Dartmouth student's stance was heroic

I was relieved to read how Aaron Akamu of Dartmouth College took a stand in protesting the grossly overt exhibition of stereotyping Hawaiians as alcoholic, lazy bums. The Western world supports diversity and embraces the qualities that it can commercialize. It co-opts qualities of other cultures that are marketable and claims them as part of its own.

At this party, sponsored by a fraternity and sorority, the organizing committee planned to selectively use parts of the Hawaiian culture as a FUNd-raiser. However, there is no fun when we as a people are being ridiculed and stereotyped as alcoholic, lazy bums, because we are far from that.

It's refreshing that Akamu stood up for what is right rather than supporting ignorance.

Lana U. Robbins
Kamehameha Schools, Class of 1985
Clearwater, Fla.
Via the Internet

People overreacting to campus luau

Lighten up! Everybody enjoys Hawaiian-themed parties whether at Greek events or at the office. I work in a school office where we put up Hawaiian-themed decorations and wear aloha shirts, and nobody takes offense.

My daughter is a Tri-Delt and the Greeks at her school have had themed events, including Hawaiian. A good time is had by all. She has yet to report negative sentiments toward Hawaiians at any of these events.

There is certainly a need to recognize that there are real problems in every ethnic group, but isn't there also a place for light-hearted celebrations as well? Everybody wears green on Saint Patrick's Day; the Irish don't get mad. Everybody dances the Chicken Dance at Oktoberfest; the Germans don't get mad.

Geez, Louise! Oops, no offense, Louise.

Christina Fu Waldeck
Torrance, Calif.
Via the Internet

Quotables "Two or three years from now we're going to have a lot more roofs that are going to leak. If the roof is leaking, they're not going to enjoy the classroom." Jeff T. Davis State building maintenance supervisor On how Hawaii can't keep up with the repair and maintenance work needed at its public schools, estimated at $241 million "There is a difference between control and punishment." Carl Varady Attorney for Daniel Tupuola After the state agreed to pay Tupuola, a Halawa prison inmate, $100,000 to settle a lawsuit that claimed he was restrained and severely beaten by guards

Many contributed to Windward rescue

The spirit of aloha traveled thousands of miles to Denmark this past week, and has now returned with the thanks of the Danish people. "Tusind tak" (a thousand thanks) to the people of Hawaii who, with their caring, generosity and commitment saved the lives of our Danish visitors, Marianne Konnerup and Anitta Winther.

We are grateful to Mayor Harris, the Honolulu police and fire departments, and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which assigned crack teams of professionals.

We thank the hundreds of volunteers who joined the search, and will always have a warm place for the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club, whose members found the girls. A special word of gratefulness to the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, which took care of the girls' families.

The source of strength, fortitude and optimism exhibited by Anitta and Marianne became clear as the week wore on. Anitta's parents, Kaj and Minna Winther, and Marianne's mother Lena and her father Per Konnerup never wavered in the belief that the girls were of the mettle to survive. They were an inspiration to us all.

Lastly, we want to commend the Hawaii media for aiding the search and for treating the families with such kindness and understanding.

Laurence Vogel
Royal Danish Consul

Hikers' host family expresses mahalo

By now, most of Hawaii and much of the world has heard of the plight of the two Danish hikers, lost for eight days in Kahana Valley. As the host family for the two girls, it has been a frightening and emotional experience for us, as well as for the family members of the girls.

We are aware that this story could have had a tragic ending. Now that Marianne and Anitta have been miraculously found, we would like to thank the beautiful people of Hawaii for their fantastic outpouring of aloha and kindness.

There were so many who shared their love and prayers with us for the safe return of the girls, and the list of heroes is long. To all of you, a most profound mahalo nui loa.

There is no other place where such personal concern could have been found. Let the world know that the aloha spirit is alive and well in Hawaii.

Richard and Kirsten Melcher
Via the Internet

Yamasaki was among isles' greatest legislators

The recent death of former state Sen. Mamoru Yamasaki moves me to share a personal appreciation of this remarkable man.

Yama's mastery of the legislative process was accompanied by an incisive mind, unshakable personal loyalty and an abiding compassion for children and others in need of assistance and protection.

Coming from a plantation labor background, he understood and advocated for the interests of working families. He occupied a prominent place in the ranks of those who shaped Hawaii into a multi-ethnic society based on equality, justice and full citizenship for all.

As a legislator, he had few peers. I was privileged to have him as a mentor when I served in the state Senate, and his lessons have proven valuable time and again. I have lost a teacher and our state has lost one of its most distinguished sons.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D)

Creationists undermine science education

The premise of Jim Drake's Aug. 23 letter, "Evolution has become religion of the elite," was patently ridiculous. Evolution as a theory is not "in a panic," as Drake insists; on the contrary, scientists welcome challenging new evidence so as to continually refine it.

You cannot disprove evolution, and to dismiss it in a just-a-theory tone is not to understand the word "theory" in the sense it is used. It is not a hunch or a random guess.

If the Kansas school board has its way, will it also dismiss the theory of relativity as unproven? Will it attempt to cripple the teaching of physical sciences as well as the biological?

I suggest that Drake and his ilk learn more about terms before throwing them around, since they seem to confuse evolution with biogenesis. What's next: Questioning why there are still apes if we evolved from them? Sheesh.

Mary Mak
Via the Internet

Legislature Directory
Hawaii Revised Statutes
UH student news Ka Leo O Hawaii

---

Write a
Letter to the Editor

Want to write a letter to the editor? Let all Star-Bulletin readers know what you think. Please keep your letter to about 200 words. You can send it by e-mail to letters@starbulletin.com or you can fill in the online form for a faster response. Or print it and mail it to: Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802. Or fax it to: 523-8509. Always be sure to include your daytime phone number.