Honored street names should be retained

It is heartening to learn of the city corporation counsel's opinion that the city street-naming ordinance does not compel the Barbers Point Redevelopment Commission to change the street names at the former naval base.

Fifty-eight years ago today the attack on Oahu plunged our country into World War II and necessitated Marine Corps Air Station Ewa to expand and create Barbers Point Naval Air Station.

I hope the commission follows the advice of the city attorney and does not re-name streets that memorialize people, places and ships relevant to the area and the war in the Pacific.

It would be foolish to pursue an attempt to change these historic names. The legal opinion held that only newly created streets be given Hawaiian names. This is just and proper.

Following the corporation counsel's advice will heal the dissension this issue has created within our community.

Earl Arakaki
Ewa Beach
Via the Internet

Don't let probate court pick trustees

Regarding the Bishop Estate's court-appointed master on his recommendations for the selection process of future Bishop Estate trustees: His solution is to have the probate court pick the trustees.

This would mean that one person affiliated with the state would be choosing the trustees. That would ultimately bring this institution into the realm of a corporation. If that happens, Hawaiians will be protesting in the streets.

I was a member of the Justices Working Group, whose members were brought together by the members of the Hawaii Supreme Court. They wanted a process eliminating political affiliations in the selection of Bishop Estate trustees.

Our final document was put together with input from the widest spectrum of the Hawaiian community. Scrutinized for more than two years, the outcome of the document was:

1) Justice Robert Klein would be assisted by the retired justices in the selection process.

2) The final selection of trustees would come from a pool of names submitted by Hawaiian organizations not affiliated with government.

3) People selected must be of the highest character, filled with cultural values and virtues.

Melvin Kalahiki Sr.
Kamuela, Hawaii
Via the Internet

Bishop Estate Archive

Web site is best way to keep in touch

Two years ago I retired and moved from Honolulu after a 28-year career teaching English and journalism, primarily at Roosevelt High School. Do I miss Hawaii? Of course! However, I have been able to "keep up" with life and news in the islands via your Web site.

Whether reading about the Bishop Estate scandal or Rough Rider touchdowns made by my former student, Chad Owens (Class of 2000), I have never felt too far away because of your great online edition.

Imagine my shock and dismay, then, when I read there would be no more Star-Bulletin. You are the very paper that brought my former husband and journalist Tom Kaser, myself and our two babies to Hawaii in 1965.

I have wonderful memories of Star-Bulletin editor Bud Smyser and his wife, Betty, who so grandly welcomed these Michigan malihinis. Reporters Helen Altonn, Lyle Nelson and others oriented us to Honolulu's stores and streets, Chinatown and Manoa, kim chee, poi and poke, and so very much more.

I hope your newspaper and Web site survive. I'm sure there's a market for online subscriptions. I'll be following closely to see what happens.

MaryHelen Kaser
Tucson, Ariz.
Via the Internet

Bulletin closing archive

Quotables "I panicked when I found out. I rushed into the bathroom and rescued them so fast." Phyllis Spalding HONOLULU SOCIALITE AND ART PATRON On how she retrieved pottery made by Shimizu Uichi, which she had collected and displayed casually on a ledge around her bathtub, after learning he had been declared a living treasure of Japan "This is my home. I'm going to stay here as long as I can." Pamela Patterson THREE-YEAR RESIDENT AT KEAAU BEACH PARK Saying she would wait and catch the last bus out of Waianae before joining a group of beach dwellers taking shelter at Kawaihao Church after being evicted from the park by city officials

Herman Shigemura was gardener extraordinaire

I pray that you print this tribute to Herman Shigemura, whose obituary I noted with sadness and nostalgia in your Nov. 23 issue.

We all encounter at least one person who is "one in a million." That might be a special boss, a doctor, a clergyperson, a teacher. For me, Herman was all of the above. He had no degree or fancy-sounding title, but epitomized the term "salt of the Earth."

He was the "boss" who oversaw the planting of my Pearl City lawn more than a quarter-century ago; a plant "doctor" who could give birth to and then cure any ill in his beloved world of flora; a lay "spiritualist" who had a surpassing reverence for Mother Nature and her ways; and my "teacher," whose lawn remains to this day a testament to his skills.

I last saw him about a year ago, and he was typically and quintessentially humble, on his hands and knees though in great pain, kneading the soil that sustained and refreshed him, his family and his extended ohana in so many dwelling places across Oahu.

Aloha, Herman. There's no doubt in my mind that God has made you chief gardener of the holy lands of Heaven.

Robert H. Stiver
Pearl City
Via the Internet

Critics are just jealous of St. Louis' success

I am thoroughly insulted, and my education has been insulted, by generic arguments against the St. Louis way of education. I never played football and graduated with what I feel is a top-quality education from the school.

What in the world has my alma mater done to deserve such malicious treatment? I can only think of one thing -- football envy. It's plain, old-fashioned jealousy over a top-quality academic and athletic school.

Noah Pekelo
St. Louis, Class of 1996
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Henderson, Nev.
Via the Internet

Decision shows football gets No. 1 priority

This time it's the members of the St. Louis board of trustees who have demonstrated the art of prioritization for one and all. They ousted a good man who dared to hold the athletics program accountable for the conduct of players.

Once again, academics at St. Louis will be relegated to a second-class status behind Coach Cal Lee and the football program.

John Taylor
Via the Internet

Legislature Directory
Hawaii Revised Statutes

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