Bronster should think about running for office

We have heard that former Attorney General Margery Bronster is considering a private-sector life. Oahu needs her innate fairness, honesty and, most important, the courage to correct what is wrong no matter who or what the opposition.

Mac, Mary Lee and Mike McLaren
Aiea

Interim trustees are a welcome change

The Star-Bulletin's May 14 front-page photo of the interim Bishop Estate trustees was refreshing. They look like down-home folks in the grip of awesome responsibilities, and not sure of what the outcome would be.

Meanwhile, the old trustees -- with their carefully managed and spuriously relaxed appearances, and their cocky attitudes -- made themselves poster children for Honolulu's worst problem: a local culture which perpetually assures its leaders that there is no limit to selfishness, hypocrisy and greed.

Keolo Pettingill
Waipahu

Bishop Estate Archive

Hawaii needs bicameral Legislature

Creating a unicameral legislature is not in the interest of the people of Hawaii. Comparing the Legislature to the City Council is like comparing apples and oranges. The focus of activity is completely different. Morever, the Council is in constant session, while the Legislature is limited to 60 days.

Even more important, until Hawaii develops a stable two-party system and escapes the harness of persistent one-party rule, the maintenance of the Senate and House helps to act as a brake on the exercise of power in a state where power is already more centralized than in any other.

In 1999, the state Senate rejected the reappointment of Attorney General Margery Bronster, and deservedly earned the dismay of us all. However, in 1998, if it had not been for the Senate's energetic opposition to the general excise tax increase -- advocated by both the House and the governor -- we would all be paying well over 5 percent in GET.

Bill Sharp

Mayor is breaching longtime promises

On behalf of Pearl City Aquatics Hawaii, I speak for many community residents who are extremely disappointed by the lack of progress in repairing the Pearl City District Park's 30-year-old swimming pool.

Two years ago, City Councilman Mufi Hannemann inserted funding into the city's budget, which the mayor approved, to repair the pool. Despite Hannemann's tireless efforts, and the support of thousands of Pearl City and Leeward residents, we remain frustrated that the administration has continued to ignore our plea.

Meanwhile, we hear all the new promises that Mayor Harris is making throughout the island to build new swimming pools and parks. We have one question, Mr. Mayor: Shouldn't you be making good on your old promises first?

Ken Suenaga
Head Coach
Pearl City Aquatics Hawaii

Quotables "This has been a painful six months. I wouldn't wish something like this on anybody." Fred vonAppen FORMER UH FOOTBALL COACH After reaching an arbitrated settlement of a $142,000 lump sum payment in his breach of contract lawsuit against the University of Hawaii "Well, it looks like -- in spite of Governor Cayetano saying he got the message and the Senate president saying he got the message -- that they didn't get the message." Donna Alcantara FORMER HAWAII GOP CHAIRWOMAN On Star-Bulletin/NBC Hawaii News 8 poll numbers that show unhappiness with the state's Democratic-dominated leadership

Whale killing should not be allowed

I am disturbed about the whale slaughtering by the Makah Indians. Just because it's a cultural tradition to kill whales does NOT mean we should bring it back.

It's almost the year 2000 and Congress is letting this tribe kill whales -- not just one whale but five whales each year until 2004. That's ridiculous!

Animals have feelings just like people. Yes, I may be only 12 years old but I do have an opinion. Speaking for all kids, this is crazy!

Maile Kellogg
Kailua
Via the Internet

Racial hatred is rampant throughout the world

The most disturbing part of your two-page spread on racism in Hawaii was the attempt to justify anti-haole racism. Thirty years ago, when I was in school, I had to fight on a regular basis because of anti-haole racism.

I left the islands for 10 years. When I returned home, I found that the hateful attitudes I endured and had hoped would fade away had found a happy home at the University of Hawaii and within certain segments of the sovereignty movement.

Those attitudes are similar to the ones behind the ethnic murders now going on in Kosovo, the brutal murder in Jasper, Texas, and the ones that Martin Luther King marched against. Those are attitudes we don't need in Hawaii.

James R. Olson Jr.
Via the Internet

Kids learn racism from their parents

I was struck by your letters to the editor in which racism in Hawaii schools was debated. In Detroit, the schools have failed. Violence is rampant. Fifty percent of high schoolers do not graduate.

So the state has stepped in and fired the elected school board. The mayor was directed to appoint a whole new board. The new board chose a chief executive officer to run the schools. The best candidate was white.

Now the community is up in arms because the new CEO is Caucasian. To these parents, race is the most important thing.

Of course, race should be irrelevant. Some haole kid in school does not represent every ancient thieving imperialist who ever stole from the Hawaiian people. He's just a kid.

When all parents learn to teach tolerance, that's when kids will grow up kinder and smarter.

Rick Tolin
Detroit, Mich.
Via the Internet

Here come foes of observatories -- again

As the first superintendent of the Mauna Kea Observatories from 1973-77, I witnessed a similar array of environmental groups against development. In those early days, it was the Auduban Society and the bird hunters who did not want development.

The university has done a stellar job (pun intended) in preserving this world-class facility for ground-based astronomy. It would be a disaster to let groups like Ka Lahui and the Sierra Club once again try to chase away responsible, clean economic and scientific development in Hawaii.

William F. McCready
Venture Planning Associates Inc.
Via the Internet

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