Don't close Sacred Falls permanently

My wife and I visited Sacred Falls in March. While on the trail near the pool, a couple of rocks the size of softballs landed about 20 feet behind us. The only warning we had was their initial impact with the tree canopy a fraction of a second before they hit the ground.

As experienced Oregon Cascade hikers and mountaineers, we knew the dangers inherent in this narrow, steep valley and took the risk to visit the falls, accordingly. In fact, all places in the world built by volcanoes and that have large sections of vertical rock are inherently dangerous.

While this incident was truly tragic, I hope your government officials do not overreact and simply close the Sacred Falls trail permanently. I'm not suggesting that people be placed in jeopardy, but rather that studies be done, the relative risks posted, and people be given the choice of whether to proceed.

Some of the most worthwhile adventures involve risk. It is not fair to those of us who accept the risk to be denied the experience because of those who want us to live in their "totally safe" world.

Robert M. Slugg
Portland, Ore.
Via the Internet

Hannemann asked advice of city workers

I am extremely disappointed that Mufi Hannemann will no longer be chairman of the City Council.

I had the privilege of working with him earlier this year while facilitating a series of process meetings to solicit ideas from city employees about the budget. This was the first time that the Council had attempted to reach out to employees.

The workers who participated unanimously agreed that the process filled a long-standing void and wanted it to continue as an annual employee program.

Hannemann never attempted to intervene or influence the group and the employees' recommendations. This speaks volumes about his character, and also his sincere desire to listen and his willingness to hear the truth.

Drake Beil

Bankrupt financier is not a banker

Could you please address your attention to a nagging concern we have with respect to Bank of Honolulu? There has been recent news regarding the bankruptcy of Sukamto Sia, who is regularly referred to as a "banker" (Star-Bulletin, April 21).

Sia does not participate in any manner in the day-to-day affairs of Bank of Honolulu or any other depository institution or FDIC-affiliated organization.

In this regard, he is not a "banker." Therefore, it is not accurate to refer to him as such.

William H. Page
President, Page Marketing Inc.
Spokesperson, Bank of Honolulu

Quotables "I am not a bad person. I am a drug addict who does bad things to feed my addiction." Elizabeth Savage FORMER HONOLULU POLICE OFFICER Sentenced to five years in prison on 11 charges of theft and forgery "I can sleep at night. I can also sleep during the day. My daughter (age 9) caught me singing and said, 'Mom, you've definitely gone off the deep end. You need a job.'" Margery Bronster FORMER STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL On her new life after losing her state position in a 14-11 Senate vote

Tuinei was big man with big heart

The passing of Mark Tuinei brought tears to many eyes. My heart goes out to his wife, Pono, and the Tuinei family.

I met Mark at Little Ed's in Kaneohe, where my friends play music. When the band stopped for a break one night, we all went out on the balcony.

My friend told me that the man standing beside me was Mark Tuinei, who played for the Dallas Cowboys.

I jokingly said, "Well, I'm a 49ers fan myself." Mark turned to me and flashed a smile.

Hawaii loves you, Mark Tuinei. May you rest in peace.

Gail Gali
Naalehu, HawaiI
Via the Internet

New phone book cover is artistic

Tom Sellers is no art critic (Dave Donnelly's Hawaii column, March 14). Hiroki Morinoue is one of Hawaii's most respected artists. His 1999-2000 phone book cover is a handsome and sophisticated rendition of the Hawaiian shore. We are fortunate to have his art grace our phone book.

Linda Hutchinson
Kaneohe

Pauahi should be example to trustees

The saddest part of our times is this simple analogy: Princess Pauahi was asked to become the sovereign monarch for Hawaii as King Kamehameha V lay on his death bed. Her reply to him was "A'ole." No.

Her reason? Simple. She didn't believe that her people could trust her because she had married a foreigner. Because of this, she believed that there would always be a question whenever a decision was made on behalf of her people.

As events have unfolded, I have observed that Ke Ali'i Pauahi was really a queen of her people. Her gift was meant to be in perpetuity. Forever.

As long as there remained one Hawaiian who was interested in educating himself or herself, this gift was guaranteed.

Our former Bishop Estate trustees, like Ke Ali'i Pauahi, should be thinking only of our children. And like Pauahi and her people, they should be responsible enough to step aside and know that there is no longer any trust in any of them.

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

Nakata shouldn't be criticized for vote

Whether or not I agree with my senator, Bob Nakata, on the Margery Bronster issue, I believe he thought long and hard before reaching his decision to oppose her reconfirmation.

I do not believe that his decision was influenced by Bishop Estate lobbyists or an internal power struggle within the Senate.

Some senators were justifiably concerned about Bronster's positions on important matters such as the state water code, Hawaiian rights, ceded lands, legal services to state departments, attempts to influence policy via legal opinions, and matters pertaining to personnel and work loads within the Attorney General's Office.

As an aside, I believe that the Bishop Estate investigation would have been initiated by anyone in Bronster's position.

After the "Broken Trust" essay and subsequent public outcry, not to mention a governor heading into a difficult re-election campaign, how could the state administration have not responded?

Marjorie Ziegler
Kaaawa

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