Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Forgiveness is the key in governor's pardon
There seems to be much controversy about the pardon of former attorney Thomas Foley. In my opinion, the pardon is right.Foley has suffered and learned from his tragic mistake, and the victim's family has chosen not to object to the pardon. Nothing will be gained from keeping Foley incarcerated when his knowledge and other characteristics can be better served outside the prison system.
While I have not always agreed with Governor Cayetano, I give him credit for going above any and all objections, as well as having the courage to do what he feels to be right.
While the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization may not agree with what Cayetano has done, the other side of the issue must be seen: forgiveness.
There is far too much hate and lack of forgiveness in today's world. Foley needs to be put back into the community to justify making his pardon work, and he cannot do that behind bars.
Gayle Nakama
Pardon was an act of party arrogance
The arrogance of the Democratic Party has revealed itself with Governor Cayetano's pardon of Thomas Foley. Cayetano doesn't care that Foley killed a man while driving his car at 70 mph or that he had a blood alcohol level three times that allowed by law. Cayetano is only concerned that Foley has admitted his crime and is sorry.Like President Clinton and Sen. Brian Kanno, the Democratic Party believes that if you say you are sorry, then all is forgiven.
For Foley to serve only two years for a manslaughter conviction will lead others to believe that, if you're a friend of the governor, you can literally get away with killing someone. These last two years of Cayetano's lame-duck term truly demonstrate the arrogance of the Democrats.
Fred Gartley
Kaneohe
Quotables
"Anyone who looks objectively at Bush's record in Texas would be horrified. If Hawaii had the same kind of record, I'd be in hiding." Daniel Inouye
DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATOR
On Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush's record as governor of Texas
"Oh, my goodness, my goodness. What a major foul-up." Ray Ancheta
HONOLULU POLICE LIEUTENANT AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE STATE OF HAWAII ORGANIZATION OF POLICE OFFICERS
After the local police union decided to invalidate its endorsement for Honolulu mayor because a large number of ballots weren't collected from members
Ka'u hospital should remain open
I have been an emergency physician on the Big Island for 28 years. I have been on the EMS Commission for more than 20 years, was on the task force to create the Hawaii Health Systems Corp., and on numerous health-planning committees.It has come to my attention that a rumor is being circulated that I want to close Ka'u Hospital. This is not true. If anything, Ka'u Hospital could be expanded to take care of more long-term care patients, have medical holding beds and continue to treat the majority of urgent and emergency patients.
My comments regarding bypassing Ka'u Hospital refer specifically to extremely critical patients with multiple life-threatening injuries. The treatment of such injuries frequently requires the availability of blood and immediate surgery. Rapid transfer of these patients to Kona or Hilo hospital is often life saving and, when possible, should be done by medical helicopter.
I hope that those who hear these comments will consider that my prime consideration is the well-being of our people.
Fred C. Holschuh, M.D.
Emergency Physician Candidate for Mayor
Honokaa, Hawaii
Naysayer was wrong about zoo's condition
On July 29, 9,112 people visited Honolulu Zoo. We received many compliments about the day's events, including commendations on the condition of the grounds.Four others, including Martin Halsey Grubb, found fault with us. His vague comments about "dirty polluted ponds and sickly looking animals" in his Aug. 10 letter to the editor are unfounded. The zoo has a rigorous pool-cleaning schedule, and the health of the animals is constantly monitored.
We welcome constructive comment, but Grubb's allegations differ drastically from views of the great majority of our visitors, and our continuous and meticulous review of the zoo program.
Alvin K. C. Au
Director, Department of Enterprise Services
City & County of Honolulu
Defense attorney did an unpopular job
In response to your Aug. 10 article about Jerel Fonseca, I must write in his defense. My comments are aimed at those in the public giving him a hard time for defending convicted Xerox murderer Byran Uyesugi.I hope and pray that I never need the services of a defense attorney. I would go out of my way, however, to find one like Fonseca. Taking clients who have already been convicted in the court of public opinion must be very difficult.
Such an attorney knows there is a large price to pay, both financially and personally. However, everyone is entitled to the best defense possible, and that includes unpopular defendants.
This is the basis for our system of justice. While the system isn't perfect, it works better than any other system in the world. It worked properly in this case, so I applaud Fonseca.
Of course, I also applaud the members of the prosecution. They did their jobs and justice was obtained. But, for heaven's sake, give people with unpopular jobs a break!
Finally, auwe to the kids who gave Fonseca's children a hard time at school. That is wrong, and his kids should be proud of their father. He is standing up for everyone's rights.
Wayne Huffman
Former Hawaii resident
Herndon, Va.
Uyesugi trial took its toll on attorney
I want to add my thanks for your Aug. 10 article recognizing the efforts of my brother, Jerel Fonseca, and his partner, Rodney Ching, in their defense of Byran Uyesugi.His relatives know the tremendous toll it took on Jerry and his family, and we are very proud of him for his efforts in ensuring that Uyesugi had the judicial representation which was his right.
My brother is indeed an attorney with integrity and compassion.
