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Facilities are severely lacking at Hanauma

I was particularly disturbed by Jim Delmonte's July 31 letter to the editor. On a technical level, reporting on what his daughter saw at Hanauma is not first-hand knowledge.

Furthermore, unless his daughter is a marine biologist, her impressions are merely that -- impressions. Her perception as to what is happening with the marine life at the bay is not a scientific study by an expert.

More important, Delmonte's attitude about the motivations of those seeking an educational facility for Hanauma Bay is distressing. Those buildings are in fact sorely needed. While I must praise the efforts of the volunteers and employees at Hanauma Bay, the facilities that currently exist (or lack thereof) are truly pathetic.

Hanauma is located in a Marine Life Conservation District and is visited by thousands of visitors daily. Considering its uniqueness and high traffic, it's to the bay's misfortune that there are not sufficient facilities or staffing to appropriately educate people about the truly special place they are visiting.

Yvonne Nalani Meulemans

Covenants have always banned political signs

I am responding to the Aug. 4 letter, "Espero is getting preferential treatment." The letter states that "the Gentry Community Association has decided to suddenly enforce the covenants and restrictions, and to remove all political signs from homeowners' property," and says political signs were allowed in many prior election years.

According to a long-term homeowner and board member, if signs were posted in the past, covenants enforcement was not heavily pursued and no action was taken to remove the few that did show up in the then-small community.

The covenants always did and still do prohibit any political signs within the community. In March, the board commenced plans to intensify covenants enforcement with a goal to bring the entire community into compliance with the covenants.

The number of homes in Ewa by Gentry has grown, and the number of political signs has grown also, especially with this year's election. Mayoral campaign signs have been removed along with representatives' campaign signs. Never before have there been as many campaign signs within the community.

No member of the Ewa by Gentry board of directors, design committee or staff is on or part of Willie Espero's campaign committee.

Suzanne C. Alawa
General Manager
Ewa by Gentry Community Association

Quotables "It all seems surreal. It really hasn't sunk in that somebody was shooting at our house. I just want to feel safe again." Michelle Sanchez HAWAII KAI RESIDENT Describing how she felt after police arrested Peter Takeda for allegedly firing a gun from his condominium toward her home across the street "May you never have a day of peace." Susan Sakamoto WIDOW OF JOHN SAKAMOTO, ONE OF THE SEVEN VICTIMS IN THE XEROX WAREHOUSE SHOOTINGS Addressing her husband's murderer, Byran Uyesugi, during his sentencing hearing yesterday. Uyesugi received Hawaii's harshest sentence -- life without parole -- for the murders of his former co-workers at Xerox

Don't judge attorneys by their clients

I am extremely concerned about the debate that occurred over the nomination of Dan Foley to serve as a judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

It appears that an attorney who represents an unpopular client can never serve in a public office. Yet this has not been the case throughout the history of the United States:

John Adams defended British soldiers charged with murder in the Boston massacre. Yet he served in the Continental Congress, as vice president and as president.

Alexander Hamilton defended Loyalists (Tories) whose property had been seized during the Revolution. He served in the Constitutional Convention and as secretary of the treasury.

Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall represented black sailors charged with mutiny during World War II.

And what of the attorneys who represented Miranda (self-incrimination), Scopes (teaching evolution), Roe (abortion), or Rice (15th Amendment voting rights)?

Any of us may be on the "wrong" side of public opinion or government action.

We should all hope there are attorneys willing to represent our unpopular positions.

Brian N. Durham
Makakilo

Mahalo to those who supported Foley

Congratulations to Dan Foley on his confirmation as an Intermediate Court of Appeals judge. My aloha to the state senators who voted to affirm civil rights in Hawaii.

Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, the Waianae Coast is proud to have you representing us. And thank you, Crystal Kua of the Star-Bulletin, for great reporting.

Ho'oipo DeCambra
Waianae

Mainland principals should be hired

Irwin R. Lim's July 29 letter on the projected principal shortage in Hawaii's schools should give Superintendent Paul LeMahieu and his board of directors much to consider.

I have noticed on the Department of Education Web site a number of vacant principal positions in Hawaii. When I inquired about the openings to an area superintendent, I was directed to LeMahieu.

Like my fellow California principal, Mr. Lim, LeMahieu communicated to me by letter that I would have to start over as a teacher in Hawaii, as it does not recognize out-of-state credentials.

As the stakes become higher nationwide for all kids and the same standards are applied to all kids, principals everywhere are behooved to demonstrate that they can lead toward and sustain improvement in schools.

Principals with proven track records in this arena do exist. Many, sadly enough, do not. The latter will only add to the mass exodus as they are unwilling to accept the accountability.

Your July 20 article stated that, "If a large corporation faced the exodus of two-thirds of its middle management, it would invest in training replacements, and that's what school Superintendent LeMahieu wants."

The most successful and competitive corporations also recruit proven leaders to cut training costs. Training programs will help, but not solve the crisis which looms.

It is time to look past the nepotism and prejudice that perpetuate mediocrity in schools. Kids' lives are at stake.

Robert Nacario
Hayward, Calif.

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