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Gill violated union
bylaws, constitution

Several months ago, the newspapers ran articles and editorials regarding internal conflicts at Local 5 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union. They implied that members of its executive board weren't willing to accept Eric Gill as new secretary-treasurer, and that we were trying to block his efforts at management.

This was written even though members of the executive board were not interviewed.

Fortunately, our international union headquarters took a more balanced approach. For the past two months, a special master has investigated the dispute. Recently, his report was issued: It validated our complaints against Gill.

In effect, the report said that Local 5 is not a one-man show. "Ultimate authority of all Local 5 power resides in the membership and, between meetings and conventions, in the executive board," not with the secretary-treasurer, the report read.

This means, except for routine operational decisions, the executive board must be consulted and give its approval. The report also said that Gill:

Did not have authority when he fired the trustees of our labor fund and replaced them with friends.

Was bypassing shop stewards in their dealings with members.

Fired virtually every experienced and valuable business agent and organizer, and in his/her stead made some highly questionable appointments.

Has been the chief contributor to Local 5's continuing state of unrest because of an ongoing vendetta against Tony Rutledge and Unity House.

The bottom line is that there have been serious violations of operational procedures in accordance with local union bylaws and the international union's constitution.

Gill has been ordered to work with the executive board to resolve our differences by the end of January or there could be disciplinary action. One possibility is that Local 5 could fall under the trusteeship of the international union, a step recommended by the executive board last August when it was apparent to us that Gill was overstepping his authority.

Arlene Ilae
Senior Vice President
Member, Executive Board Local 5,
Hotel Employees and Restaurant
Employees Union

Fireworks became too much to bear

The first year I experienced fireworks in Hawaii, it was exciting.

The second year it was dangerous. I had to pull my car over because of all the smoke, and I think my ears were damaged.

By the third year, I knew a kid who lost his eye because of it.

By the fourth year, I was escaping to Tantalus with my art teacher Harry and all the other bookworms.

By the fifth year, Tantalus was closed off.

By the sixth year, I gave up and just got drunk with friends.

Albemoi Faire
Tahachapi, Calif.

Quotables "The way I look at it, I'm the oldest of the class of '67 births in Hawaii." Scott Naganuma MAUI RESIDENT AND THE FIRST BABY BORN IN HAWAII IN 1967 Still reveling in his distinction of being a New Year's baby "They've seen Angela succeed, so now they're seeing they can succeed, too." Billie Takaki MISS HAWAII On how her predecessor, Angela Baraquio, is a role model for local girls after being crowned Miss America last year. She is the first winner of Asian-American descent and one of the Star-Bulletin's 10 Who Made A Difference.

Warrior flag sends wrong signal

Now that the football season is over for the University of Hawaii, I have a comment to make. Each time we score, a cheerleader runs around the field with the big new Warrior logo flag.

That's great, but it bugs me that the new logo is affixed to only one side of the white flag. As he runs around the playing field 50 percent of the spectators see the Warrior logo while the other half of the spectators see a white flag.

As a veteran, the white flag always symbolizes that you are surrendering, and this bothers me tremendously. Can we make a little effort to have the Warrior logo on both sides of the flag?

Two thumbs up for the pre-game drummers.

Ted Miyamoto
Mililani

Tapping community can turn kids around

I am very pleased that a positive change has taken place for Kamehameha Schools. All the people, especially the children, will benefit from this.

Years ago, I wrote to the former trustees, proposing an alternate form of education. I received a placating letter that did not address the issue raised.

My idea was that an aspect of the kupuna system be implemented to reach those children who do not or cannot relate to the standard educational format.

Students who have no interest in their schooling, or are doing poorly, would have the option to pursue a subject of most interested them. This could be implemented by creating a database of retired people from the community who, on a volunteer basis, would make their particular skill, craft, trade or professional knowledge available to the student.

I believe that the single most important aspect of anyone's life is self-respect. If a student is not interested in the educational offerings, does poorly, and views him or herself as a failure, then we all suffer a loss. We are a rich community in all areas of concern. we must share the wealth of experience and knowledge and seek new ways to reach our children.

John A. Sutherland
Makawao, Maui

Trask lost and Rice gained the public trust

Mililani Trask did not falter during the course of her trusteeship with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. It is you, my people who have no trust in her.

Freddy Rice's prejudiced accusation was never defined for its falsification and validity pursuant to the judgment of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Both he and that fancy-foot greedy lawyer concocted the idea that he "was the only Caucasian at a Maui school," and challenged me and my people. His malfunctioning mind just blew it out of proportion. There were lots of Caucasians from Kaunoa who transferred to Baldwin High School at the time of the attack at Pearl Harbor.

Where is the trust in this so-called judicial system?

Ruth Kahaawinui MacDonald
Pearl City

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