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Don't defy Hawaiian gods with tours
Tours of Mauna Kea, home of the ice goddess, Poli'ahu (Star-Bulletin, Dec. 16)? Are you asking for another disaster like Sacred Falls?Perhaps tour operators should be held liable for any accidents or fatalities associated with these activities. The facts remain: an upset in the balance of nature conjures up disasters.
Not everyone knows or understands Hawaii's mana (spiritual powers) over the land but it is there. And the purpose behind putting more people on this summit is money. Do the math.
Doreen Kapea
Lemoore, Calif.
High-tech company snubs the public
All of us in West Hawaii need to be concerned about the proposed field experiment for CO2 Ocean Sequestration by the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research (PICHTR).As early as Oct. 29, I sent emails to PICHTR requesting information related to its experiment. No reply. Ignoring the community is a serious concern.
Dr. Rudolf Vracko, a retired scientist who lives in Kona, is opposed to the CO2 Ocean Sequestration on scientific grounds. He told me that he wanted an opportunity to express his views at the PICHTR presentation to a group of kupuna at the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel on Dec. 7. He was advised that it was a closed meeting and he could not speak.
Why does PICHTR believe it has the right to censor voices? Furthermore, when Vracko asked the agency to inform him of any future meetings dealing with the CO2 issue, he was advised that wasn't possible.
These obvious efforts to muzzle him and others are inappropriate. It shows that PICHTR has no interest in our views or input. Are they trying to conceal something?
Wake up, Kona, before our precious ocean is further diminished by those who don't want to hear us, are insensitive to our culture and are unconcerned with our livelihoods. We can't allow PICHTR to gamble with our resources.
Gwen Ilaban
Kailua-Kona
Quotables
"Let's fill it with love rather than stress." Kevin Kuniyuki
GREGARIOUS 45-YEAR-OLD SHIN BUDDHIST MINISTER WHO INTRODUCED ENGLISH-SPEAKING SERVICES AT HAMAKUA COAST HONGWANJI TEMPLES ON THE BIG ISLAND
On his hopes for the Christmas season
"Probably the only good thing about this is we got to open our Christmas presents early." Violet Dittrich
13-YEAR-OLD EWA BEACH RESIDENT
After her family's home and most of its contents were destroyed in a fire, probably set by an aromatherapy candle left unattended in her mother's bedroom. The Honolulu Fire Department reported that this was the ninth candle-related house blaze on the island this year.
Teacher's complaint spoils Christmas show
I am a 72-year-old Hawaiian elder who has worked in the public school system in Hawaii for 11 years. I currently work in the Hawaiian studies program as a kupuna at Keaukaha Elementary. This school, in the Hilo area, has a strong reputation of having both true aloha and tolerance.Yet, in preparation for our annual Christmas program, I was informed by my administrator that a teacher felt her rights were being infringed upon because the students would be performing "Silent Night" in three languages: Hawaiian, English and Japanese. Because of the complaint of one teacher, "Silent Night" was taken out of our Christmas program.
Another song, "Christmas in Hawaii" was also cancelled at the last minute. This was a song that students had prepared for during the previous three and a half weeks. A special needs teacher worked with regular education instructors to teach students how to perform the number in sign language as a move to celebrate the integration of people with special needs. Again, they were unable to perform their number because of the civil rights of a single teacher.
I am left asking myself the following questions: What about the civil rights of the children in our school and of everyone else notwithstanding that of a single teacher? Who is advocating for our rights?
Once again, the Keaukaha community, which is predominately Hawaiian, is being oppressed by the very laws that were supported to protect our status as a minority in our own homeland.
Katherine Kekoolani Dambley
Best pick for UH baseball coach is easy
I am scared to death that the hiring of a new University of Hawaii baseball coach is all politics. I'm afraid that someone from a Division II school will be hired because he's a friend of former Coach Les Murakami or Athletic Director Hugh Yoshida.Why not hire the best qualified person who is head and shoulders above everyone else? He is the best in recruiting, has many years of major league playing time and managing experience, and is also a local boy.
You know his name: Lenn Sakata. Why don't the powers-that-be at UH do what is best for Hawaii baseball for a change, and not resort to a personal friendship like was the case with former UH football Coach Fred vonAppen and Yoshida?
