Too much spent on officer housing I was quite surprised by your June 23 article, "Navy: $5.5 million wrongly spent." As an enlisted Navy spouse, I understand that senior officers need renovations and improvements on their homes. Everyone, enlisted personnel and officers, has the right to live in quarters that are not falling apart. But why was $92,000 spent to fix a lanai and fishpond? That is more money, gross, than my husband makes in three years. I was also upset about the $3,000 spent on an etched glass shower and $30,000 for marble flooring in the bathroom. Why are Navy families living on the northern side of Barbers Point, in Coral Rose Housing, in substandard housing not even up to standards for the state to move in welfare recipients? Our husbands or wives leave their families for months at a time, and risk their lives for this country. Yet they must live in houses that don't get electrical power on a daily basis (due to construction) and have hot water turned off because the gas lines are cut. More than 300 new Navy houses in Pearl Harbor-Makalapa Housing cannot be moved into because they don't pass fire codes. Yet $92,000 can be spent on fixing a lanai? While I am grateful to the Navy for what it provides my husband and family -- job security, medical benefits, the chance to travel the world -- the majority of military families are on food stamps and other government subsidies. This is a major problem. Anita Wilson Via the Internet

State magazine is necessary, useful

I would like to thank the State of Hawaii for publishing 'Imi Loa. This magazine shows that Hawaii does have the right ingredients and talent for business to prosper.

In today's competitive environment, we cannot let the benefits of Hawaii go unnoticed in the world. So, to the naysayers, wake up and smell the roses -- right in our own backyard.

Michael Nomura
Kailua

Special session talk frightens voters

The special legislative session made me reflect on the difference between fear and terror. Fear is when our political leaders talk about a special session. Terror is when a special session is convened.

Didn't we get to see enough of our elected representatives and their "capabilities" during the regular session?

Enough is enough, for crying out loud. Seldom does anything ever get better by bringing in the "good ol' boys" to fix it. Who messed it up in the first place?

Roy E. Pyles

Customers stopped coming after bad review

Regarding the June 17 review the Star-Bulletin published on Bobby's Bistro: It was a ludicrous critique given the quality of food and service that I have experienced at that restaurant.

Its business has decreased by more than 30 percent since you ran that article. How are small business owners to make it with no support from the media?

Retract the article. It was not appropriate. And maybe you ought to look at the appropriateness of other stories your staff has written. In a struggling economy why don't you use your power to help and not hurt?

Bobby's Bistro is paying a staff of 20-22 people. In a tight economy, this is no small endeavor. People need jobs and Bobby's was providing an avenue for earning. All in all, I consider their little Bistro a special place.

D. Trinidad Hunt
Kaneohe
Via the Internet

Negative stories hurt state economy

I was disappointed to read the Star-Bulletin June 29 article regarding Cyanotech Corp. Cyanotech announced a significant joint-venture agreement with a Fortune 500 company, Norsk-Hydro, that dominates a global market worth $150-plus million. Norsk and Cyanotech apparently plan to produce natural astaxanthin -- a highly valuable pigment used in the salmon industry.

At the same time, Cyanotech released its earnings report, announcing losses of $2.5 million on sales of $6.7 million. So what does the Star-Bulletin emphasize? The negative -- not the positive.

Hawaii has a remarkable new industry -- marine biotechnology -- led by companies like Cyanotech and Aquasearch that are making an impact on global markets. They are supported by world- leading research at the University of Hawaii and the University of California through a national center of excellence -- the Marine Bioproducts Engineering Center.

If Hawaii citizens are sincerely dedicated to building a sound economy, then we must all work together to build our reputation.

As we grow our new economy, we can expect ups and downs. The Star Bulletin has a responsibility to give us a balanced view.

The article on Cyanotech was 90 percent negative, 10 percent positive. This reporting, in my humble opinion, is not responsible or fair. I encourage the Star-Bulletin to give credit where it is due.

Mark Huntley
CEO, Aquasearch Inc.
Via the Internet

America's Cup event got inadequate coverage

Once again, your newspaper gave little or no coverage to two events that could do more for our island economy than any previous single event ever presented here. The America's Cup Challenge inauguration at Aloha Tower made your back pages, as did a formula car racing clip.

