Recent stories give trustees a bad name

According to my dictionary, the definition of "trustee" is a person or group formed to manage the property and affairs of an institution or organization. Watching events unfold these past few months, however, I have come to believe that the word has a different meaning in Hawaii. Consider:

The former trustees of the Bishop Estate, who allegedly did so many things illegally that the trust itself is in danger of losing its nonprofit status.

An Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee who badmonths a U.S. senator by alluding to his handicap and ethnicity, and who refuses to acknowledge that what she said was mean-spirited and just plain wrong.

Another OHA trustee who blamed dissidents within the organization for leaking comments to the press.

And now, the trustees of St. Louis School, who have come down on the side of athletics instead of academics and moral teachings.

Yes, I know. The official word from them is, "Athletics was not an issue." Right. I'll believe that when I'm convinced the Eleventh Commandment is "Thou shalt not rile the Coach."

Jim Fromm
Via the Internet

Students should rally behind fired president

I am appalled by the decision to fire Father Mario Pariante over what appears to be a scholastics vs. athletics issue. While I was attending St. Louis, we never won a state championship but we could hold our heads high in public and held our own academically.

I fear that my alma mater will become a football mill and an educational laughingstock in Hawaii. This deplorable decision must be reversed, and quickly, to undo the damage already done to the image of Saint Louis.

Pariante should be reinstated and be given an apology from the trustees. To remove a principal as a result of his outspokenness to improve educational standards only confirms that the St. Louis athletics department is truly out of control and unchecked.

Men of Saint Louis, rally behind your school. Don't let the standards fall.

Kevin Saito
St. Louis School, Class of 1978
Via the Internet

Quotables "There are few guarantees in life, but the FDIC offers one of them." Donna Tanoue FORMER HAWAII BANKING COMMISSIONER WHO NOW HEADS THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORP. IN WASHINGTON, D.C. On the agency's guarantee of U.S. banking deposits despite worries over Y2K "The first year you don't know what you're doing. The second year you decide you're going to quit. The third year you start to figure it out. It never gets easier, but you learn how to cope." Arleen Alejado PRESIDENT OF THE CHRISTIAN HOME SCHOOLERS OF HAWAII On the concept of home schooling

Pidgin English has no place in public schools

As a parent of three high school students, I congratulate Governor Cayetano's criticism of the use of pidgin English in our school system. This has been a quiet concern of many parents.

Recently, I took two of my employees to a educational symposium on the mainland. Both men were well-versed on the topic, but they were withdrawn throughout the entire week.

They would present notes to me with questions for the group participation segments. When I questioned why they didn't ask the questions themselves, they both said they felt their command of the English language was poor.

They didn't want to be perceived as being "stupid" by others. Yet these two gentlemen knew more about the subject than the instructor!

I can't believe my taxes support the study of a useless subject. This money should be used to educate our children in the beautiful Hawaiian language or terminology that is used in the computer technology industry. If we want to develop future leaders, educators should follow our governor's productive leadership in providing an educational foundation for our children.

Michael E. Krupnick
Lahaina, Maui
Via the Internet

'Baywatch Hawaii' is culturally incorrect

I'm curious about who is keeping tabs on the Hawaiian content of the "Baywatch Hawaii" show.

I just watched an episode in which actor Jason Momoa's character was honored by a "traditional" Hawaiian ceremony. Some of these "traditional" characteristics involved a Tahitian dancer, a Maori man doing the pukana, and Stacy Kamano and all the "Baywatch" girls donning leis in place of their bikini tops.

These generalizations could be viewed as simple oversights by the "Baywatch" research crew (if one exists), but what could not be missed was the overtly sexual, nearly-nude scene where a hula dancer gave Momoa a lei. Trust me, the accurate portrayal of a revered tradition was definitely not the main goal of the scene.

I thought we had seen the end of this kind of stereotyping, but apparently this is still the image Hawaii wants to sell to the mainland and the rest of the "Baywatch"-watching world. For now, I suppose I'll just have to wait for next week's episode, in which Kalai Miller will probably throw a virgin into the volcano.

Sarah Spaulding
Via the Internet

Good manners, wisdom shouldn't be forgotten

I'm proud to be part-Hawaiian. My parents taught me good graces and manners that I have tried to live by. One of them is, "Be careful what you say."

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Mililani Trask said she never intended to offend anyone. She said "one-armed bandit" was a nickname given to Sen. Daniel Inouye years ago, when he served in World War II.

I don't think, however, that it was intended to be used in a derogatory way, as Trask used it.

Trask also stated that she "makes no apologies for being a proud Hawaiian." She doesn't have to -- she should apologize for saying something not befitting an OHA trustee. As a representative of Hawaiians all over the world, she appears to be someone who is too rash with her words.

Be careful what you say!

Leila Ulufale
Ewa Beach
Via the Internet

OHA should demand Trask's resignation

Mililani Trask's insensitive, racist remarks about Senator Inouye reveal her to be a reckless, self-serving person who dishonors the very people she claims to represent. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs' only recourse is to demand the resignation of this trustee who mocks the very symbol of freedoms she takes for granted, and those who sacrificed on her behalf to secure them.

Richard Irwin
Kalaheo, Kauai

Legislature Directory
Hawaii Revised Statutes

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