Mayor Mufi will bring back a bowl game

There's no place for our wonderful Warriors to go bowling. Where were our city leaders when the Aloha Bowl was begging to be saved? I have heard that it would have cost a $100,000 to keep the Aloha Bowl here. Even without UH in the game for attendance, the boost in tourism and TV coverage would have been worth it. Instead, the city wasted several million dollars on the Asian Development Bank meeting.

In a recent mayoral forum, Mufi Hannemann promised to bring a college bowl game back to Honolulu. Since he saved the Pro Bowl from leaving Hawaii, I have no doubt that as mayor, Mufi will bring a bowl back. Too bad Mufi isn't the current mayor; the Aloha Bowl would never have left!

Craig Watase

Akaka bill would rob Hawaiians of rights

The Akaka bill sets up a process for a domestic, dependent nation under United States authority. Thus, Hawaiians would then be affected by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Lone Wolf vs. Hitchcock, which states that the federal government can ignore treaties with Indian nations that are not true nation states, have limited powers and are under the ultimate jurisdiction of the government.

Moreover, the dependent-nation process begins with the extinguishment of Hawaiian land title and a reaffirmation that Hawaiians accept as legal what the United States government has done in and to our nation state, the Kingdom of Hawaii.

If Hawaiians uphold our nation-state status, the government, under international law, must uphold its responsibilities and obligation under its treaties with the Kingdom of Hawaii, particularly the treaty of perpetual peace and friendship of 1849.

Thus, the congressional acts -- the Newlands Resolution, the Organic Act and the Statehood Admission Act -- do not void the United States' obligations under its treaties with the Hawaiian Kingdom.

To clear title by the rule of recognition, the federal government must merely persuade Hawaiians to accept a lesser status than true nationhood. If Hawaiians object, the government knows that, as it acquired Hawaii by violating a treaty, the only way to validate ownership of Hawaii is by arbitration or reconciliation or by a plebiscite of native Hawaiian vote.

It is evident that true Hawaiian nationalists abhor the Akaka bill, which accepts the Rice decision and the loss of ceded lands revenues by the nullifying of the Heely decision. Sadly, those who support the Akaka bill are uninformed, misinformed or expect to be well paid.

Lela M. Hubbard

[Quotables] "It is an issue that should be put before the people, because I don't think the Legislature is going to decide it themselves. But I am not holding my breath with any issue regarding gambling." Gov. Ben Cayetano On his suggestion that the state Legislature propose a state constitutional amendment authorizing a single state-licensed casino in Hawaii. "They think, 'I can just take a pill and I won't be pregnant anymore.' Things aren't that simple." Diane Baker Nurse practitioner at Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, on misunderstandings about the abortion pill RU-486. The pill is not as popular here as it is on the mainland.

Inouye tries to slip Akaka bill through

I read where Senator Inouye tried to slide the Akaka bill into the defense appropriations bill for passage, apparently because it won't stand on its own merits. But Inouye got caught doing it by Sen. John McCain.

Your story also said that Inouye accused two Republicans of opposing the Akaka bill but wouldn't give their names. I don't believe him. If there are two Republicans opposing the Akaka bill, then Inouye should give their names. This is just more of the usual Democrat shibai that Hawaii has had for the last 50 years and the people are sick of it.

Don McDiarmid Jr.
Kailua

Who will suffer from DOE budget cuts?

I agree with Victor Chang's Dec. 9 letter that budget cuts will force the Department of Education to focus on essentials. Yet I wonder if the cuts are related to the teacher bonus issue? If so, can a compromise begin now between the DOE and Hawaii State Teachers Association before the political mudslinging starts?

Are they thinking ahead? Can the HSTA convince those with teaching certificates and degrees, but who are not teaching in the classroom, to sacrifice their bonus for necessary educational programs? How many teachers don't teach anyway?

Can the DOE and new super-intendent Pat Hamamoto's administration sacrifice by cutting their own "comfort" expenses for Hawaii's children? Comfort expenses are those perks that Paul LeMahieu got so he could work here.

If the DOE claims it is for Hawaii's children, then why are perks and salary such an issue?

Isn't Hawaii's future more important than perks?

Randy Lumm

Gamblers would like isles more than Vegas

If Hawaii has a gambling casino it will not only boost the economy but really help the tourist industry and keep some of the local people from traveling to Las Vegas all the time. True, people also go to Las Vegas to see the shows, but Hawaii could also pull in the entertainment industry.

Hawaii is certainly a nicer place to visit than the desert. I almost moved there until someone told me that it was a "dust bowl." It's also true that Las Vegas offers dream homes at low cost but Hawaii can do the same once the gambling initiative gets going.

I believe that if the economy of Hawaii improves many people, especially recent college graduates with skills, trades and various degrees, will not venture to the mainland for jobs. I moved from Hawaii to the mainland 49 years ago because there were hardly any jobs in Hawaii.

A. Sonny Palabrica
San Francisco, Calif.

Gambling will change islands; it's inevitable

As a yearly visitor to the islands, my stomach did a little drop when I read "Economy spurs gambling debate," (Star-Bulletin, Dec. 13).

Those who say that gambling won't change the mood of life here are either terribly uninformed or simply greedy. I know several people who live in Las Vegas and they all say the same thing: that there is a seedy feeling that's inescapable even in the new housing communities in the suburbs.

I hope Hawaii leaders find better ways to bring revenue to the islands, but if you must bring gambling in, please let me know first. I don't want to buy an airline ticket and then not make the flight.

Mark Parker
San Diego, Calif.

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