Who will go to bat for senior softball field?

On Aug. 11-13, senior softball players participated in the 24th annual state senior softball tournament at the War Memorial complex in Wailuku, Maui. It was well planned and organized.

Last year the tournament was held at the old Kona airport field in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. The volunteers and parks personnel there also did a fantastic job.

Both county complexes had superb fields with room enough to host four divisions, with a total of 29 teams.

What a pity the City and County of Honolulu does not have a similar complex. We have more teams represented in the tournament than any other island but must rely on the military when it's our turn to host the state.

Isn't it time for a sports or softball complex on this island? Enough talk, more action. Sad to say, we seniors are fading away.

Les Lunasco
Hui Ohana Waialua

Let's see Peters, Wong get real jobs

The true test of competence -- commensurate with the million-dollar salaries that Bishop Estate trustees Henry Peters and Dickie Wong insist they deserve -- will come when they try to obtain the same salaries and business positions in the private sector.

However, they may have a hard time in the legitimate corporate world, given their pathetic efforts to cling to power and the false prestige that comes with excessive self-remuneration.

Bruce Wong

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Bishop Estate archive

Quotables "The recent rash of homicides is a very, very alarming trend. I can't think of a month that was as bad as August." Peter Carlisle Honolulu prosecuting attorney Worried that half of Oahu's 19 reported homicides this year have occurred in the 32 days after Aug. 2 "Girls are up on stage on their knees, flat on their backs or lying on their stomachs -- letting guys feel their crotches and do whatever." Kelly 23-year-old Babes in Paradise exotic dancer On how exotic dancers at other Honolulu nightclubs will let customers touch them sexually, even though it is against the law

People should spend their vacations at home

Hawaii residents should think about spending their hard-earned money in these lovely islands instead of traveling out-of-state.

There are an assortment of shopping malls, outlets and open markets here. Things are looking good at Ala Moana Center.

Hawaii has excellent places to dine, ranging from the local "hole in the wall" to elegant fine dining. It also has the beautiful blue Pacific. Why not take advantage of it and go kayaking, windsurfing or fishing?

Give your body a break from the jet lag of overseas air travel and, instead, visit the neighbor islands, from Hanalei to Hilo.

Grace K. Tamanaha-Parker

Chapel's liquor license would spoil area

With respect to your Aug. 27 story on Gloria Bridal Services, which wants to get a liquor license, you'd think Honolulu would have better taste.

I have known and visited friends in the Monsarrat area for many years. They've raised families and maintained good relations with their friends and neighbors. To say the least, they are very upset about this license request.

They want to keep this part of town spic and span. They want to be free from moral corruption and the kind of growth that hinders a healthy environment.

If Gloria Bridal Services succeeds in acquiring a liquor license, this situation could spread like wildfire. Help these people take back their neighborhood.

John Calvin

St. Louis behaved well on Utah road trip

Hawaii can be proud of the Saint Louis football team, which recently beat West High School at the University of Utah's Rice Eccles Stadium.

The Crusaders practiced twice at our facility, and both athletes and coaches were intent on their objectives. They had plate lunches on our practice field afterward and the clean-up crew commented on how polite they were.

The referees said it was an easy game to officiate, because St. Louis was so disciplined. Brian Olsen at the Double Tree Hotel, where the players stayed, had nothing but positives to say about them. He said he'd have them back anytime.

In today's society, people seem to dwell on negatives. But the state of Hawaii, supporters of St. Louis football and the parents of these fine athletes can be extremely proud because they made their mark in Utah. It was a huge positive.

Ron "Mac" McBride
Head Football Coach
University of Utah Salt Lake City

Internet has great deals for shoppers

Thank you for finally doing an expose on the huge consumer rip-off that occurs in this state (Star-Bulletin, Sept. 1 and 2). If more people would stop buying unfairly priced items, price cutting would surely follow.

Here are some things that we can do as consumers:

Do not buy overpriced, greatly inflated goods. Shop elsewhere, on the mainland or use the Internet.
Online retailers such as LandsEnd.com, Amazon.com, Drugstore.com and Buy.com do not gouge you on prices. If you comparison shop at different sites, even with shipping costs, it's still not as much as they charge here.
Read the business newspapers online. The Wall Street Journal costs $1.40 per issue here, while Wall Street Journal Interactive is only $29 per year.
Shop online for car insurance. For two years, we paid almost double the rate we paid on the mainland. Then we did an Internet search and came up with a rate that was $400 cheaper.

You have to be a smart shopper to live here. We are very thankful for Costco, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and Home Depot.

Kathy Burk

LH has gall to pay bonuses to top execs

How absolutely typical of Liberty House to pay its executives big bonuses while it is under bankruptcy protection ("Liberty House says exec bonuses common," Star-Bulletin, July 27).

Its legal protection under this so-called "reorganization" is frustrating enough for small businesses owed money for past services and goods. Yet these companies are required by law to silently sit back and wait for payment.

Liberty House executives have lost sight of their rich kamaaina history and, at the same time, have a blurred vision for their future.

Ric Noyle

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