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Pardon has done damage to society

Your Aug. 17 editorial with its misguided support for Governor Cayetano's pardon of Tom Foley is way off base. You obviously subscribe to the idea that incarceration's only function is rehabilitation, and that expressions of remorse carry significant weight in determining whether an inmate should be released.

Were this to be true, all murderers would have to do is become model prisoners and say how sorry they were, and society would have the obligation to let them go.

But another societal interest has been ignored by Cayetano's end run: punishment for a crime. The people benefit when an appropriate punishment is levied against those who injure society. Then others who might consider doing the same crime are hopefully deterred by the realization that a certain punishment awaits them.

Naturally this system is not perfect, but it is a goal to be sought.

The opinion of the victim's family members (apparently heavily remunerated by Foley) should also not outweigh society's interest in punishing violators. In this case, Cayetano has hurt the justice system and raised contempt for it. Our safety is not worth this compromise and outrage.

Jeremy Morrow
Aiea

Rodriguez would have made fine politician

Several encounters with Rod Rodriguez when he was a student leader revealed that he showed great promise (Star-Bulletin obituary, Aug. 14). His language, observations, values and correct behavior confirmed to me that, as an educator, he was highly intelligent, sincere and honest.

Therefore, it was a shock to learn that the former executive director of Unity House had committed suicide. His gentle nature perhaps could not stand the vicious charges he deemed were baseless and unfair.

He ran for public office representing Kalihi in the state House, but failed -- perhaps because he was turned off by the demands that a politician must be cunning and manipulative to win. He would have been far above the politicians in his ethnic group.

I wish to pay tribute to the man I knew. Friends, such as Tony Rutledge, should work to clear Rodriguez's name. It is the least they can do for such a fine, decent man.

Jovita Rodas Zimmerman

Quotables "I broke my nose five times between February and April of this year." Maureen O'Toole FORMER UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII WATER POLO STANDOUT Who, at age 39, came out of retirement to become the oldest and most respected member of the first U.S. women's Olympic water polo team "In the end, I'm accountable for the good and bad things...The one big disappointment is the inability to increase shareholder value." Lawrence M. Johnson CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF PACIFIC CENTURY FINANCIAL CORP., PARENT COMPANY OF BANK OF HAWAII Announcing his retirement at age 59 after 42 years with the state's largest bank

Hanauma Bay cashier displayed rudeness

I am an expatriate who now lives in New Jersey, but I was born and raised in Kahuku. Recently, my family and I returned there to visit my parents.

My son, who loves the ocean, wanted to go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. So we all got up early one morning to make the trek to town so that we could beat the "tourists" and get a great spot at the bay.

On finally reaching Hanauma, I was dumfounded when the person collecting the admission fee started reading my parents the riot act for trying to get my family in as locals. I understand that Hawaii depends on tourist dollars and that the price of admission pays for upkeep of the bay. But that third-degree questioning went way overboard.

Because of the worker, our day was ruined. I know I don't pay taxes in Hawaii and that I shouldn't have the privilege of getting in free, but I was raised with the belief that ohana was worth more than anything in this world. And ohana to me is being proud that Hawaii will never leave me, and that I still will be welcomed back as a kamaaina, not a tourist.

Doug Lagua

Dems are hypocritical in support of Lieberman

It is refreshing to see -- with the selection of Joe Lieberman as Al Gore's vice presidential running mate -- the Democrats' newly discovered tolerance toward candidates of a conservative minority religion. The only question is whether this will spill over locally if Mike Gabbard ever decides to run for office.

I am ready to wager that the very people who have tried to undermine Gabbard's credibility and popularity by pointing out his unorthodox conservative spiritual path are the same ones who are going to be voting for the Gore-Lieberman ticket, and who are calling for religious tolerance.

I also bet that if Gabbard were to run for office, their true colors would again be revealed.

Keoki Yokoyama

Leak wasn't GOP plot, but judge's gaffe

Your Aug. 19 editorial either indicates that you write your editorials well in advance with no review, or that you have no clue as to what is going on in the world. Either is sad.

For your information and that of your readers, the source of the "leak" concerning the grand jury investigation into Clinton was from a Democrat-appointed judge, who admitted being the source. He apologized to the White House and others in advance of the statements from Clinton and others that it was a Republican plot.

Your efforts at every possible turn to denigrate our government do nothing to help our country. At a minimum, you should publish a full-sized apology.

Colin M. Jones
Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired)

Gas tax is exorbitant compared to 'profit'

I am a frequent visitor to Hawaii and closely follow island politics. Therefore, I find it telling that your state officials consider Shell Oil's 7-cent-per-gallon profit to be "excessive," while siphoning off a state gas tax more than double that amount.

Steve Stephens
West Jefferson, Ohio

Cayetano helps UCLA more than UH

The director of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center reports that Ben Cayetano will have a professorship named for him, because the Hawaii governor has been a "very active supporter" of his alma mater (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 16).

Meanwhile, funding for the University of Hawaii has dropped nearly 20 percent.

The residents of this state would merely like to know why Caye-tano's support for UH has been a lot less than "very active."

David Johnson

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