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Arrogant legislators ignore need for ban

Once a year, lawmakers enjoy the privilege of an orderly opening of the legislative session. But just think how they would feel if a thousand rounds of fireworks or illegal bombs went off inside or around the Capitol during the opening session.

Don't worry. It would only be once a year.

That's what is being allowed to happen to their constituents at each New Year's Eve in Hawaii. It is legal to terrorize citizens, birds and animals and to pollute the very air we breathe. It is an irrational government that legalizes this insanity.

This unstable and insane situation will continue to get worse, as it has for the last 40 years, until there is a ban on fireworks. It is an arrogant governing body whose leaders continue to ignore its own police departments, fire departments, the American Lung Association and a majority of its local citizens by not doing what is right for everyone.

Please, listen to the pleas of Hawaii citizens, I beg of you.

Suzanne Teller

Government continues to spend unwisely

Early last decade, state lawmakers passed bills and operating budgets funding then-Governor Waihee's silly projects. Our elected officials approved these money drains, chopped University of Hawaii programs and then, despite their many promises to be frugal, only cut a little from the executive and legislative budgets, while giving themselves a raise.

Now, in Y2K, are our representatives and senators going to do this again? Must we continue to suffer this recession, while politicians misspend our money?

We've now had the Millennium 2000 laser show fiasco (how much tax money went into this project?). And look at UH-Manoa, where the attitude is like termite-eaten wood -- low morale eating away the students and teachers, while new buildings stand empty and unused. We need more dorms, not a West Oahu campus.

Randy Lum
Aiea

Quotables "To be honest with you, I wasn't sure if I would ever coach again. But I needed to do something. I'm too old to sell aluminum siding." Fred vonAppen FORMER UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII HEAD FOOTBALL COACH On becoming an NFL defensive line coach at Minnesota after being fired by UH more than a year ago "Graffiti is not art. Art has meaning. The mural is saying what we think of Hawaii." Marci Nagasawa 15-YEAR-OLD KALANI HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN On the colorful, 8-foot-high mural by Kalani students -- featuring floral and ocean scenes -- that beautifies the fence surrounding the Waikiki Natatorium restoration project. The young artists transformed the construction wall as a gift to the community.

HPD was too lenient with Kealoha

Should any of us be concerned over the possible death -- self-inflicted or otherwise -- of a longtime predator like Dominic Kealoha, a career criminal who has violated the rights and safety of so many people over the years?

Does the Honolulu Police Department have any reason to act in such a wimpy manner when it comes to a standoff with someone who doesn't have the slightest regard for the rights of others?

TV news coverage showed the presence of an armored vehicle, a type of heavy equipment that could have pushed that wrecked Camaro head-over-tea-kettle completely off the highway with no danger to anyone but the car's occupant.

So what did HPD choose to do? Talk to the criminal.

Our police have special training for such situations. They are equipped with bullet-proof vests and excellent firearms, and SWAT sharpshooters could have nailed this guy anywhere on his body.

But no, it took more than 13 hours to discover that Kealoha wasn't going to give up. Then what did HPD do when he tried to run? Hit him with bean bags.

What about the emotions and mental anguish of thousands trapped on the highway, worried or concerned over the unexpected loss of family responsibilities?

Ray Thiele
Kailua

Nothing could have stopped Ewa deaths

Everything Diane Chang mentioned in her Monday column wouldn't have saved Andrea Belcina-Dequito. If the perpetrator -- in this case her estranged husband, Allan -- was intent upon doing what he wanted, nothing could have stopped him.

Maybe Allan would have bided his time for a more opportune moment if some of the proposed laws were, indeed, in effect. But my point is this: When someone is willing to die, like Allan, no law would have hindered him. Any weapon would have suited him, even his bare hands.

Solution: I really don't have one. However, I did hear on a TV newscast that Allan had a drug problem. I've always suggested that we start a real war on drugs in America and terminate all the drug dealers, but no one takes me seriously.

Yet that alone may have saved Andrea more than all the new laws anyone passes.

Kevin Gagan
Mililani

Since when is a 10 considered a plus size?

In your Jan. 28 feature section, you had an article about a local woman who had been chosen as a finalist in a national modeling contest. The contest was for females who wear "plus" sizes --namely, those who wear size 10 and above.

I'm happy for her, but unhappy about the idea that any woman who wears a size 10 is labeled a "plus" size. I wear a 10 and have always been considered on the small side.

It is depressing enough to see models in magazines or on television who weigh slightly more than a German shepherd, but to be told that I am a plus size only makes it worse.

And where does that leave anyone who wears a size 18 or 22? Something is wrong.

Phyllis Hanson
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Plague series helped educate young people

Thank you for running the series, "Plague on our Shores," by Burl Burlingame (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 24, 25, 31 and Feb. 1). The articles on the Great Chinatown Fire of 1900 were exciting and informative.

Having done some historical research on that time period, I know the impact the event had on the community, and the confusion of records and accounts. I hope this series will inspire additional retrospective examinations of events from Hawaii's past.

I also appreciated having the series on your Web site, from which I was able to print copies for my students to read. More please!

Anita Manning
Waipahu

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