Where is evidence against Bronster?
It has been months since Sen. Marshall Ige said that the state Senate would be revealing the results of an investigation into the "wrongdoings" of former Attorney General Margery Bronster. I and probably a few others are on pins and needles.What happened, Marshall? Weren't able to find anything?
Frank McCafferty
Via the Internet
DOE tries to play up 'good' test results
Spin bothers me. And we were spun big-time by the state Department of Education in your Aug. 17 article regarding the American College Testing (ACT) scores of Hawaii high school students.Here's the spin: "A good reflection of the state as a whole," DOE spokesman Greg Knudsen said. More spin: Hawaii students "are maintaining a high level of performance," according to Selvin Chin-Chance, also of the DOE.
Here are the facts. Hawaii's ACT scores include private and independent school students. The ACT test is used in the Midwest and South, at schools sought out more by private than public school graduates. Yet with private test-takers dominating, we still score only in the middle of the 18 states with 20 percent or less participation.
What counts in Hawaii is the SAT, not the ACT. The University of Hawaii requires the SAT. If you want to measure DOE graduates, check the SAT scores for Hawaii public school students. Compare these only with states where at least 40 percent of the grads take the SAT (a smaller share means higher scores).
There are 22 such states. In this group of 22 states, Hawaii public school test-takers rank dead last. No spin.
Rep. Galen Fox (R)
21st District
Via the Internet
Quotables
"For a while, I was on a black list. Then in 1997, Chairman Jiang Zemin called grandfather one of the three great men of modern China, and things turned around. For that I thank him." Lily Sui-Fong Sun
Hawaii resident and granddaughter of Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen
After donating a collection of Sun Yat-sen art pieces to Hawaii Pacific University
"The parents, as a whole, they don't complain a lot. They are sort of satisfied with what they have or don't know the process on how to get these issues resolved." Dennis Arakaki
Democratic state representative
On why several public schools in the Kalihi area each have more than $1 million in back repairs
Sam Choy picketers are not employees
This is the fourth anniversary of Sam Choy's Diamond Head. This should actually be a time of celebration. Instead, it has become one of frustration. The picketing at our restaurants by outside union members now overshadows our milestone. These people are not our employees. And this unfair threat from the union could happen to any business in Hawaii.The employees at our new Keauhou restaurant had an opportunity last month to vote whether to become unionized. The union lost -- 48-17. The election was supervised by the National Labor Relations Board and properly held, so it's unbelievable when the Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union Local 5 claims "unfair labor practices," targeting me specifically. They turned down our offer for a new election, so why are they grumbling?
In their first year, about 90 percent of restaurants go out of business. With locations in Hawaii, Japan and Guam, Sam Choy's now has about 600 employees. So far, we've been one of the luckier ones. Despite our successes, it's a struggle to stay in business. People come to Sam Choy's for the food and the fun, the family experience. We're fighting to keep jobs for our employees.
On behalf of my partner James Lee and all of our employees, I want to publicly thank our customers for their aloha and support during this difficult time. I hope this can get resolved very soon.
Sam Choy
Kids from all areas will enjoy Natatorium
Sandy Roberts' Aug. 20 letter to the editor contains misleading information.If the writer had paid any attention to what was being said by those involved in the restoration, Roberts would realize that a restored Natatorium pool would be a strong attraction for kids from all over the island, not just the "trust fund" children of Diamond Head.
It has always been the intention of the mayor and the Friends of the Natatorium to utilize the pool for learn-to-swim lessons, advanced swimming and a host of other water-related programs, even to the extent of busing in children from all areas of Oahu.
Swimming pools have always been an attraction, and utilization of them crosses socio-economic lines. The opportunity to teach kids to swim in a relatively safe environment instead of in the open ocean will not be wasted on "trust fund" kids, but open to all.
Sandy Ballard
Via the Internet
Union leader Kupau was humanitarian
Walter Kupau taught me a lesson. He showed me that unions do care a lot about our children, our community and our future.In 1996, when many carpenters were out of work and times were tough, it would have been easy to think only about carpenters and their needs.
Yet Kupau cared enough to rally his union members to build six classrooms for the 800 kids who were crammed into space built to accommodate only 500 at Kapolei Elementary.
During the three months it took to build the classrooms, he came to the site every day and gave it his personal attention. His support brought in the other helpful hands of members of the Ironworkers, Floorlayers, Electricians and Tapers unions.
If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes the carpenters to build that village. Mahalo, Walter.
Theresia McMurdo
Public Relations Manager The Estate of James Campbell
Via the Internet
Boys don't become gay by being with gay men
In her Aug. 11 tirade against homosexuals, letter writer Janice Judd challenges anyone who agrees with the Star-Bulletin's editorial stance in support of the inclusion of gay Americans in the Boy Scouts to send their sons on a camping trip with a homosexual Scout leader.We'd like to go on record as parents who would be more than happy to have our sons go camping for a week with a responsible gay leader. We know that a gay man is less likely to molest a child than a straight man is, and these youngsters certainly are not going to change their as-yet undeveloped sexual orientation because they've met a gay man.
Nguyen Van Chien
Debbie Dennison
Carolyn and Michael Golojuch
and Michelle Oliveri
Via the Internet
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Hawaii Revised Statutes
Ka Leo O Hawaii
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