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Taxpayers deserve their cut of surplus

With the announcement of a $120-million state surplus, the unions want a raise and the governor wants to spend more on education and social services. I want some of that money, too. After all, it's my money that is being taken from me in taxes.

Since I am not a state employee, the only way I can get in on the hand-outs is by lowering the income tax or giving taxpayers a refund like a bonus check.

Do you think that will happen in this socialist state?

Alfred Grilho

Local Democrats must be deposed at the polls

Your Aug. 3 story, "Budget throttles Hawaii schools," sounds like business as usual, I'm sorry to say. All of the promises and hoopla during past elections have fizzled away. Yet what saddens me even more is that those who voted Democratic locally in spite of all the facts at hand may still vote for the same candidates in two years.

Face it, the only way to change our current problems with state government is to kick out every Democrat at the state level, and allow the Republicans to prove whether they can deliver in Hawaii. No, I am not advocating this at the national level.

In closing, let me ask local voters what the past two Democratic administrations have accomplished other than destroying numerous opportunities for Hawaii to become the hub of the Pacific for the high-tech market place.

Oh, and raising taxes beyond explanation. Please enlighten me.

Reuben Banks

Quotables "This is not the way to get famous. If anything, it brought the wrong kind of fame." Jeral Fonseca Attorney for convicted Xerox killer Byran Uyesugi On the public notoriety he gained as the defender of the worst mass murderer in Hawaii's history "They come in all shapes, colors and sizes, even with cute little cartoon characters, like vitamins." Susan Dowsett Honolulu Police Department major with the Narcotic/vice division Explaining the allure of the drug Ecstasy, which is growing in popularity among young people in Hawaii

Makiki Library gets state aid

Makiki Library has hobbled along with no help from the state for many years. Albeit in an area where many residents lack access to a state-supported public library, it has managed to stay afloat with private efforts.

To our advantage in Makiki, it has hung on with a wing and a prayer, thanks to Rep. Brian Schatz, who in the last legislative session was able to get a $25,000 item into the state's budget.

While not an astronomical sum this may well be the kick start that gains the support for the library that is so badly needed. Credit goes to Schatz, who has just completed a highly successful first term in the state Legislature representing District 24.

Ruth Ellen Lindenberg

Gabbard should try taking his own advice

I was overjoyed to read in your Aug. 4 issue about Dan Foley's appointment as an Intermediate Court of Appeals judge. It was satisfying to know that there are people out there who also believe that "a judge needs to be fair and open-minded even with those he disagrees with."

Wow! After years of pure intolerance, who'd have thought Mike Gabbard of the Alliance for Traditional Marriage and Values would have said those words?

In an alternate universe, I could almost see another news article paraphrasing the Foley news piece:

"Even a lobbyist needs to be fair and open-minded with those he disagrees with. Gabbard is not such a man. There is a very real danger that he will use his powerful position to further the radical conservative anti-homosexual agenda in the area of marriage laws and in our educational institutions."

Would holding signs saying, "No, Gabbard, no" be against being fair and open-minded?

Sechyi Laiu
Waipahu

Opposition to Foley is discrimination

Last week, three men -- David Lo, Clifford Nakea and Derrick Chan -- were confirmed unanimously by the state Senate to become judges in Hawaii. No one questioned THEIR ability to stop representing their clients; no one organized against them. Does anyone even know for whom they advocated?

Dan Foley, on the other hand, endured listening to horrible opinions about himself. Then he had the pleasure of watching eight senators fold under political pressure and vote unsuccessfully against his appointment to the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

When a qualified person has so much trouble getting a job because he or she is a heterosexual ally of the gay community, when our legislators give into anti-gay forces for fear of their own jobs in later elections, then the anti-gay movement has proven the gay community's point: Gays need legal protections against such bigotry.

Imagine what would have happened if an attorney with Foley's qualifications had been an openly gay candidate. Certainly, he or she would not have been confirmed.

Rae Watanabe

Fill trick-or-treat bags with school supplies

Many stores are now selling school supplies at discount prices for the coming school year. I urge people to stock up on pens and pencils while they're on sale so that people can give them out on Halloween.

Many of Hawaii's youngsters lack school supplies and this may be one small way to create a better educational experience for them. When Halloween rolls around, let's not give kids candies and cavities; but rather let's give them pens, pencils and other school necessities.

Not all of us have the financial resources to sponsor a teacher or a whole classroom, yet we can each do a small part to make the situation better.

It takes a village to raise a child and we should all be pointing our children in the right direction. If our children's trick-or-treat bags contain 10 fewer pieces of candy and contain 10 substituted pens and pencils, our children and the community itself would be better for it.

Mel Funakoshi

Presidential tickets have it backwards

The leaders of the two major political parties in the United States have it all wrong. Their tickets for the upcoming election should be Lieberman/Gore and Cheney/Anyone Else.

Keith Haugen

It's time to track down the missing ka'ai

The mysterious disappearance of the ka'ai in February 1994 keeps coming to mind as I read about the most unfortunate removal of burial artifacts from the Bishop Museum these six years later.

No one involved with the Bishop Museum in 1994 confessed to leaving outside, inside and cabinet doors open at a specific time so the chiefly remains, the ka'ai, could be stolen from their resting place and taken to Waipio.

Abigail K. Kawananakoa was right when she was quoted as saying that there is no one alive today who has the right to dispose of the ka'ai except the Kawananakoa family, who are the proper guardians via Prince Kuhio's previous guardianship.

My question is, did the same Bishop Museum people assist in the spiriting away of the ka'ai as they have assisted in the removal of the Forbes burial artifacts six years later.

