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Changing Hawaii
Lots of things make us angry in Hawaii. But only a chosen few inflame the masses sufficiently to lead them to write letters to the editor. In my seven-year tenure at this newspaper, guess what top three local controversies ignited the most public response? Oh, go write
a letter!First, the runners-up. They include the legalization of same-sex marriage, the banning of (cough, cough) fireworks, the brain drain to the mainland and the high cost of living.
In third place, according to Star-Bulletin Web master Blaine Fergerstrom, is the current furor over the "identity change" of the University of Hawaii football team. Ever since the Rainbows became the Warriors this summer, and the rainbow logo was transformed into a macho-looking "H" by a mainland graphic designer, longtime UH fans have been throwing up yellow flags and crying foul. Moral: Don't mess with tradition.
In second place is anything and everything connected with the formerly named Bishop Estate, including our publication of "Broken Trust" in 1997, the Senate's abrupt firing of Attorney General Margery Bronster in 1998 before she finished the state's investigation and prosecution into the trustees' doings, the actual ousting of the five former trustees in 1999, and the search for the entity's new leaders in the 21st century. Moral: Don't mess with the people of Hawaii, especially when they want to see justice prevail.
And now, with much humility and appreciation, let me reveal the happening in Hawaii that caused the most people to voice their concern: the announced closure of the Star-Bulletin. Eleven months ago, when our owners announced their intention to shut us down, boy, did we hear from you. Even though court action has temporarily stopped that from happening, and as a new buyer is being sought, we continue to get appreciative missives (especially about our Web site) lauding our continued publication after 118 years. Moral: Don't mess with this newspaper.
Diane Yukihiro Chang is filling in today
for John Flanagan. Her column
nomally runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
dchang@starbulletin.com, or by fax at 523-7863.