Did anyone bother to inspect Sacred Falls?

One would think somebody would have used taxpayer dollars to periodically check the stability of cliffs surrounding a highly used waterfall park in a deep, narrow valley like at Sacred Falls.

It's not a matter of "Well, this sort of thing just happens..."

Duh.

The issue should be protecting our people and visitors from the dangers of popular recreational places as best as we can.

Marilyn Camara
Kaneohe

Tuinei's death is lesson for youth

A TV sportscaster reporting on the memorial service for Mark Tuinei mentioned that most people are trying to forget how Mark died and, instead, are focusing on how he lived. What a mistake.

Remember -- in fact, never forget -- how and why he died. He was killed by a drug overdose. If he had not been taking drugs, he would be in Hawaii, helping kids learn how to play football.

If those kids remember nothing else, remember this: There is no hope in drugs, only death.

Jan Catton

More flights to Hawaii are key to recovery

With our tourism industry in the doldrums, lots of money and energy are being spent on advertising and promotion, but nothing will work unless the airline bottleneck that is strangling Hawaii's tourist industry is eliminated.

I began noticing about a year ago that every mainland flight I took was completely full. People were being bumped on nearly every flight. Everyone I spoke with had the same experience.

Unless more seat capacity is added, none of Hawaii's efforts to promote tourism will pay off. In fact, it is possible that there are already a large number of visitors in Mexico, the Caribbean and elsewhere who would be in Hawaii if they could only get seats.

I urge Governor Cayetano and our business leaders to convince the airlines to add more seats between Hawaii and the mainland. The newspapers should also investigate and report on this problem.

Don Fujimoto
Via the Internet

Quotables "My style as a politician is very low key. I'm not out trying to make some point on the 6 o'clock news." Jon Yoshimura NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL On how the former TV news reporter stayed away from the limelight during his first term, but assumed the Council chairmanship in his second term "Nobody was picked. The rocks fell where they fell. I'm not sure why human beings have such a hard time accepting that much of the universe works that way." The Rev. Mike Young MINISTER OF THE FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF HONOLULU On people's reaction after the landslide that killed eight at Sacred Falls State Park on Mother's Day

State lawmakers should be ashamed

I am disgusted by two separate actions by our state Legislature:

The group of lawmakers who took it upon themselves to contact the Vermont residents, urging them to reject same-sex marriage.

The 14 senators who voted against Attorney General Margery Bronster.

These people are not representing me.

Carol J. Holverson
Via the Internet

Estate survives, no thanks to trustees

As a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools, I am pleased that we are nearing an end to the worst attack that the estate of Princess Pauahi has ever endured. How ironic that the very people entrusted as stewards were the ones who let us down.

Although I don't believe that the IRS should have the kinds of power it wields, its assessment of the estate cannot be second guessed.

Trustees Wong and Peters must step down permanently. Their fiduciary responsibility is to the estate, not to personal gain, financial or otherwise. They should save face and ensure that the estate survives by leaving for good.

Charles K. Kaupu Jr.
Wailuku, Maui
Via the Internet

This is not the end of Bishop Estate drama

I agree with those within Kamehameha ohana who say that the healing process can begin, but the "saga" is not over. The Kamehameha name is tarnished forever and the estate is not going to recover in the near future. Too many people are angry, too many people want their piece of the trust, and no one is backing off.

The decision to remove the trustees might have set some precedent, but does anyone really think that the "new and improved" Bishop Estate will walk the straight and narrow? As long as KS/BE has money, everyone will be standing with their hands open.

James Keala Mauloa Moniz
Kamehameha Schools, Class of 1997
Washington, D.C.
Via the Internet

Bishop Estate Archive

Homework should be least of one's worries

Lauren Kim's May 4 letter hit a note with me. She suggested that the homework glut was a result of poor test scores and pressure on the DOE. Probably. She said teachers should make classes more interesting. Maybe.

But complaining that homework is stifling youth and enjoyment of life? Hmmmmm.

A high school freshmen is a few months from a driving license. Two, three years from being legally considered an adult. What does that mean? Job, taxes, college, marriage, children, housing, government, stress.

As a high school junior, I intend to enjoy every work-free, tax-free, wife-free and child-free minute before I am forced into a stressful, taxed, overburdened life with some kids asking me to read them a bedtime story.

Now doesn't the "problem" of homework seem more appealing?

Sechyi Laiu
Via the Internet

Harris has forgotten his promise to HPD

Whatever happened to the mayor's campaign promise to bolster and support the Honolulu Police Department?

If there is really no money for officer raises, how can Harris propose $30 million for his 19 community projects?

There might be more money if not for poorly planned and mismanaged city projects like Ewa Villages, Harbor Court, West Loch, the City Store, the almost-empty city-owned building downtown and now the groundbreaking for a soccer complex that has no planned proposal on how it will be managed or maintained.

Mayor Harris always finds money for projects that will improve his image for the next election. Why not find money for police pay raises?

Ken Hazemoto

Legislature Directory
Hawaii Revised Statutes

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