Cayetano's appointment is mystifying

Governor Cayetano's pick of Willie Espero to replace Paul Oshiro, who resigned as representative for Ewa Beach, is a mystery.

Espero has been a longtime Republican and is still listed as such. In fact, Espero ran for the state Senate in 1992 as a Republican.

While it's fine that Cayetano has finally seen that the resolution to his party's problems is to get more Republicans in office, surely he could have found someone from his own party to take an easy appointment like this one.

I guess if Frank F. Fasi can belong to the Democratic Party, switch to the GOP, then to the Best Party, then back to the Republicans, and now to the Democrats (I think), then party principles and integrity are not really important.

Garry P. Smith
Ewa Beach

People with mental illness need help

According to a report by the U.S. surgeon general, "Mental disorders are not character flaws but are legitimate illnesses that respond to specific treatments, just as other health conditions respond to medical intervention."

Now we can stop judging some of our citizens who have a mental illness and who may be abusing alcohol or other drugs.

The Rev. Claude Du Teil, who founded Oahu's only emergency homeless shelter over 20 years ago, suffered from both mental illness and alcoholism.

If not for his strong support system of family and friends, and for the treatment that he received, he too might have become homeless.

How do we help people who have a mental illness to get off the streets, keep them out of homeless shelters and help them avoid spending time in prisons and psychiatric hospitals?

One way is to build an array of services in the community so that those who are mentally ill can be appropriately housed in whatever is their "least restrictive environment."

The problem is solvable. If we don't want them in prisons or the parks, we must provide them with alternate solutions.

Lynn Maunakea
Executive Director
Institute for Human Services Inc.

Quotables "The fun factor is being outweighed by the hazardous factor." Attilio Leonardi Honolulu fire chief On why he supports a total ban on fireworks "People say gun-control laws are inconvenient. It's much less inconvenient than burying my son. That was inconvenient." Nadine Onodera Gun-control advocate Whose 24-year-old son, Michael, was murdered in their Hawaii Kai home in 1993

Blame lawmakers for fireworks death

Enough is enough. It was due to happen. Death by fireworks.

For many years, our chiefs of police and fire have lobbied for a ban on fireworks.

To those legislators and City Council members who didn't support it, aren't our health and safety important? When over 200,000 Hawaii residents have some form of respiratory problem, isn't this a concern?

Those who did not support a ban should have their senses checked by an eye, ear and nose specialist.

This is not a cultural tradition, except for the Chinese. But then again, lawmakers use it as an excuse for doing nothing, which they are very good at.

Tom Sugita
Pearl City

Hawaii Kai produced great aerial spectacular

I watched TV and saw the great fireworks shows of the world welcoming in the year 2000. I saw the Australian skies lit up with colorful skyrockets from Sydney Bridge, the Eiffel Tower of Paris lit up with search lights, and London's marvelous welcome to the New Year with a canopy of fireworks.

Yet nothing can compare with the best show on Earth right here in the islands: the fabulous fireworks spectacle of Hawaii Kai.

We stopped when we saw cars double-parked on the road leading to Hanauma Bay.

Spectators were watching Hawaii Kai's fantastic and beautiful outpouring of neighborhood love and enthusiasm via a fireworks show.

The tempo of the loud roar of firecrackers and the never-ending vista and hues of colorful skyrockets increased to a climax as we approached 12 o'clock.

Never, ever in all my travels have I seen anything like this. Thank you, Hawaii Kai, for the spectacular rainbow of colors! Happy New Year!

Jim Delmonte

Lighting firecrackers seems addictive

As of Jan. 1, after a not-so-bad but still smoky New Year's Eve, most of us who want all these firecracker nuts to blow themselves up are sadly resigned to the fact we cannot do much about it.

Too bad the lungs of babies will be contaminated with the deadly smoke of fireworks. The need to light firecrackers seems to be as addictive as needing to have another cigarette.

Smoke, smoke, smoke.

Jack A. Fiero Sr.

Just tax fireworks through the roof

While driving on the H-1 freeway on New Year's Eve, I couldn't help but notice the hundreds of beautiful (and illegal) aerial fireworks.

But I couldn't really enjoy them, having to make way for three ambulances and four police cars. And, as I took the offramp, I narrowly avoided running through traffic lights due to a fog that Londoners would weep over.

Forget a ban; it'll be just like prohibition. Do it right and tax fireworks 500 percent across the board. After all, the state could always use the money.

Sechyi Laiu
Waipahu
Via the Internet

Fireworks make it hazardous to drive

Politicians need to revisit the fireworks issue in the upcoming legislative session. Yes, of course, my family and I celebrated New Year's with fireworks, but not as crazy as others with all the illegal supplies they had.

Early on New Year's Eve, we were driving on Kamehameha Highway by Wheeler's front gate. Like many, we were stranded for a bit because we couldn't see through the smoke. Some were so afraid that they pulled over on the side and waited. It took about 15-20 minutes to get to the armory, when normally it would take a minute.

All we could see was smoke -- not even the white lines on the road. We ventured ahead, jerk by jerk, until we finally got home.

No one should have to go through that. Legislators: Implement stricter laws or totally ban fireworks!

Danette Pangelinan
Mililani
Via the Internet

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