Why is it necessary to dredge up tragedies?

Your report of the airplane accident on the Big Island needlessly carried with it a "chronology of crashes" sidebar, which is cruel and unprofessional.

Don't you ever consider how painful this type of journalism must be to all who lost friends and family in these tragedies? What possible good can come from reaching back in history to 1974 -- 25 years -- to rehash aviation accidents?

Ken Schoeff
Mililani
Via the Internet

Highly touted show was huge disappointment

The first episode of "Baywatch Hawaii" was such a disappointment.

I was offended by the shot of the female "Hawaiian" lifeguard, obviously topless, being intensely scrutinized by a male lifeguard. The scene seemed to last forever.

I resent this being on TV at 5 p.m. Our whole family, including my two boys, sat down to watch together, eagerly anticipating the much-touted show. Just what kind of message does this send?

As a colleague of mine observed, the show had nothing but "T & A." What a shame it couldn't just focus on the beauty of our islands and the aloha spirit. My family won't be watching this R-rated show again.

Dottie Sunio
Pearl City
Via the Internet

Try comparing cost of living in Midwest

Your "What price paradise" series (Sept. 1-2) compared Hawaii prices to those along the West Coast, which is not a true picture. California prices are sky high compared to where I live in Indiana. Why not compare Midwest prices to Hawaii? You'll find island prices are out-of-whack, for sure.

Why are prices on the West Coast so high compared to those in the Midwest? It's the same problem Hawaii has: Retailers are trying to make a fast buck or get rich quick.

I've been to Hawaii eight times as a tourist and I'm getting tired of being taken by the high prices. It's hurting your visitor industry, believe me.

F.J. Sonneborn
South Bend, Ind.
Via the Internet

What Price Paradise?

School ought to have a new moniker

In every crisis, there are opportunities. It's time now to look for these with regard to the decision to merge the University of Hawaii School of Public Health with the medical school. Combining programs would result in:

Public health students having a greater opportunity to learn about medical science, and medical students being able to learn more about epidemiology and public health.

Combining the faculty at these schools, which would also help to assure better communication and collaboration.

The primary fear that public health faculty and students have with combining the schools is that public health programs would take a back seat to the medical school curriculum, a legitimate concern given the current mission of the medical school.

Therefore, I recommend that the name of the school be changed to the UH School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and that its mission be modified accordingly. This would help reassure faculty and students that they will be treated as equals.

At Yale University, the medical and public health programs are combined. As a graduate of both UH and Yale, I can attest that this provides for a great education. We deserve nothing less in Hawaii.

Bruce S. Anderson
State Director of Health

UH School of Public Health Library
Ka Leo O Hawaii

Quotables "It's a sensitive issue and we're trying to get students, some from the Hawaiian Studies program, involved to come to some closure." Hugh Yoshida UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII ATHLETIC DIRECTOR On how the "Rainbow Warrior" mascot will not be making an appearance at UH football games anytime soon, unless there is consensus that the buffed-up figure is not degrading to Hawaiians "I don't want anybody's heart fluttering. This school will not close." Loretta Krause PRINCIPAL OF UNIVERSITY LABORATORY SCHOOL Asking parents of students if they would be willing to contribute $4,000 per pupil next year as a way of assuming the operating budget burden from the University of Hawaii

Changing street names shows no disrespect

I couldn't help feeling a little disgusted and offended by Rep. Mark Moses' Sept. 25 View Point column, "Street names at Barbers should not be changed." I strongly disagree with his reasons for not changing the street names on the former military base.

First, Hawaiian names that used to designate many areas no longer exist because they have been replaced with English names. Why is it a big deal only now just because the street names at Kalaeloa are being converted to Hawaiian names?

Second, renaming the streets at Kalaeloa is no different than building a new district with new street names. It may be a little awkward getting around at first but you eventually get used to it. Is it really a safety risk? Possibly, but I doubt it. The police and fire departments in that area will quickly adapt and so will everyone else.

Third, as a native Hawaiian and an active-duty Navy commissioned officer, I can speak from both backgrounds. I have the utmost respect and admiration for the military veterans who sacrificed their lives for our country and there are memorials in their honor -- Punchbowl cemetery, the USS Arizona and the USS Missouri, to name a few.

But changing street names in no way indicates disrespect to our veterans or diminishes their significance.

Shane Mahelona
Via the Internet

Democrats care more about schools than GOP

In the 1970s, before Democratic Gov. Jack Burns passed on, he adopted the State Student Conference. It was a chance for young people to address their concerns annually and taught them how to be effective constituents to our legislative body.

Today, almost 30 years later, Sen. Les Ihara Jr. has revised this conference as the Student Governance Summit. All students, from both middle and high schools, can be represented and share their concerns.

The Republicans don't care about Hawaii's kids. They think that the "rotten" schools in the public education system should be shut down to help our budget. This is insane.

If you believe in shutting down the "rotten" schools, go sign up for a Republican Party card. If you believe in fixing the "rotten" schools for the better, get one from the Democratic Party.

Bixby K.G. Ho
McKinley High
Class of 1998

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

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