OHA would benefit if all races voted

I am so pleased about Harold "Freddy" Rice's sincere effort to make things right for Hawaii -- for ALL the people of Hawaii.

I do believe in land rights for people of Hawaiian ancestry. A definite injustice was done to the ancestors of those with Hawaiian blood. In this regard, only Hawaiians should be entitled to the land areas that have been designated homestead lands.

However, when it comes to OHA, I strongly feel that those of us whose lives and ancestries are as much a part of the fabric of what is Hawaii as those with Hawaiian blood should definitely be counted on to determine what is best for our island home.

If the rest of Hawaii's local population were included in OHA voting rights and decision-making, it might result in less in-fighting and may produce more effective and positive decisions for all.

Randy Nohara

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OHA Ceded Lands Ruling

'Blue Hawaii' is filled with derisive stereotypes

The Oct. 5 Rant & Rave column by Stephanie Chang said that "old classics such as...'Blue Hawaii' exaggerated Hawaiian culture." Perhaps Chang was too coccooned at Punahou and New York University to understand Hawaiian culture, or has spent too much time in New York City.

"Blue Hawaii" ignored indigenous Hawaiian culture. The only "Hawaiians" in this schmaltzy film fell into three varieties: 1) the asexual beach-boy buddies of Chad/Elvis who spoke a black-face minstrel dialect, lollygagged around the beach, danced the limbo and banged on bongo drums; 2) the Hollywood-acceptable high-class "natives" of French-Polynesian blood and 3) the fire-dancing, torch-lighting Don the Beachcomber stereotypes.

Not only that, but the only Japanese American in "Blue Hawaii" is an inscrutable but suitably respectful maid. The sole Chinese American is a comical, butter-fingered houseboy named Ping Pong, inserted by the screenwriters for comic relief.

I've shown "Blue Hawaii" to my high school students on many occasions to expose Hollywood's degrading use of ethnic stereotypes. Most of the students begin watching the film with laughter. By the end, they're justifiably angry.

Robert Wells Norton

Quotables "I want to do Hawaiian music like Auntie Genoa and Amy. The sound, the melodies, touch me." Brittney Anelaikalani Jennings 12-year-old recording artist and King Intermediate student Finishing her debut album featuring her favorite Hawaiian falsetto standards, and hoping to emulate the success of her singing idols, Genoa Keawe and Amy Hanaialii Gilliom "The credibility of newspaperdom is at stake. This meeting shows a lot of little people can make a difference." Beverly Keever University of Hawaii journalism professor Lauding the grass-roots movement, Save Our Star-Bulletin, which held its first town meeting Sunday at Washington Intermediate School

Hotel workers aren't picketing Grand Wailea

The recent stumble of the ILWU Local 142 at the Grand Wailea Resort should serve as a reminder to union leaders that disregarding the wishes of their members have severe consequences.

Almost none of the 900-plus workers at the hotel have participated in the union's picketing. Most picketers are from other units, which makes the action a "second-hand" picket.

I commended Grand Wailea Resort workers for exercising cautious and smart thinking by not paying dues and ignoring their union leaders.

One may recall that when the hotel workers first complained to the union about the lack of true representation, the least it could have done was to reassign the unit's union rep. But the employees' concerns were ignored.

Nick Casumpang Jr.
Kahului, Maui

E.K. Fernandez circus brought fun and rain

Your Oct. 16 "100 Who Made A Difference" profile of E.K. Fernandez brought back fond memories.

I remember a standing joke in Hilo that whenever the E.K Fernandez circus came to town, it was going to rain. Even though it did rain, we would always enjoy it.

Donald Serrao
Stockton, Calif.
Via the Internet

Owner should rethink decision to close paper

I started subscribing to the Star-Bulletin because I was very unhappy with the quality of the Advertiser. The Star-Bulletin covers local news very well and it is local news that I want to see in a local newspaper. World and national news are also important, but local news must be a priority.

The owner of the Star-Bulletin made a commitment and a promise to the people of Hawaii that the purchase of the newspaper was a long-term investment. Now, after only a few years, he wants to close the Star-Bulletin, even though he is making a 12 percent return on his investment.

Maybe for Liberty Newspapers a newspaper is only about money. But it is a vital source of information for the residents of our community. I hope the owner will rethink his commitment and keep publishing.

Dorothy L. Bona

Don't know what you've got 'til it's gone

I was informed by some friends at work that your publication is going to stop it's circulation soon. This can't be! I've never written a letter to the editor yet, or won any of your contests. I've never let you know how much I liked the work you were doing even though my support of you via subscriptions had been sporadic at best.

It's really weird how you've affected me all these years without me realizing it until now. I will miss you and all the things you've stood for. You were truly "One of the good things about Hawaii."

Craig M. Fujino
Pearl City
Via the Internet

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Shutdown announcement
Text of injunction halting shutdown
Text of refusal to lift injunction

Caucasians hold a third of cabinet positions

J.N. Musto, executive director of UHPA, the University of Hawaii faculty union, was quoted in your Oct. 5 issue of accusing Governor Cayetano of "hating haoles." I am compelled to take issue with that statement.

I am a "haole" who has worked for the governor for more than 12 years. During that time, I have never felt demeaned by him because of my ethnicity.

I am now a member of his cabinet, a third of whom are haole -- coincidentally, a proportion similar to the Caucasian share of the state population.

Janet Kawelo
Deputy Director
State Department of Land and Natural Resources

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

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