Sakata could give Hawaii the opportunity to be the No. 1 college baseball team in America, so let's seize the moment. If he doesn't have the right degrees for the job, that prerequisite could be changed in one day.
I feel the search has been extended on purpose to keep Sakata out. I also feel there will be repercussions if anyone else is picked.
Mike Morse
Kailua
Hawaii Kai board will pay for ignoring protest
Oahu has enough cemeteries. Cremation is becoming more widely accepted by society. All of our present cemeteries are within an hour's drive from any point of residency. For those unable to visit gravesites, we have TheBus, taxis, neighbors, family, church and local social services.Therefore, a cemetery in a flood zone and which would increase traffic congestion is a serious concern.
Yet the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board voted against the testimonies given by approximately 50 people who oppose a cemetery for Kamilonui Valley in Hawaii Kai. More than 100 people were present at the Nov. 28 meeting.
This board can be replaced and it will happen, if its members continue to defy and ignore the voices of Hawaii Kai residents.
People do care. And we are not going to let this slip by. We are forming committees and will show up with petitions and warm bodies.
Anyone interested and concerned about this issue, please call and write City Council members, the mayor and other local representatives.
Marguerite Griffiths
Definition of ceded lands is needed
Anyone with rudimentary knowledge of Hawaii's so-called ceded lands knows they are comprised of two distinct land packages: crown lands and government lands.The crown lands are inalienable; reserved for the heirs, successors of the Kamehameha Dynasty; and can be leased for a term not to exceed 30 years.
Government lands are to be utilized for government operations, thus their name.
Can we start with some historical, legal accuracy on this?
Michael G. Sheehan
OHA Special
Rice vs. Cayetano arguments
Rice vs. Cayetano decision
Holo I Mua: Sovereignty Roundtable
A clarification on 12 days of Christmas
While I've been enjoying your 12 days of Christmas photos appearing on page one, I don't know if it has been pointed out to you that the 12 days doesn't refer to the days leading up to Christmas but the 12 days after.The Magi saw the star on Dec. 25, the night of Jesus' birth, and it took them 12 days to reach Bethlehem, celebrated as Epiphany in many Christian faiths. Nevertheless, keep up the good work. I do so enjoy your newspaper.
D. McRae
Doctors shouldn't dismiss alternative medicine
The Maui man who died trying to cure cancer by ingesting a spin-off of rocket fuel propellant was foolish (Star-Bulletin, Dec. 9). His death shows an opposing mindset as dangerous as his: The assertion of conventional doctors that "dangerous claims" are "characteristic of alternative medicine," according to Dr. Naoky Tsai of St. Francis Medical Center.As a natural health advocate, I would sooner jump over the Pali than ingest rocket fuel. My supplements are concentrated plants and herbs. I take them, on the advice of my naturopathic doctor, to strengthen my immune system and ward off the cancer cells that threatened my life four years ago. A recent fitness-age contest at The Gym showed that, after 59 years, my fitness age is 21.
Just this morning, a friend described how conventional doctors improperly treated his broken collarbone and wrist. After eight weeks of constant pain, an osteopath/Hawaiian healer set his bones right in 20 minutes. He's fine now.
That, not rocket fuel, is alternative medicine.
Howard C. Wiig
Pain management requires more attention
The facts regarding Dr. Jack Kevorkian's assistance of patient suicide underscores the largely ignored problem of lack of appropriate pain management in this country.It is non-terminal, chronic pain that is the leading cause for physician-assisted suicide. With only six of 75 patients "helped" by Kevorkian found to have a terminal illness (Star-Bulletin, Dec. 6), the majority of the remaining 69 most likely suffered from chronic pain.
By definition, this is any pain that lasts longer than 6-8 weeks, which no longer serves the biological purpose of making one aware that something is wrong and needs attention.
Fifty million Americans live with some type and form of chronic pain. Pain caused by scar tissue from past surgery is a common example. Such pain can be as intense as terminal pain for some.
Yet, for as long as the health-care community remains unaware of the facts, many will continue to suffer.
If the U.S. Senate passes the Pain Relief Promotion Act in the coming days, and if signed into law, some of the 4,500 physicians who do have the necessary training to treat chronic pain will very likely choose to avoid taking on new patients.
