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Hula is desecrated by younger generation

Your March 16 issue featured a story about Patrick Makuakane's visiting halau from San Francisco. In that article, Mark Keali'i Hoomalu is quoted as saying, "It's not what them damn traditionalists say is traditional, but as far as theater, it is beautiful." As a "damn traditionalist," I'd like to make a few points:

Arrogance has no place in true Hawaiian hula. Such comments show that Hoomalu and others like him, especially in the younger generation, have never had the proper training to genuinely respect the tradition of hula. One cannot do anything you want with hula that is proper and authentic.

The title of kumu hula gets thrown around and passed on to anyone these days. Most of these "kumu hula" do not speak Hawaiian, don't thoroughly know Hawaiian customs and etiquette and have very little or nothing in their repertoire of traditional Hawaiian chant and dance material that has been handed down, intact, for generations.

Hoomalu says that "hula masters far back were slammed, too, for things they changed along the way." How does he know? He didn't come from a traditional background. It must be remembered that the way hula was taught back then was different; in modern times, the religious aspects of hula are either non-existent, tokenly practiced or grossly altered.

When hula was a true religion, there was an across-the-board code of respect and honor that was adhered to by all hula schools. This is different today, when hula is commercialized and many teachers are training competitors instead of cultivating real dancers.

J. Kimo Alama Keaulana

Thank the governor for tax relief

As the owner of a tax planning company in Hawaii for the past 20 years, I've dealt on a daily basis with the tax laws, Legislature and inner workings of the state. My experience has led me believe that we are truly blessed to have Ben Cayetano as our governor during these difficult financial times.

He is guided by moral principles, and is willing to make tough decisions and stick by them despite the uproar from unions, politicians and special-interest groups. He has also surrounded himself with honest and hard-working people.

Thanks to his leadership, the citizens of Hawaii will begin saving hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in taxes in 1999 due to his dramatic revision of the income tax code.

Ed Buck

Home-care industry is unfairly criticized

Recent coverage of the "rampant and widespread abuse" of clients in the residential care home industry in Hawaii is a perfect example of media misinformation. It shows bias against the majority of quality programs and honest operators currently serving the public.

Whatever happened to fair and balanced reporting? Our industry gets attention only when tragedy strikes. Where are the reporters and camera operators when we receive accolades from medical professionals and family members?

It is true that there are those with the wrong motives in our field, but they should not be regarded as the norm. We as an industry continue to strive to raise the standards among ourselves. Hopefully, the media will soon follow our lead.

Allan Tomas
Administrative Director
Aloha Friendship Center
Wahiawa

Citizens already are empowered

Jeremy Harris' "vision empowerment" political propaganda is just a clever political gimmick. Telling people, "I'm going to give you the power to tell us what improvements you want and need in your community instead of the city government," is a lot of stale baloney.

"Empowerment" was given to every citizen on Oahu when I set up neighborhood boards more than 20 years ago. Community-minded citizens get elected to these boards to act in the best interests of their respective communities. Today, there are 35 such boards on this island.

Neighborhood boards have always been "empowered" to call their City Council representatives and/or the mayor and any city department head or executive to their meetings to discuss and act on complaints, or needed improvements for the community.

Former Mayor Frank F. Fasi

UH shouldn't brag about easy wins

I agree with the March 18 letter by Roger Sharp, who said the University of Hawaii's football schedule is easier compared to teams like the University of Texas and Notre Dame. The Rainbows act like they are in a Division 2 conference, and never play strong teams on the road.

Coach June Jones sure talked big after last season. But the schedule was so soft that, if the team didn't turn it around then, it never would have.

Come on, do you really believe the Longhorns were afraid to play the Rainbows? When UH plays a stronger schedule, then it can do some talking.

Russell Oshiro

Trust should support schools, not build homes

After learning that Kamehameha Schools plans to shift its development policy to the building of homes, I initially applauded it for deciding to "spread the wealth." But am I the only one seeing the paradox here?

Considering the deplorable condition of public schools in Hawaii, the trust's priorities are mystifying. Who will be able to afford to live in these proposed developments without benefit of a good education?

I hope Kamehameha Schools reconsiders and decides to make the schooling of Hawaii's youth a priority, so we can build a strong economic base for the future.

Gisele Nash
Mililani

Quotables "If I thought that I didn't deserve to be on a major league team, I wouldn't have said anything. But coming off that great year I had, I deserve something, right? (That's why) I was pissed." Benny Agbayani HAWAII NATIVE AND MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK METS On how he felt after learning the professional baseball team might demote him to Triple-A play after his exemplary 1999 debut in the big leagues "They're starting at the right time of the year. The gods are with 'em. Roy Matsuda NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGIST Lauding the timing of the state Department of Transportation's decision to deal with the rock slide problem by widening Kamehameha Highway and creating a rock-fall buffer zone near Waimea Bay

Law is too strict on license waiting period for minors

Hawaii law requires a 90-day waiting period for the issuance of a driver's license once a driver's permit is obtained.

The idea behind this rule is well-meaning. There are parents like me who want to ensure that our children have demonstrated the maturity, reliability and common sense to earn a driver's license. We make them practice driving for the full six months of their driver's permits.

However, if we allow the permit to expire before taking the driver's licensing test, the minor must acquire a new permit and wait another 90 days before being eligible to take the test.

This must be changed. Why should my child have to wait 90 more days, even though he has practiced for the past six months, just because he didn't take the test within that initial six-month period?

Steven Streets

It's not against the law to peacefully protest

On March 2, on Beretania Street, two friends and I were peaceably holding signs that read, "Keanu Sai (of Perfect Title Co.) is not a criminal."

At approximately 5:45 p.m., a man wearing a police uniform complete with a handgun, cuffs and a badge approached us. He asked if I had a permit to hold the sign. After learning that I didn't, he told me to leave.

Since I am enrolled in a constitutional law class at Hawaii Pacific University, I was quite surprised. What about free speech? I checked city ordinances and couldn't find anything about needing a permit to hold a sign. I also called the police department and was told that I do NOT need a permit.

I am confident that the man who confronted us must have been a police impersonator. He was so convincing that he was able to talk with a nearby officer without arousing suspicion. Such impersonators pose a threat to both citizens and the police department.

Derek Kauanaoe

UH students deserve kudos for fighting tuition hike

I salute the University of Hawaii students for their gallant and successful campaign against proposed tuition hikes. In particular, I commend the representatives of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii, the Graduate Student Organization and the Center for Hawaiian Studies.

The Cayetano administration has refused to raise taxes, which are more progressive (like income tax), and even supports the cutting or eliminating of corporate taxes.

Over the past five years, the state has hiked user fees, charges to patients in state health facilities, license renewals and tuition rates. These are regressive taxes that tend to hit the low-income and middle-class more than the wealthy.

This is the Cayetano legacy to the public. As such, we all are indebted to the UH students trying to reverse this trend.

John Witeck

Highways need more trees and landscaping

Most of the time, roadside trees are blamed for causing accidents, but -- as stated in a Star-Bulletin March 13 photo caption -- a tree saved at least one life and maybe more.

A car accident at the corner of Pali Highway and School Street sent a vehicle and its passenger plummeting down an embankment.

Fortunately, a mature shower tree prevented the tumbling car from landing on the freeway. Thanks to the tree, no one was seriously injured.

This is yet another example of how trees benefit our urban environment.

Laura Thompson

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