Now is the time to cleanse the 1994 removal of the ka'ai with the truth as to who assisted in the stealing of the chiefly remains from the museum. And now is the time, while Bishop Museum is angling for the return of the Forbes artifacts, for it to make an all-out effort toward the return of the ka'ai.

M. P. Noe

Politicians should own up to mistakes on their watch

Governor Cayetano tries to silence his media critics in a tyrannical manner. This is the same man who, a month after he took office, announced there was a $2 million to $3 million deficit. A month before the election there was a $3 million surplus. When the public outcry came Cayetano said he was merely the lieutenant governor, and had no knowledge of why this happened.

Mayor Jeremy Harris chided Frank Fasi in their last debate when he said, "Frank, that happened on your watch."

Well, now the Ewa Villages fiasco happened on Harris' watch. There should have been a better system of checks and balances like those in any private sector company and the responsibility should have gone all the way to the top man just as in a private sector company.

Now we have Mufi Hannemann going around town saying he is a businessman, yet I see no successful track record of any business he has run.

Finally, we have Fasi, the dinosaur of politicians, whose occupation is running for mayor or governor. To paraphrase an old saying, "Politicians never die, they just keep trying to get re-elected." These are the leaders we choose, therefore we deserve the kinds of events that follow from these choices.

Bill Kozlovich

GOP Hawaii delegation got first-rate treatment

In announcing Hawaii's votes at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia I said:

"Hawaii calls itself the Aloha State. That's because in the last century native Hawaiians welcomed successive waves of immigrants -- Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Portuguese and other Europeans, and Americans too.

"Today their children live together like a beautiful Hawaiian rainbow -- each working to achieve the American Dream.

"Gov. George Bush of Texas understands the dreams and aspirations of immigrants to the United States -- from early settlers to recent arrivals. And because of his deep compassion for all people --and because of his dedication to issues of concern to our families -- Hawaii Republicans know he would be a great leader for our nation.

"Therefore, I, the granddaughter of immigrants, proudly cast Hawaii's 14 delegate votes for George W. Bush as the next president of the United States!"

There was absolutely no reference to --or feeling that I spoke from -- "the back of the bus" as mentioned in Corky's Aug. 1 front page political cartoon. I did not mention that phrase, which your readers may think after seeing the cartoon. Nor did I or the Hawaii delegation suffer any form of discrimination. The meaning of the cartoon is puzzling.

Hawaii folks received favorable seating and treatment at the GOP Convention. We were front and center right behind the Texas delegation not 100 feet from the stage. Our seats were so good that I told our folks, "If this were a baseball stadium, we would be on the pitcher's mound!"

We were energized by Governor Bush's commitment as a new Republican to strong leadership in overcoming America's pocketbook problems. Regarding education, we are inspired by his promise "to leave no child behind."

Barbara Marumoto
Chairwoman, Hawaii Delegation
GOP Convention and Bush for President-Hawaii

Missile defense system would be ineffective

The proposed missile defense system ranks right along with the military and/or political stupidity of the Vietnam War, Maginot Line and Spanish Armada.

Yes, at the time of our involvement in Vietnam a doctrine taught at the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., was "Do not get involved in land warfare in Asia."

Even if it is possible to develop a system to shoot down incoming missiles with a high reliability, which is extremely unlikely, the cost to develop, build and operate is beyond belief. Too, no sooner than a missile defense system was deployed, than a way to beat it probably would be found.

Say a mistake is made and a missile is launched our way. To defend against this means a missile defense deployment all around our country at 100 percent alert, yet there is a chance of equipment failure. Our ability to destroy an attacking nation is enough deterrence to prevent an attack. Spend the money on modernization of our military.

Harold W. Sexton

Lamenting the loss
of their 'Bows

What will happen to stadium's favorite cheer?

As we anxiously await the start of the upcoming UH football season, let us review our favorite cheer, one that has inspired and motivated teams of past. Namely, it's when one side of the stadium cheers "Rain!" and the opposite side of the stadium responds with "Bows!"

Voice how you feel by cheering!

Chet Tuley
Ewa Beach

Nickname change should be put on ballot

I recently opened the newspaper and, to my surprise, found out that the team I loved and supported is now known as the Warriors. As the change happened without public input, this is an affront to the fans. The University of Hawaii is owned by the people who support the sports teams, so the fans should have a voice in the choice of a team name.

I realize that a highly popular coach had a lot to do with the change, but I have been a Rainbow fan through good times and bad. There is nothing wrong with the chant, "Rain-Bows! Rain-Bows!" yet the benevolent dictators of public policy now expect me to yell, "War-Riors! War-Riors!" I won't do it.

I'm all for starting a campaign to put this question on the ballot, because I already know the sentiment of most UH football fans.

Jim Delmonte

New UH logo has sleazy Japanese translation

Promoters of the UH's logo looniness based on guilt by irrelevant association might bear in mind that the game can be played both ways.

Long-term residents of Japan like myself can only chuckle at the sight of that fat, squat new "H." In Japan, the English capital letter "H" (pronounced "ei-chi") is shorthand slang for "lecher," deriving from the clinical expression "hentai seiyoku."

Dictionary-defined as "sexual perversion," this term is written with four Chinese characters meaning, literally, "abnormal sexual appetite." This comes closer to the slang sense of "H," usually modified as "iya na eichi," referring to "a nasty H."

Popular connotations include oversexed skirt-chasers, peeping Toms and the furtive types who grope women on crowded commuter trains. Great team name, huh?

Ivan P. Hall

It's the athletic director who must go, not 'Bows

I suggest that the only change required at the University of Hawaii is the replacement of Hugh Yoshida. The athletic director's tenure is a continuing disappointment.

Wayson Loo

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