With the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Justice Department able to decide who may receive pain medicine and what dosage should be prescribed, why would physicians place their livelihoods in jeopardy?
David Lamborne
Clinton's transgressions lost Gore the election
I believe that Vice President Gore made the wrong choices last year. Had Gore called for President Clinton's resignation, or resigned himself when Clinton was impeached, Gore would have still won the Democratic Party's nomination and won by a landslide in November. He would be the president-elect today.Instead, George Bush is president-elect because anti-Clinton voters either didn't vote or voted Republican. They did not have a choice on Nov. 7. My personal preference was for a Bradley-McCain run-off.
Clinton suggested that Congress apologize for the impeachment proceedings; he even hinted about a pardon. Clinton sees nothing wrong with our president bending some rules.
Millions of life-long Democrats like me were disappointed in Al Gore last year so we were afraid to vote for him this year. Now we will support a commander-in-chief who will not violate our trust.
A. Kakazu
Mililani
Elections energized Hawaii Democrats
Despite appeals from both presidential candidates to set contention aside in a national effort at unity, recent letters to the editor seem to relish the idea of continuing a campaign of accusations, divisiveness and even anger over Al Gore's popular vote win.Even though the vice president graciously conceded the Electoral College victory, there are those who insist that the Democrats tried to steal the election, create a constitutional crisis and even disenfranchise the military of their votes.
Perpetuating and even wallowing in these falsehoods will lead the Republican Party nowhere.
I have talked to many Democrats, and they are energized and charged up by this election. The popular vote victory in Hawaii and nationwide has given many of my fellow members a timely kick in the pants.
Yes, we lost some seats in the state House, but that was due to campaign miscalculations and not to a loss of heart or fundamental values among voters. Anyone who thinks Hawaii's Democratic legacy is infirm and not future-oriented has a surprise coming.
The shocks of the national election and pain of local stumbling will completely snuff out the notion of a 2002 Republican stroll in the park.
Walter M. Heen
State Chairman
Democratic Party of Hawaii
Democrats haven't kept their promises
Recent articles and pronouncements by House Speaker Calvin Say and Gov. Ben Cayetano point out dramatically the philosophy of the Hawaii Democratic Party.While Say is energetically trying to find revenue for a new and extraordinarily expensive program for long-term care insurance, Cayetano is equally active in coming up with ways to spend money we also don't have.
Cayetano already bought the Hemmeter Building to house our state workers and artwork owned by the Foundation on Culture and the Arts. By the way, has anyone ever seen this collection?
He also wants to build a $70-million aquarium that he is sure will bring in the tourists by the planeload (so why doesn't the private sector build it?). And he wants to build a new golf course on Sand Island for $30 million when a perfectly good one is already in place at the Ala Wai.
Meanwhile, Say needs $400 million for his new program to ensure that the elderly are properly cared for by the year 2020. To show how simple it is to raise that kind of money, Say wrote in a Dec. 16 Other Views column, "If we allow four gaming licenses at $100 million each, that will provide the initial money."
What seems to have escaped both their grasps is that they made promises about a good public education system long before they envisioned aquariums, golf courses, splendid state worker buildings and long-term insurance.
Instead of coming up with new promises, why don't our Democratic-led Legislature and governor fulfill the promises they've already made and haven't kept?
Fred Gartley
Kaneohe
Buying Hemmeter Building was waste of money
I don't fully understand your Dec. 19 editorial in support of the purchase of the Hemmeter Building to be used as office space for state workers and eventually as a showcase for state artwork. Both uses are not worthwhile.Existing state workers who would be displaced by a sale of the Hemmeter Building to a private enterprise could easily have been squeezed into existing state-owned space. Or maybe unnecessary positions could have been eliminated.
As for the need to house state art, why is government in the art business in the first place? If there is so much art that an entire building must be purchased to showcase it, why isn't it sold rather than warehoused?
The 1 percent on state construction dedicated to buy art for Hawaii is sometimes more than $10 million worth in a single year. Do we need this much art? Instead, why not dedicate 1 percent of state construction to scholarships for needy students? They would be able to find good-paying jobs and return the money by paying taxes.
Idle artwork is a luxury only a rich society could afford. Last time I looked, that wasn't Hawaii.
Joan Gumm
Ewa Beach
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Letter to the Editor