A day to mourn victims of murder

The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children (POMC) has proclaimed Sept. 25 as the organization's first National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. On this day, we ask the nation to remember those whose lives have been lost to murder, and to reflect on the effect that violent crime has made on our lives.

This day of remembrance will bring comfort to survivors, and will assist in our efforts toward awareness, prevention and the importance of justice being served in all murder cases.

POMC has also joined several hundred organizations in over 125 nations to sponsor One Day of Worldwide Peace on Jan. 1, 2000. More information about this event can be found at www.oneday.net.

Terri Scott
Hawaii Representative/Survivor
National Organization/POMC Hilo, Hawaii

Cat owners get nipped in checkout line

Cat owners in Hawaii are now being clawed by the supermarkets. Several months ago, Whiskas brand introduced new packaging: 3-ounce foil packets of its canned foods named Homestyle Favorites.

At first, Times sold them at four for a dollar; a month or so later, Safeway and Times were pricing them about three for 89 cents. Nothing said "limited" or "introductory" offer.

Suddenly, about 15 days ago, Times' price went to 65 cents per 3 ounce packet, the same price as the 5.5-ounce can. Safeway's current price on both packet and can is 59 cents. Today, I bought Whiskas Homestyle Favorites packets at K-mart for 27 cents each.

Hello out there, is anybody listening? The fur's about to fly.

Marjorie J. Scott
Kailua

Quotables "Just give me a little girl, put her in a coma and let me save her. Give it some feeling, emotion to deal with." David Hasselhoff Star of "Baywatch Hawaii" On how he would like more dramatic moments for his character in the island-based series "I looked into the man's eyes and told him, 'I trust you completely.' Rock on." Graham Nash Lead singer of the legendary Crosby, Stills & Nash Describing how Dr. Hayato Mori at Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihue operated to stabilize breaks in both of Nash's legs suffered during a boating accident off Kauai

People are misinformed about blue sharks

According to catch data, the blue shark is virtually the only shark species retained in Hawaii for its fins. This species is not slow growing, it is not overfished, and 98 percent of the time, it is not finned alive.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council views blue sharks as a fishery and is examining options to ensure its sustainability through amendments to its pelagic fishery management plan.

The council manages fisheries, including highly migratory species, in the exclusive economic zone (generally three to 200 miles from shore) surrounding Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and remote U.S. Pacific islands. On the East Coast, migratory species are managed by the secretary of commerce, and it is for this reason and not due to preemption (as stated in your Aug. 19 issue) that regional councils there do not manage sharks.

The council process for amending its plans includes receiving input from scientists, the fishing industry and the general public. Some of these groups have testified that a move to ban shark fins in Hawaii could cost the state up to $45 million in lost imports, transshipment and porting of foreign fishing vessels.

Restaurateurs are worried about the reputation Hawaii will have if its 2.5 million Asian visitors each year can no longer be served shark fin soup, considered an Asian delicacy.

Entrepreneurs on Maui are interested in utilizing the entire blue shark, including meat, jaws, sharks, cartilage, liver, etc. Supporting research and development to develop markets for these products could lead to a non-regulatory means for getting fishers -- throughout the world -- to land blue sharks intact.

On the other hand, since Hawaii contributes only 1 percent of the shark fins on the world market, any landing ban imposed solely on Hawaii fishers would unfairly penalize them and would not significantly address the problem.

Jim Cook
Chairman
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council

Close West Oahu campus to save money

According to the Aug. 27 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges has warned the University of Hawaii-Manoa that its "accreditation will soon be endangered."

Since the danger to the flagship campus on Oahu is "serious and immediate" (in the view of its chief accreditor), I believe the UH-West Oahu campus should be closed down at the end of the current semester in order to save and consolidate resources.

Richard Thompson
Via the Internet

Natatorium doesn't look like war memorial

While visiting the Waikiki Aquarium recently, I couldn't help but take the time to sit and look at the outer facade of the Natatorium. The one thing that seems to stand out is it doesn't appear to have much to do with World War I.

It's an odd sort of structure that engenders no understanding of the nature of the war. To just restore it as it now stands, without serious consideration as to how to best perpetuate it for future generations, only assures that -- eventually -- its very reason for existence will be forgotten.

Paul Mossman
Kailua
Via the Internet

Artists gain inspiration under sprawling banyan

As one individual on this planet, I welcome all who are newly sharing their love and expression through art forms under Lahaina's banyan tree. The more who know this venue is available, the more will be inspired to create.

The positive energy released during the art-making process is a powerful force that transforms the attitude and life of the artist, and continues through all who view the art, whether they buy or not.

As someone who, for 42 years, felt I could not even draw a stick figure, I want to thank the artists who have given me technical advice and moral support. Even though I feel that creating something meaningful takes only the willingness to have fun with whatever medium one chooses, it helps that others have gone before.

Good luck to all who want to try to make a living or partial living at what they love doing. As the anthropologist/philosopher Joseph Campbell said, "Do what you love, and the money will follow."

Rick Birch
Lahaina, Maui

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