Turmoil at
St. Louis School

St. Louis School president the Reverend Mario Pariante was removed from his post "effective immediately" by the school's board of directors on Wednesday evening. Story here.

Football won again at St. Louis School

There was a choice between academics and football at St. Louis. Football won.

Father Mario Pariante lost his job because he had a management-style problem. He suspended students who committed crimes, broke school rules or could not maintain disciplined behavior in class -- even when they were football players.

He spoke about such Catholic ideals as service to the community, the family and God. He stood firm on discipline in behavior and appearance. He measured haircuts. He instituted the "Thursday shirt-and-tie day," so that students could prepare to dress respectfully for Mass and jobs in the real world.

He raised the focus of academic excellence by establishing agreements for juniors and seniors to take advanced placement courses at Chaminade University and brought theater arts back to Mamiya Theater.

Football may or may not be played in 300 years -- but the Moliere play featured at Mamiya this weekend was first staged in 1671 -- and the public, hundreds of years and thousands of miles apart, is still laughing! Scapin is a classic.

Father Pariante's classic style was to refocus the St. Louis emphasis on the pursuit of academic excellence, take a firm stand on discipline and speak eloquently on the values and ethics of a moral life at every gathering of the St. Louis family.

Carol Beresiwsky
Professor of French/Spanish
Kapiolani Community College

Students at St. Louis receive fine education

As a teacher at St. Louis School for 20 years, I take umbrage to any statements that our students can't read or that their grades are inflated. This is insulting not only to our students and faculty, but also to the many fine men who have graduated from our school.

St. Louis is steeped in the Marianist tradition. It tries to meet the needs of students from a wide spectrum of abilities, economic strata and religious affiliations. The faculty members do an excellent job with the students and resources we have.

I applaud Father Pariante for his efforts to improve the school, as any educator would. St. Louis should not be so arbitrarily dismissed for its academic efforts by the public or the media.

Alfred Torres Jr.
Aiea

Athletics shouldn't supersede academics

As a St. Louis graduate, I am extremely proud of the excellent moral and academic education I received under the tutelage of dedicated Marianists. I'm all for St. Louis football, too, but it cannot overshadow academic excellence. I wholeheartedly support Father Pariante.

Bob Lindquist
St. Louis School, Class of 1946
Kirkland, Wash.
Via the Internet

Psyched for sports

Proof comes to light. As I mentioned to my friends since day one, our ohana is psyched out for sports. Never mind academics. My heart goes out to the Rev. Mario Pariante.

Calvin Lyau

Chevron is retaliating against Frank Young

I demonstrated in support of Chevron dealer Frank Young. His disclosures about gasoline policies in Hawaii have helped to put pressure on oil companies to lower their prices here.

The money that motorists saved through lower gas prices has been retained in our state and is now helping to stimulate our economy. But Chevron is attempting to cancel Young's station lease in a move clearly linked to his activities.

If Chevron is successful, it will have succeeded not only in silencing a critic but will also serve notice to all others to keep silent or else! Had the same disclosures been made by a government employee, he/she would be protected by laws enacted to protect whistleblowers and the employee may even be entitled to a reward.

Instead, Young is facing the risk of losing the business that has been in his family for 47 years, simply because he obeyed his conscience rather than company policy. Support Frank and other courageous individuals like him by keeping the pressure on Chevron to cease its retaliatory actions.

Roy Yanagihara
Kaneohe
Via the Internet

To improve UH, get better regents

I am surprised at how provincial, uneducated and unsupportive of education most of the members of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents are, with a few laudable exceptions like Ah Quon McElrath. The regents, at best, have law or economics degrees, hardly what can be called any kind of deep education.

Legislative mistrust and lack of understanding of UH are in many ways justified --- some through a lack of experience and comprehension of higher education. But also, no doubt, there are many tenured staff who do little fruitful research and less teaching for too much money.

That said, if all Hawaii is capable of imagining for its children is a familiar, known future in construction, hotel, retail sales or bureacracy, then it deserves the moribund, manini system of education it has.

