$15,000 a month is still too much money

I think $15,000 a month for interim Bishop Estate trustees is absolutely ridiculous -- unless they are splitting that figure five ways.

It is easy to see how they think it will look small when compared to the million dollars paid each of the former trustees, but $15,000 a month is probably more than many average Hawaiians earn in a year. And that is criminal.

Greed is greed is greed, whether it is the former trustees or the interim trustees. They probably thought $180,000 a year looked so insignificant by comparison that no one would notice. And yes, a judge quickly approved their request.

To me $1 a year to represent Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop on that board sounds about right. And there are thousands of Hawaiians who would gladly serve proudly as a Bishop Estate trustee for just their out-of-pocket expenses.

Keith Haugen

Bishop Estate Archive

Cal Thomas incurs wrath of liberals

Thank you for printing the syndicated columns of Cal Thomas on your editorial pages. Your commitment to fairness in presenting contrasting opinions on difficult issues shows journalistic courage in the face of liberals who accuse you of supporting hate-mongering.

Thomas has incurred their wrath because he dared support the Boy Scouts' right to deny membership to practicing homosexuals. Your newspaper also incurred their wrath because you printed his column.

I am only one person, but I want you to know that I appreciate Thomas' writing and the integrity of your editorial policy. I also enjoy Thomas Sowell's syndicated columns and the wonderful writing of the Star-Bulletin's Charles Memminger.

Gloria Kaneshiro

Applaud West Oahu college; don't close it

It is a narrow view that would advocate the destruction of a highly valued and growing university for a short-term economic gain (Letters, Sept. 21).

The University of Hawaii-West Oahu was established in 1976. Through the dedicated efforts of faculty, staff and students the vision of an intellectual center on the west side of Oahu has grown with minimal facilities and slim economic resources.

In recent years enrollments at West Oahu have grown while declining at most other UH system campuses (including Manoa). This growth has occurred because West Oahu provides a high-quality education that is affordable and accessible to the working people of Hawaii. Half of our students take classes during evenings or weekends; 98 percent report their educational experience as good or excellent, higher than at any other UH campus.

Letter writer Richard Thompson incorrectly implies that resources gained from closing West Oahu will somehow restore Manoa's accreditation status.

First, the accreditation of West Oahu is independent of Manoa and is in good standing. Second, the West Oahu campus uses less than 1 percent of UH system general funds to operate. West Oahu is a model of creative efficiency and should be applauded.

Mark T. Hanson
Assistant Professor of Psychology
University of Hawaii-West Oahu

Quotables "People who buy cookies are pleasant. If you're having a bad day, you're not going to be buying cookies." Keith Yamamoto PEARL CITY HIGH AND NORTHERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY GRADUATE WHO EARNED A MASTER'S IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII On how he and a partner, Rudy Loftis, successfully opened a small bake shop in Kalihi that sells "Keith's Cookies" "They went pretty much straight into the mountain. The ranger on the site said he thought it was a hard impact because of the way the lava was displaced." Jim Martin HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK SUPERINTENDENT On a Big Island Air twin-engine Piper Navajo Chieftain that slammed into the southeast slope of Mauna Loa, killing all 10 people aboard

Students were backbone of Protect the Planet

This letter is in response to the article regarding the recent arrest of Stuart Novick, former director of Protect the Planet ("Sex assault suspect indicted," Sept.16).

A few of us have been with PTP from its birth, nursing it until we felt it was ready to take on the world. I am deeply saddened by what this revelation about the former director has done to the organization.

I noticed that something very important was missing from the article: the student members of PTP. They were the core of Protect the Planet, its lifeblood and its future. This tragedy has torn the two apart.

A few weeks ago, many former student members of PTP met and decided to make something good out of a bad situation. We formed a new organization under the YWCA, Student Action and Values for the Environment (SAVE), to continue the spread of and improve upon the message of Protect the Planet.

All leadership positions are filled by student volunteers, and we still work toward the goal of a better environment for Hawaii and the world.

We were stunned by the decision to continue the Protect the Planet organization, and want to make it clear that we do not intend to compete with, but instead support, its future undertakings.

Melelani Sax-Barnett, 16
Database Manager,
SAVE

Tobacco farmers reap government help

For generations, the federal government has allowed tobacco growers to thrive. In fact, it encourages the industry.

It subsidizes tobacco farmers so they don't go out of business, even to this day. Federal tax revenues from the sale of tobacco products exceed the industry's net profits.

This means the federal government has made itself dependent on these revenues and has a perverted interest in maintaining the sale of cigarettes, since it brings in billions of dollars.

Suing the tobacco companies is merely another "feel-good" issue for politicians full of hypocrisy. Rather than sue the tobacco companies, we should legislate higher health insurance premiums for smokers.

I wish I had children who could grow up to be tobacco farmers. Then, some day, they would also have a chance to be vice president of the United States.

Bruce Wong

Letter writers will miss public forum

Thank you for printing my letters to the editor. It was a great opportunity to share my thoughts.

To learn of your newspaper's closing was shocking and totally unexpected. There will be many people who will miss your informative editorials and news items.

I wish your workers well in whatever they pursue.

Roy E. Shigemura

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Hawaii Revised Statutes
UH student news Ka Leo O Hawaii

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