"

Election Day is a long way off and we all need to be reminded how some senators thumbed their noses at the people.

Laurence M. Raine
Via the Internet

Senate showed courage in rejecting A.G.

The Senate deserves a big mahalo for having the integrity to "Just Say No" to Cayetano's anger and revenge-seeking. Its rejection of Attorney General Margery Bronster sends a clear message to the governor that he must get his house in order.

Bronster spent the last two years trying desperately to seek retribution against fellow politicos at Bishop Estate on behalf of Cayetano. Doing so utilized millions of our tax dollars just to feed Cayetano's ego, rather than spending those funds on educating the children of Hawaii.

This misdirected anger at the expense of the taxpayer must cease, and sending Bronster to the dugout was the first step.

Rick Robinson
Kealakekua, Hawaii
Via the Internet

Bishop Estate Archive

Yoshimura shouldn't be Council chairman

I am disappointed that Jon Yoshimura will replace Mufi Hannemann as City Council chairman.

Hannemann has proven himself to be rare, bold leader through creative initiatives like directing fees collected for the use of civic grounds to pay for the annual Honolulu City Lights program, embracing the opinions of city employees on the budget, and leading the charge in the sale of surplus city land to Home Depot.

This is the kind of leadership we require during such dire economic times. Hannemann and fellow Council members John Henry Felix and Donna Mercado Kim have asked reasonable questions of the mayor about his budget. Yet Harris has been unable to provide credible answers.

On the other hand, Yoshimura does not understand the simple concept of conflict of interest. For example, if he is the legal representative of a developer, he should not be involved in any dealings with the developer on behalf of the city. Yet Yoshimura has failed to live up to this principle.

It's clear that the checks and balances of city government will suffer under Yoshimura.

A. Yanagisako

Brain drain explained by isles' daily headlines

Do you wonder why there are so many of us displaced islanders on the mainland? Island politics has crippled the economy, the ouster of Bronster illustrates the extended Good Ol' Boy network at work, and as for the tripling of animal quarantine fees -- come on!

Len Cancio
San Antonio, Texas
Via the Internet

Brain Drain Archive

QUOTABLES "She didn't like violence and believed there are other ways to settle things." George Kaleikoa SON OF IWALANI KALEIKOA Reflecting on his mother (pictured above), who was knocked down and fatally hit her head while trying to break up a fight between two female students at Waianae Intermediate School "Cattle ranching is dead. Sheep ranching is dead. Honey is dead. Even charcoal is dead." Bruce Robinson NIIHAU RANCH MANAGER On closing of the 135-year-old ranch on the Forbidden Island

Everyone can help Bishop Museum

Every resident can be a Bishop Museum fund-raiser. Really! The gift shop, admissions, programs and publications all contribute important revenues.

Are you a member of the Bishop Museum Association (low cost, free admission, discounts)? Do you send every tourist you meet to the museum? Do you make gift purchases at Shop Pacifica? Give gift memberships?

If everyone who worried about the museum's plight did these things, it would add up. Do what you can. Don't just yammer!

Anita Manning
Waipahu
Via the Internet

Fast cars are more deadly than guns

In the wake of the tragedy perpetrated by those two immature idiots in Colorado, we are again faced with a proposal from the White House for limiting our supply of personal firearms.

Where is the hue and cry to stop automobile manufacturers from using high-powered, speeding vehicles in their ads? Where are the demands from our caring citizens about taking cars away from teens? Where are the lawsuits against auto makers for providing these vehicles of destruction?

I am neither a gun advocate nor a gun owner, so I have no ax to grind on behalf of the NRA. But when will politicians stop concentrating on showboating, like this current president, and focus on a real killer? Auto accidents have been rated in the top 10 causes of death nationally for the past decade and a half.

Hank Kauhane
Aiea
Via the Internet

Christian fish symbol could insult God

The little fish now displayed on so many bumper stickers and upon at least one senator's door in the Capitol used to be a secret symbol, the ichthys. It used to reveal one Christian to another when Christians were persecuted and imprisoned if found out. Today the ichthys is used in the opposite way, as a public identification of one's Christian affiliation.

Some people have suggested that the posting of the ichthys in the Capitol's hallways is tolerable if Christians don't allow their Christianity to affect their actions. To the contrary, if a Christian in public is not inspired by Christ's righteousness and compassion, then the ichthys will only be a sectarian symbol. It will convey the question, "Are you one of my group?" and imply that, if you are not, you are somehow less represented by the legislator behind the door.

It is precisely this that the Constitution guards against: making membership in a particular sect a key to the political process. As such, the ichthys would dishonor not only our Capitol but Christ himself.

Kathleen S. Friday
Hilo, Hawaii
Via the Internet

Lawmakers can do what they like -- at home!

In response to Claude Kutaka's April 20 letter on religious expression: Mr. Kutaka, I also believe in ensuring the separation of church and state, and acknowledge that our nation is founded on principles of godliness. And I agree expressions of personal faith do not create a state religion, as long as that expression is at an elected representative's home or property.

This issue, however, involves a state building. It's paid for by taxpayers, many of whom, including myself, firmly believe religious expression does not belong in a publicly funded state or federal building.

Adele J. McGee
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Via the Internet

Trips to Hanauma are becoming unpleasant

Attempts to "improve" Hanauma Bay just seem to make things worse, at least when it comes to access for locals. It's already the only pay-per-use city park on Oahu.

I used to enjoy going scuba diving there -- until I had to stand in line for 20 minutes each time with a tank on my back, just to show my driver's license. The whole trolley/park thing at Koko Head sounds expensive, inconvenient, unneeded and unwanted.

If you want to really improve the bay, plant some trees in the parking lot. Have an entrance line for locals only. And keep people off the reef!

Bill Stohler
Kihei, Maui
Via the Internet

Columnist's ethnic complaints are tiresome

You do Hawaii and your newspaper a disservice by carrying the column of Emil Guillermo. He has but one message: Life is a zero-sum game, in which Asians and other "people of color" are not getting their fair share.

I assume your thought is that, in carrying such unenlightened drivel, you are presenting an alternative viewpoint to the "colored folk" in Hawaii. How appalling!

Particularly odd is Guillermo's belief, advanced like a broken record, that there is an "Asian viewpoint." One would think he would look to his ethnic homeland. Having spent months covering the insurgency in the Philippines, I think it is self-evident that even Filipinos hardly think along one line.

Asians are just like everybody else; they have different points of view. Analyzing their role in society -- whether on the mainland or here, solely on the basis of race -- makes about as much sense as barking at the moon. This is just the tone struck by Guillermo's ill-written, noisome columns.

Tom Marks
Mililani
Via the Internet

Lingle had it right about the state budget

It is interesting to review 1998's gubernatorial promises and predictions to see if individual voters would now vote the same way.

Governor Cayetano insisted that the economy was coming back and, to prove it, he pointed out a $154 million surplus. Candidate Linda Lingle saw the economy as continuing to suffer and predicted a $500 million deficit.

No contest here. With the $150 million wage increase being given the state public workers, the borrowing of $250 million from the state Employee Retirement System to make the books look balanced, and the bill due this fiscal year on last year's payroll lag of $50 million, it looks like Lingle knew what she was talking about.

Instead of a recount, maybe we can get a revote.

Marge Young
Ewa Beach

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