Gordon Tilley
Haleiwa
Via the Internet

Quotables "It's clear a lot of people think full restoration of the pool is a mistake. I'm re-evaluating my position (since) this thing is being drawn out in the court system." Duke Bainum HONOLULU CITY COUNCILMAN Having second thoughts on whether the Waikiki War Memorial and Natatorium should be fully restored "Unequivocally in this case, DNA means 'Did not attack.' " Todd Eddins HONOLULU DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER On his client, prominent local theater actor and director Gary Anderson, who is charged with felony sexual assault but whose DNA doesn't match or wasn't present in seminal fluid recovered from the victims, according to Eddins

Keep fees affordable at city golf courses

Municipal golfers thank the City Council for denying Mayor Harris' request to raise green and cart rental fees at city golf courses.

The general public isn't aware that these courses provide recreation for 61,836 residents, including 134 disabled residents, at affordable rates.

Yet, in past years and without Council approval, senior citizen golfers have had their green fees increased by 200 percent. These golfers pay taxes, which support other recreational programs and facilities, the bus deficit, county operational costs, and pay off municipal bond loans and interest.

Excluding other revenues from the six municipal golf courses operations, green and cart rental fees were $9.1 million for FY 1997 and $9.8 million for FY 1998. Expenditures for each fiscal year were approximately $6.1 million.

No municipal golfers were subsidized, as revenues versus expenditures indicate.

Harry Choi

Bronster was clearly anti-Hawaiian

I cannot see how any Hawaiian could support or defend former Attorney General Margery Bronster. Her track record concerning Hawaiian issues shows her to be anti-Hawaiian.

Why didn't she go after those responsible for the state owing the Office of Hawaiian Affairs or Department of Hawaiian Home Lands millions of dollars?

Why didn't she go after those responsible for Hawaiians being on the DHHL waiting list for decades? What did she do about the "reconciliation" called for in Public Law 103-150?

Why didn't she investigate the accusation made by attorneys, professors and many Hawaiians that the annexation and statehood of Hawaii was and is illegal? Good riddance to Bronster!

Steve Tayama
Waimanalo
Via the Internet

Black history should be mandatory course

To graduate from public high school, students must complete a course in Hawaiian history. I think it is about time that we incorporate black history into this curriculum, too.

Through the study of black history, students will be able to bridge the gap between our two worlds. Locals will be able to fully understand the price of slavery and how it built this country, while African-American studies would lead to increased esteem for the ancestors of slaves.

We speak of racial tolerance but who wants to be tolerated? Every human wants acceptance and love. Let's bridge the racial gap, and start by changing the school curriculum.

Coreen Sentell
Hauula
Via the Internet

Program helped elderly to live independently

Catholic Charities Elderly Services recently became the only elder-focused agency in the nation to be filmed by the National Public Broadcasting System for presentation in its "Visionaries" series. It was selected for its innovative programs helping seniors to live independently.

Under one roof, CCES has offered effective counseling, case management, transportation, respite care, housekeeping, chore services, escort to medical and entitlement appointments and money management to low-income seniors.

Too bad that the local Executive Office on Aging and Elderly Affairs Division has chosen not to fund this comprehensive program. The move -- cutting a $500,000 contract for these services -- leaves our state's poorest elders without coordinated counseling and case management.

Jobs cut included four van drivers, five counselor/case managers with locally earned master's degrees (the state thinks it can do better with less-trained folks), two service aides, two part-time receptionists and an administrator. As one of the affected counselor/case managers, I thank Catholic Charities for all it has done.

Jan Koltun
Via the Internet

Hawaii teachers are worse off than stats show

The Star-Bulletin's June 21 story, "Isle teachers pay below average," understates the economic plight of teacher salaries in Hawaii.

The state's teacher salaries were reported at the median, 25th in the nation. For the average reader, the median represents the middle, nothing to raise societal concern, right?

Wrong! Don't be fooled by the reporting of gross salary. Instead, look at the net effect of salary when compared across the nation. By reviewing the American Federation of Teachers website, http://www.aft.org/research/salary/stgrave/index.htm, the picture of teacher salaries in Hawaii is more dimly and accurately reflected.

Teacher salaries in Hawaii have traditionally ranked near or at the bottom when cost of living is factored in. The harsh reality is that Hawaii's teachers are among the worst off economically and overall professionally in the nation.

Alan Shoho
San Antonio, Texas
Via the Internet

Online edition brings aloha every day

I was born and raised on Oahu but, five years ago, moved to the mainland. I now live in Minnesota, but my entire family is still in Hawaii.

When my mom forwarded an e-mail copy of your June 5 edition, I was emotionally moved. Seeing my brother's picture on the front page -- jumping for joy at his high school graduation -- brought a wonderful feeling. I am very proud of both my brother and my mom.

Thanks to your online edition, I can keep the aloha spirit with me no matter where I am.

Katie O'Donnell
Medford, Minn.
Via the Internet

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