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Don't restrict libraries any further

I pity young Sharon Holck, whose mind is being poisoned and for no good reason (Letters, April 5). Porn in the public libraries? Please.

Hysterical people supposedly advocating "family values" are in fact advocating censorship. There is a standing policy within the public library system that users viewing "objectionable" Web sites will be asked to leave those sites. What more is needed?

Legislation cannot and never will be able to "protect" the youth of Hawaii. Filters are at best an imperfect form of technology and at worst a cruel mechanism for enforcing a "lowest common denominator" mentality.

People doing legitimate research will be forced to use resources other than the public library -- certainly opposite its function in society.

If the Legislature caves in to the forces of censorship, what's next? Book burning?

James Ko

Federal recognition will lead to casinos

I just read in my local newspaper that the town tax collector of 21 years in Ledyard, Conn. -- where the Mashantucket Pequots have their Foxwoods casino -- is being investigated for embezzlement.

Apparently up to $100,000 is unaccounted for and her "wampum card" at Foxwoods shows that she has had "gambling activity" (it doesn't separate wins and losses) of $900,000 since 1997.

A wampum card is given by the casino to gamblers to swipe through the slot machines. It keeps a tally of how much has been wagered and is useful in criminal investigations.

If you want to see stories like this in your own Honolulu newspapers in the future, go right ahead and give federal recognition to native Hawaiians. Then they can open their own casinos in the islands.

Here in Connecticut, the stories of embezzlement by gamblers frequenting the Indian casinos are commonplace -- including the little gray-haired town clerk who knew everyone in town yet stole tens of thousands to gamble.

This doesn't even touch on all the other negatives of having a "sovereign nation" answerable to no one.

Betty Perkowski
North Stonington, Conn.

Klompuses deserve Hawaii's thanks

I read with dismay your March 27 article about Lenny and Marcia Klompus stepping down as directors of Bowl Games of Hawaii. So Bill Kwon's March 28 follow-up column, stating that they would still be involved, was a relief.

The Klompuses have put Hawaii in the national sports spotlight. Their bowl games -- Aloha, Oahu and Hula -- are some of the finest in the country. Their rescue of the Hula Bowl from certain extinction was truly an amazing feat.

Hawaii owes a big debt of gratitude to Lenny and Marcia for their creative, tireless dedication to excellence.

Without their efforts, there might not even be one college bowl game in Hawaii, much less three.

They deserve every award and recognition possible for the good they have done.

Tomas del Amo
Boulder, Colo.

Quotables "We have a lot in common other than volleyball. We're both hard workers and come from big families." Andrea Gomez-Tukuafu UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII WAHINE VOLLEYBALL PLAYER On her husband Torry Tukuafu, who plays for the UH men's volleyball team "Union folks had put out a flier that the purpose of all this was to drive (them) back to the plantation days. It's really quite remarkable how much misinformation and misunderstanding I ran into when I talked to folks out there." Paul LeMahieu STATE SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT Describing a recent town meeting he attended, and how much rhetoric and lobbying have taken place in opposition to his accountability bill that is still alive in the state Legislature

Cultural arts need more performance venues

Last month one of the world's leading young pianists, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, gave a concert with the Honolulu Symphony to standing ovations and rave reviews.

A recital that was planned for him, unfortunately, had to be canceled -- depriving Honolulu of a great experience.

The cancellation was due to the unavailability of a venue: The Blaisdell was booked for performances of "Fame" and the Hawaii Theatre by "Forever Tango." This was not an isolated incident. Last fall, the Honolulu Symphony was shut out of the Blaisdell Concert Hall for several months, at the beginning of its season, by "Miss Saigon."

As the demand for live performances increases, the problem will become more acute. A new venue will become a necessity.

Kakaako and culture have been simmering for some time with various, inconclusive projects relating to museums and performing arts.

To bring this stew to a boil, a group called Friends of a Kakaako Landmark is working on the concept.

We believe Kakaako and Hawaii would best be served by an architectural landmark like the Sydney Opera House. It would be set in a non-commercial park with a performing arts center, ethnic museum and world-class aquarium, as well as other cultural and education venues.

The time seems right. This community is impatient for such a project, and there appears to be a change in government response to investing in our cultural future, as witnessed by a proposed International Cultural Center.

George Cassarno
Friends for a Kakaako Landmark

Critics of Kawamoto don't know him

There is an element out there upset with state Sen. Cal Kawamoto's decision not to hold a hearing on a bill relating to government-funded City Council elections. Well, those attacking Senator Kawamoto for his position probably don't know the man -- who he is, where he came from and what he stands for.

If you've been in his office, you would notice a copy of an ad on his wall for the Waipahu Cultural Park (he started the Plantation Village). In his inner office is a wall board with various bills he's following. When you talk with him, he is quiet, gentle and unassuming.

And when he gives you a commitment, he follows in the footsteps of John Burns, George Ariyoshi, John Ushijima, Elmer Cravalho, Tad Beppu, George Toyofuku and a host of others who have been there. It's called "integrity."

You may not agree with him but you have to respect him. The people of Waipahu, Waipio and Pearl City should be thankful they have a senator like Cal Kawamoto to represent them.

G.A. "Red" Morris
President
G.A. Morris Inc.

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