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More odd facts about even numbers

The Associated Press article in the Wednesday Star-Bulletin about 2-2-2000 being a day of even numbers was very interesting. Here's another useless fact: 2-2-2000 was the 33rd day with 333 days left for the year. How odd for the day of evens.

Jason Taira

Now can we consider legalized gambling?

There have been many letters to the editor, including mine, suggesting ways to fuel our current stagnant economy -- namely, a limited form of gambling in the form of lotteries, shipboard casinos, horseracing, etc. Yet no action is being taken by legislators to expeditiously propose such ideas. This must be a priority!

Our economy has been stagnant for a decade and we still can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. In the meantime, the stock market has been rising at a phenomenal rate. Each year we send more than 600,000 of our residents to Las Vegas to enjoy some form of gambling, shopping and to see shows.

Why can't we have our own legalized gambling system and create more entertainment facilities for our own tourists to enjoy? The end result would be more employment and more funds for improving our public education system and facilities.

Toshio Chinen
Pearl City

Quotables "We want to highlight the pioneers who left a poor country behind and came with an American dream. We have done much. We have so much to offer." Janis Koh President of the Korean-American coalition in Hawaii A member of the centennial committee planning events for the year 2003, the 100th anniversary of the arrrival of the first Koreans to the U.S. as plantation workers in the islands "There's a 2-year-old without a mommy or daddy and she doesn't know why." Sue Deuber Child and family service worker On how the daughter of Andrea Belcina-Dequito and Allan Dequito, will cope after a murder-suicide. Police say the shootings were instigated by Dequito, who allegedly wounded a police officer and killed his estranged wife before fatally shooting himself

DLNR must scrutinize plans for Hanauma

It wasn't too long ago that millions of dollars were spent building the current facility at Hanauma Bay. Why spend more to build a new one?

The mayor wants us to believe that the new facility will serve as an educational center. Yet only 3,000 square feet of the 10,000 planned will accommodate educational needs.

I hope the state Department of Land and Natural Resources carefully studies the city's plans. There are many other public parks that need attention. Stop wasting our money!

June Freundschuh

Call the experts in dangerous situation

Bruce Chrisman's Jan. 29 View Point, "A case for carrying handguns," needs to be answered. I volunteer to do so because in nearly 76 years I've never felt the need to own a gun to be a proud citizen, nor must I hide behind locked doors.

Samson Wana of the Big Island is certainly a citizen-hero, but there are alternative approaches. Why stop to pick up someone trying to flag you down on the highway at all? If he recognized the culprit was wanted by police, he should have called 911 on a cell phone and turned it over to the public safety professionals.

Chrisman seems to suggest that you need a gun to protect yourself from government tyranny. I don't know what country he resides in, but it's not the one I live in.

Ken Neifert
Kaneohe

Adolf Hitler liked gun control, too

With gun control sure to be a major issue in the coming year, please consider these "words of wisdom" from a major gun control advocate: "This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future." -- Adolf Hitler, 1935.

J. Par

'Cannot' seems to be state motto of Hawaii

Diane Chang's Jan. 28 column about the common frustration in Hawaii over bureaucratic eccentricities really rang a bell with me.

When I first moved to the islands in 1990, one of the first things I noticed was that almost every time I asked for help in solving a problem, I heard the simple response, "Cannot!"

That was repeated over and over. It reminded me of small children refusing to do what they are asked.

Now that I have moved back to the mainland, I am always surprised when I expect to hear, "Cannot!" but instead get something more useful.

What is it? Hawaii's old plantation mentality? Laziness? Poor customer service? Whatever it is, it certainly isn't aloha.

Gregory Ramos
Guerneville, Calif.

Community needs second voice in town

As one of your loyal subscribers, I wanted to express my concern about your planned shutdown.

I don't know what the facts are regarding the deal with the joint operating agreement, but I do know that, without the Star-Bulletin, we would have less access to good, straight, honest reporting of issues in our community.

The circumstances surrounding the "Broken Trust" article just bring home the fact that we need an independent, courageous voice like yours, lest we become hostage to vested interests that can use their monopolistic advantage to present only one side of the story.