Melanie Fonseca Kohler
Waikiki bandstand didn't deserve criticism
Your articles about the Kapiolani Bandstand not complying with the Americans With Disabilities (ADA) standards really disturbed me.The new bandstand is gorgeous and I, for one, saw people in wheelchairs enjoying the concert very much on the Fourth of July. What a lovely day it was.
I fully support efforts to make public facilities accessible, but to carp about an unfinished project is unfair. And for your newspaper to highlight the carping undermines good will on both sides.
I must confess that my first reaction upon reading all the criticism was to silently curse the ADA and to think some very politically incorrect thoughts.
Diane Moceri
Candidate is clueless about park expansion
I am baffled by 4th District House candidate Bill Eger's opposition to expanding Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Aug. 2, "Adding ranch to Volcanoes Park land unrealistic, critics say"). Does he know anything about the area he wishes to represent?Expansion of the park would create new job opportunities in a place where job prospects are limited. It would infuse hundreds of thousands of dollars into an economy that could use stimulation. It would protect sensitive native ecosystems.
Eger's opposition makes as much sense as the radical congressional Republicans who oppose anything the federal government proposes. Eger seems to think that expansion would curtail hunting opportunities, but the area is not open to the general public for hunting at the current time.
This is a good deal with no negatives. Eger should spend more time doing his homework and talking to those of us who live in the area, and less time sending out self-serving press releases.
Rich Warshauer
Volcano
'Bamboo republic' was not intended as racist
Please forgive our mainland cousins --specifically the Wall Street Journal editorial writers -- for using the phrase "bamboo republic" to describe Hawaii in its May 22 editorial.By contrast, we in Hawaii are culturally enlightened because we live among so many Asians.
I'm sure the mainlanders did not know or intend it to be a racist remark. What they should have done is refer to the leaders of this state as "the arrogant, collusive, self-serving few in government who are constantly supported by the stupid, fearful, easily-fooled masses."
There, that's much better. Now let's stop focusing on the ridiculous in order to deny the obvious.
Richard Elstner
Education is Cayetano's No. 1 priority
Beverly Kai's Aug. 14 letter correctly notes that it takes time for major shifts in policy to bear fruit. Her assertion that education is not being made a priority in this administration, however, couldn't be further from the truth.From dealing with insufficient classroom space to building a long-neglected system for Hawaii's special-needs children, the state has done more for education over the past six years than in any period in history.
Even in a tough economy, we've built more new schools than ever -- 13 to be exact -- and cut in half the amount of time it takes to build one.
Hawaii was one of the first two states to develop an electronic school -- called "E-School." Now we consistently rank among the top three states overall for integrating technology into the schools.
The Department of Education has been given 2,000 additional full-time positions -- or more than the entire population of the town of Kaaawa.
Six years ago, Hawaii had the shortest school year in the country. Extended by seven days, we now rank in the upper half.
As Kai points out, it may well be on the next administration's watch that these achievements bear much of their fruit. Citizens should be assured, however, that the Cayetano administration has made education its top priority.
Jackie Kido
Director of Communications
Office of the Governor
Sovereignty supporters should boycott their foes
The Aug. 4 letter by Tony Castanha, "More than Hawaiians support sovereignty," caught my eye. My reaction? The descendants of missionaries intend to hold onto their ill-gotten gains and dominance of commerce in Hawaii.No meetings and jawbonings are going to change this. I suppose they will have their reckoning with their maker in the next life for their sustained efforts to suppress the drive of Hawaiians to manage their own destiny.
Meanwhile, what can Hawaiians and their supporters do? I suggest that they learn from the efforts of Black America. African Americans have made phenomenal strides in overcoming and advancing their cause in the past 50 years.
Their latest achievement brought down the symbol of segregation from fluttering over the capitol building of South Carolina, and is noteworthy in its simplicity and effectiveness. They boycotted the commerce of that entire state.
The likes of Ka La Ho'iho'i Ea could do the same in Hawaii. Initiate a grass-roots effort to boycott the commerce and business interests owned and managed by known obstructers and detractors of Hawaiian sovereignty. I suspect its members will be pleasantly surprised by the extent of support that's out there from other races.
Larry Hayashida
Wahiawa
Paradise Ride drew people with aloha
Thank you for your Aug. 14 article on the third annual Paradise Ride. I was lucky to be in Hanalei when the riders came in, and got to talk with some of them.Their spirit was so wonderful. They had come from everywhere to help raise money for the agencies in Hawaii that help people with HIV and AIDS, and to raise awareness.
The volunteers were so gracious. The food and drink were all prepared and donated by loving people. There was so much aloha!
Charles Martinet
Mill Valley, Calif.
Write a Want to write a letter to the editor? Let all Star-Bulletin readers know what you think. Please keep your letter to about 200 words. You can send it by e-mail to letters@starbulletin.com or you can fill in the online form for a faster response. Or print it and mail it to: Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802. Or fax it to: 523-8509. Always be sure to include your daytime phone number.
Letter to the Editor