If Hawaii wants to risk young people who think brave new thoughts and can take the state into an exciting and unknown future, then the regents must be replaced by individuals who are not afraid to support new ideas and thinking.

Jonathan D. Boyne
Via the Internet

Quotables "All I did on Maui when I came back from San Francisco was breakfast, surf, surf, lunch, surf, go home, dinner, play music at night. Seven days a week. I was in it for the love of the music, and I'm still in it for the music." Willie K HAWAII MUSICIAN AND RECORD PRODUCER On the philosophy that has made him the most versatile local recording artist of the decade "(Father Mario Pariante) has not lived up to the standards of leadership and administrative skills as set by the board." Margaret Oda ST. LOUIS SCHOOL TRUSTEE On announcing the firing of the Rev. Mario Pariante as president of the 900-student Catholic boys school

A time to give thanks to newspaper supporters

Regarding the attempt to eliminate the Star-Bulletin at Halloween trick-or-treat time, I was thinking: The trick was to try to make a newspaper disappear; the treat was the heartening community support for efforts to continue having another voice, another choice.

Now, as we draw near Thanksgiving, we're grateful for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals' swift decision to keep the Star-Bulletin going for now.

We give heartfelt and warm thanks to all the people who've signed our petition -- 13,766 to date, with more signatures coming in daily -- and to the many neighborhood boards who've adopted resolutions of support.

Jean King
Member,
Save Our Star-Bulletin

Competition enhances practice of journalism

There is a well-known quote by A.J. Liebling that says, "Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one." I add to that quote: "Freedom of the press is enhanced and perhaps guaranteed only by competition between the presses."

Steven Cheney
Via the Internet

Blowing the whistle when it wasn't popular

I am very sorry to see that the Star-Bulletin might close. Your coverage of the Bishop Estate controversy was well-researched and gave balance to the story when it was not popular to blow the whistle. For that, I personally thank you all.

Albert Joy
Kamehameha Schools, Class of 1983
Via the Internet

Bulletin closing archive

It's not too late to block Hanauma development

On Nov. 10, the City Council voted 7-2 to develop the upper rim of Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, specifically with an 11,000-square-feet building for education, offices, a gift shop and snack bar.

But how can such a plan go forward without any feedback from the Hawaiian community? There were no Hawaiian groups invited to serve on the mayor's task force, which Harris so proudly touted as having represented "community input."

This project is more than a building or "marine education center" for tourists. It will permanently affect the cultural and historic values and environment of this precious natural site.

These issues must be addressed before going forward. Hawaii, please join us and just say no! Hanauma Bay belongs to all of us. It's not too late.

Diane D. Ackerson
East Honolulu Community Coalition

State needs to hire knowledgeable consultants

After reading how Andy Anderson's development plans were rejected for Kakaako, taxpayers have to realize the dire need for the state to develop these lands to generate tax dollars.

It appears the voluntary state commissioners were guided by a staff member's negative recommendation. Yet staff members have no experience to help them determine if what they are reviewing is economically viable, other than to say they have reviewed similar projects.

By hiring people experienced in the business and using consultants with successful track records, landholders such as Bishop Estate, Campbell Estate and Castle & Cooke nearly always end up with successful developments.

To reach the same income-producing plateau of other large landholders, the state must hire qualified consultants experienced in "for-profit" ventures to advise state commissioners, with state staff assisting.

Commissioners can then have the confidence to vote for the development of Kakaako by capable entrepreneurs like Anderson, so our state can benefit from their expertise.

James G. Lee

Pidgin English should not be discouraged

Pidgin bashing has started up again. However, many of our citizens who grew up with pidgin English as their primary language are in responsible positions in local as well as national government.

Various languages were melded together out of necessity by the different ethnic groups, so they could communicate with each other during trying times. Languages of different groups were absorbed to form a commonly understood language. We should be proud of this unique communication system of our forefathers.

On the mainland there is the Southern drawl, the Boston slang and everything in between, including foreign languages. They are readily accepted. So why is pidgin so loathed?

Since we live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, why not try to understand its people and cultures, and blend in?

George Y. Higa

Legislature Directory
Hawaii Revised Statutes

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