Hawaii needs you. Please stay in business.

Ken Sumida
Kaneohe

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Bulletin closing archive

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Administrator shouldn't have been fired

I am shocked and outraged that Donald K.W. Lau has been dismissed as administrative director of the state's first combined housing agency (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 13).

He had many organizational changes that he had to adjust to. While doing so, he gave public housing tenants like me a voice. He was the only administrator who has even allowed us to participate in the decision-making process.

To prematurely fire him, claiming that "he couldn't grasp the whole organization," is preposterous!

I want to participate in the hiring process of the next administrator. But first I want to know: What kind of qualifications are the commissioners looking for, anyway? If they know of anyone who can do the job better than Lau in his 18-month tenure there, I want to meet that person.

Becky Hendricks

Must mass tragedy happen before fireworks ban?

According to news reports, it looks like a total fireworks ban is not going to pass in the state Legislature this year. What is the hold-up?

Since I have respiratory problems, I spent New Year's Eve with a wet towel wrapped around my face. Why did I have to do this?

We had one death and a young girl lost an eye because of fireworks. If a military ordnance had caused these injuries, the situation would be looked at quite differently.

It's only a matter of time before we have enough deaths and injuries to warrant a total ban. Why must we wait?

Roger Hutchings

Fireworks aren't kid stuff anymore

We are on the verge of destroying a horse who has been a family member since his birth. He is suffering from the pain of injuries he caused himself on New Year's Eve, and is not recovering.

His terror was so great, despite being heavily tranquilized, that he ran nonstop all night and threw himself repeatedly at fences. He is very badly hurt.

The excessive use of illegal fireworks, over a period of three months, has caused enormous damage and discomfort to many:

My neighbor has to spend nights at Castle Medical Center because of the fumes.
Dogs and cats tremble in utter panic. Wild birds are dying.
Everybody is losing sleep, being awakened in the middle of the night by loud bombs going off.
The police maintain that the laws limiting the time period and type of fireworks are unenforceable.

The Legislature must act responsibly by banning the sale, possession and use of fireworks. They are not fun anymore. They are entirely out of control, and very dangerous.

As kids we pretty much abided by the rules or got in trouble with Mom and Dad. Now it's adults who are setting off illegal aerials, any time they want, without any consideration for neighbors.

The right of some to use fireworks ends exactly where the misery of others begins.

Fredda A. Stroup
Waimanalo

Elian Gonzalez should return to Cuba

Six-year-old Elian Gonzalez is the center of a dispute between Cuba and the Cubans in Florida. He is being used as a political football by members of Congress from Florida. He is being spoiled by his relatives and accorded celebrity status, factors that could influence his desire to stay in the United States.

He should be sent back to his biological father. The Immigration and Naturalization Service, the church, tradition, constitutional precedent and his two grandmothers who visited New York all agree Elian should be sent back.

Congressional representatives should cease catering to the Cubans in Florida. They should be involved in more important issues such as Social Security, Medicare, taxes and education. Congress must act.

H.T. Chang

Lack of safety check decals is expensive

Police won't be issuing tickets for expired safety sticker violations until March 2000, because safety check decals weren't at the inspection stations on time. This oversight is costing the state money.

My daughter and her friend just got safety checks for their cars this month, but other cars also getting checked had expired safety stickers from August, September and November 1999.

Those who delay this important requirement should be penalized. When you are late paying bills, late payment fees are assessed.

If government were run like a business, it would be more efficient. If police cited all cars with expired safety decals, the roads would be safer, and small independent car repair shops would have enough revenues to pay their bills.

Alvin Wong
Pearl City

Tourists should have say in development

Has anyone ever thought about asking visitors -- especially those who return to Hawaii year after year -- what they think about specific tourism development and projects?

For example, a Ferris wheel on the water? Give me a break. If I want to see Las Vegas, I will go there. Ditto Disneyland, Disney World and other theme parks.

The lure of Hawaii is its beauty. We come to the islands at least once a year to enjoy that beauty. So, do my tourist dollars count for anything, opinion wise?

Rita Ractliffe
Van Nuys, Calif.

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