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Inouye, CINCPAC got education money

I sat through a public TV broadcast of a state Board of Education meeting and would like to comment on a report made by a representative from CINCPAC. He said a federal appropriation through the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) in the amount of $4.82 million was recently approved.

This appropriation was made possible by Sen. Daniel Inouye through his efforts in persuading the DOD that Hawaii has a sizable population of military students attending public schools. The money is to be spent on repairs and maintenance at 25 Oahu public schools that military students attend.

Previously, the DOD used these funds for the repair and maintenance of military barracks. The funds will be administered by the Corps of Engineers through a bidding process, and Hawaii may be eligible for an additional $5 million next year.

This is big news. Yet I did not see or hear any reports of this effort. Inouye and CINCPAC deserve recognition.

Our public schools could really use the money. I hope the BOE and Department of Education do a good job of making this project successful, so our schools have a shot at future appropriations.

Paula Nagao

Young Republicans attended convention

In his May 5 column, Dave Donnelly commented on his impression of the recent Republican state convention. He said all he saw on TV news coverage were "middle-aged to senior haoles."

As one of those senior haoles, I am offended by this observation. I'm proud of the young Republican men and women of all ethnic backgrounds who were in attendance, many of whom were Democrats just two years ago.

If Donnelly hasn't figured it out yet, all major electronic media and most major print media are very liberal. Hence, the camera angles he referred to showing only geriatric haoles.

Jay Bauckham

Quotables "Two years ago, they said it was going to happen, but nothing came and I almost gave up hope. I feel proud for the Japanese Americans" Barney Hajiro 83-YEAR-OLD HAWAII RESIDENT AND WORLD WAR II VETERAN Happy to be receiving a Medal of Honor, along with 20 of his comrades from the 100th Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team "It's a godsend for him to have a third match. It's amazing how strong he is." Lee Donahue HONOLULU CHIEF OF POLICE Marveling at the luck and stamina of police Capt. Alvin Nishimura, the leukemia-stricken officer who has found a third potential bone marrow match. Two previous matches withdrew from the worldwide bone marrow registry, but the third one has agreed to be a donor.

Unions support true campaign reform

Let's set the record straight on labor's position on campaign spending reform. The AFL-CIO, both locally and nationally, supports real reform that would eliminate unfair, undeserved financial advantage, protect constitutional freedom, and encourage openness and integrity in political debate and contests.

We believe that reform must be comprehensive and include the following publicly funded campaigns, not increasing current limits on individual contributions, prohibiting unregulated funds or so-called "soft money" and free access to media.

Contrary to popular belief, labor unions play a small role in campaign contributions compared to corporate money. Business PACs outspend labor PACs 10-1.

Our organization wholeheartedly supports and will keep fighting for real campaign reform that gives all Americans a place at the table, not just those who can afford to buy a seat.

Thaddeus Tomei
President, Hawaii State AFL-CIO

Colon cancer study wasn't definitive

After reading your April 25 editorial about the recent colon cancer study pertaining to fiber in our diets, I realized your editorial itself was guilty of perpetuating the very thing it was criticizing.

Your description of the two studies reinforced the validity of their results, despite facts stated in U.S. News and World Report's May 1 issue. The article cautions that the studies looked at only a part of the cancer process.

Your view that "decisions on health issues are often judgment calls, based on incomplete knowledge" accurately applies to your editorial.

Carol A. Holt

Court case threatens existence of Scouting

As an Eagle Scout and veteran Scout leader, it is indeed very sad, and somewhat offensive to see Corky's caricature cartoon, "The Last Boy Scout."

Character building, citizenship training and scouting skills are basic goals of scouting. These goals are embodied in the Scout Oath and Law, and, as such, are very applicable to James Dale's case -- morally straight and clean and reverent ("High court debates gay Scout leaders," Star-Bulletin, April 26).

If Dale and his backers win this case before the U.S. Supreme Court, it will be the eventual destruction of the great scouting movement and its ideals.

Dale shamelessly did not truly live or earn his Eagle badge.

Allen C.S. Kim
Mililani

Housecleaning sounds more like witch-hunt

The Kamehameha Schools is in the midst of its strategic planning project. What will emerge is an institution refocused on Ke Alii Pauahi's children and the broader Hawaiian community.

As someone fortunate enough to be assisting Kamehameha with that strategic planning effort, I am witnessing an amazing transformation. For the past six months, I have also personally witnessed the performance and contributions of the individuals referred to in Randy Roth's May 6 letter to the editor.

Taking the personnel action Roth suggests on any individual, based strictly on his or her association with the former trustees, will only undo months of healing, trust building and recuperative actions that were necessary for Kamehameha to move forward. I would even argue that more harm would be done by cleaning house.

While I support any call for accountability, none of these employees has been found guilty of harming the trust. No one has asserted that they acted on their own behalf at the expense of the trust, but only that they carried out the directives of their employer.

The call for housecleaning sounds more like a witch-hunt than anything else. Furthermore, the financial resources and management attention necessary to carry out such actions will come only at the expense of the children.

Dale F. Saito

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