All legislators aren't created equal

I've read with interest the agreement between Senate President Robert Bunda and Speaker of the House Calvin Say regarding the veto power given to conference committee chairmen. I have always been lead to believe that our form of government provides for "one-person, one-vote," and the majority prevails. Apparently Bunda and Say only believe that when it suits their purpose.

This situation reminds me of a line from "Animal Farm," to paraphrase (with my apologies to George Orwell), "All legislators are created equal, but some legislators are more equal than others."

Brendan Char
Fullerton, Calif.

Case serves as legislative watchdog

Mahalo to Rep. Ed Case for bringing to light Bobby Bunda's new rule to give legislative committee chairpersons veto power over any bill coming before their respective committees. What is really surprising is that the House leadership went along with this.

John D. Nielsen
Honolulu

Okata betrays HGEA to save Dems' face

Why did Russell Okata, Hawaii Government Employees Association executive director, agree to reduce leave benefits for new HGEA members in return for a promise from Governor Cayetano not to veto the HGEA arbitration award?

In his April 19 letter to HGEA members, Okata says he did it to "put dollars in your pocket now!" Okata claims that if Cayetano were to veto the HGEA award (which the Legislature has included in its budget over Cayetano's protests), HGEA would have to spend years in court "without any guarantees" of winning.

Yet Okata insists that the award is "final, binding, legal and fair." If so, why is he worried about winning in court?

So why did Russell cave in? Because there are enough votes in the Legislature to override Cayetano's veto. While that would be mildly embarrassing for Ben, he's a lame duck. But for Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono it would be disastrous. Mazie is trying to gather union support for her 2002 gubernatorial bid, and as lieutenant governor she is being tarred with the same brush as Ben due to his opposition to public worker union pay increases.

So Hirono arranged for Ben and Russell to meet and come up with a way that the two could gracefully forestall a veto override so as to avoid major loss of face for the Democrats.

Whose side is Okata on, anyway?

Eric Sadoyama

[QUOTABLES] "They made me feel like everything was OK. There was a certain amount of healing I wanted to do. It was very important to me." Davis Yogi, State's chief labor negotiator during the public school teachers' strike, on the warm greeting he received when he brought his daughter to school Thursday, the first day that classes resumed after the 19-day strike ended this week. "I'm finding out these guys are not bad guys." Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele, Outspoken Hawaiian sovereignty activist, on the group of more establishment-oriented Hawaiians with whom he will make a May 9 presentation at the Asian Development Bank conference at the Hawaii Convention Center.

100th Battalion leader loved Hawaii

Thank you for printing the obituary for my Uncle, Maj. James Lovell, ("Nebraska native became leader of isle nisei troops," Star-Bulletin, April 23). In addition to his many military accomplishments, he was just a very kind, sincere man. Those who knew him were proud to count him as a friend. I was happy to call him Uncle Jim.

He was the second child of an English immigrant father and a Mayflower-descendent mother and ever proud of his Nebraska roots. He graduated from a state college when his own father had left school at age 10 to help support a large family. A kind brother to two sisters and three other brothers, his accomplishments in the military in no way exceeded his love for his family and friends.

When I visited Hawaii in 1988, he very proudly showed me his "Hawaii" -- Punchbowl, Pearl Harbor, the high school where he used to teach, Hickam Field and the hills he defended on Dec. 7, 1941. Hawaii has lost a gentle giant. Farewell Uncle Jim.

Sharon Lovell Gergen
Kansas City, Mo.

HECO uses safe ways to control vegetation

Jim Harwood's April 10 "Gathering Place" commentary on HECO's proposed Kamoku-Pukele transmission line re-introduces misinformation that has been clarified through public meetings.

He inaccurately states that the areas around the pole will be "doused with herbicides down to bare earth."

There will be no increase in the use of herbicides on the ridge. HECO's major method of vegetation management along its powerline corridors is ecological. HECO very selectively applies small amounts of diluted herbicide solutions with hand-held, ground-based equipment directly on the freshly cut stump or foliage of the specific plant that we wish to control. This then encourages low-growing desirable plants and inhibits the invasion of undesirable, alien tree species.

We only apply "general use" herbicides, like you buy at the store and which are environmentally safe when used as directed.

Kevin Eckert
System Forester
Hawaii Electric Co.

Bumatai show is worth repeated viewing

I've heard stories about people who have discovered treasure in a garage. Now I have joined their ranks. Recently, I discovered a Hawaiian treasure at The Arts at Mark's Garage in the form of Ray Bumatai and his friends performing "Tales of Urban Hawaii."

I don't believe that there has ever been a better entertainment, cultural event, living history, soul-stirring potpourri of magical, almost mystical, delights that can best be labeled a Hawaiian treasure. This show should be mandatory for visitors who want a true Hawaiian experience and for every "local" who wants to feel pride in his heritage.

The music and vocals (no "hula girls") are great, but it's the storytelling, dialogues and, especially, the lyrics, that take this event to a new dimension of entertainment. Go prepared to sit quietly, and listen to and absorb the words.

Ray Bumatai and his group have created something very special for locals that should be shared with visitors. I'll go to see them again.

Art Freedman

Drunk driver deserved harsher sentence

So, the death of Melissa Ynfante was as "terrible and heinous as any other homicide," according to Judge Gail Nakatani. Why then, did the judge sentence the hit-and-run drunk driver, Francis Julian, to only one year in jail?

How touching, to hear Julian apologize and say that he is "willing to pay for my mistake." How lucky for him that he is in Judge Nakatani's court room. His own mother wouldn't have given him a lighter sentence.

Judge Nakatani represents everything that is wrong with our criminal justice system and she should be removed from the bench.

Ronald Silva

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