Invest hurricane money in our future

The debate over the use of $213 million in the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund has gone in the wrong direction. The public has insisted that the money be used for its intended purpose or be rebated. The problem with that is that the fund's intended purpose is so narrow that it puts our legislators in a straitjacket and provides them no options, instead of using for the best possible purpose.

How about building a new tourist attraction? How about a huge, 10-year tourism marketing budget? How about improvements to public ele- mentary and high school facilities? The list of possible best uses is bounded only by our imaginations. Let this be a test of our politicians' vision. Let us focus this money on something useful, tangible and lasting.

Martin Lau

Using fund for budget only delays problem

The elected leaders of this beautiful state are dropping the ball again. They will use the Hurricane Relief Fund to partially balance this year's budget, but what happens next year? Isn't it about time they take a hard look at what's causing the shortfall instead of blaming it all on the events that took place on Sept. 11? If the terrorist attacks hadn't happened, they would have come up with some other reason to say they have to underfund education once again.

It's about time they take a hard look at the state government and realize that you can't have one state employee (with free benefits) for every 20 citizens in this state. It's crunch time, and the Legislature had better take some action to reduce the size of state government. I am taking a hard look at the new people running for election this year because I am getting tired of the same old story. Maybe, just maybe, some of the nonvoters will get fed up, too.

Dick Pickering

[Quotables] "It's a really good sport for kids to be involved in. They stay out of trouble, they have to keep their grades up to participate ... We have definitely saved a lot of kids." Edie Van Gieson Paddling enthusiast, on this weekend's state championship -- the first such event for high school students. Four hundred paddlers from 39 schools representing all five high school leagues in Hawaii will compete today and tomorrow at Keehi Lagoon. They will race for the championships in boys, girls and mixed divisions. -- "It's a very peaceful feeling ... You forget bills, the kids; it's just you and the wind and the wing. It's something you miss when you're back on the ground." Doug Hoffman Paragliding instructor, on what it feels like to ride the wind.

Oregon's roads clean, thanks to bottle bill

After moving from beautiful Lanikai to Portland, Oregon last June, I was struck by Portlanders' diligence in recycling their bottles and cans. Then I realized it wasn't diligence -- it was convenience.

The bottle bill makes recycling a breeze; nearly every grocery store and corner market redeems beverage containers or uses reverse vending machines.

Beverage container litter is simply nonexistent. If someone does litter, a prospecting individual picks up the 5 cents the litterbug left behind.

Returning to Oahu in January for a visit, I was reminded of how littered "paradise" is. Cans and remnants of glass bottles dotted the landscape of our favorite spots, from Makapuu to Diamond Head to Sunset Beach. When I rode a bike from Manoa to Waikiki, garbage -- not flowers -- lined my path.

The bottle bill has worked in Oregon for 30 years. When will Hawaii adopt this proven, common-sense approach to recycling and litter reduction?

Deborah Shultz
La Crosse, Wis.

Judging is subjective in many sports

In a recent letter to the editor ("Just accept it -- the Russian skaters won," Feb. 20), the writer reveals her ignorance (or perhaps her prejudice) in stating that figure skating is not a sport. These are top athletes who work at least as hard as any others and far more than most.

Anybody who has skated knows what a high level of skill and athleticism is involved in world-class competition, and the unimaginable pressure that your full year's work will succeed or fail in a four-minute time span creates a stress level that is beyond comprehension for most of us. While it is true that much of the judging is subjective (should we also eliminate gymnastics, diving and synchronized swimming for the same reasons?), there are many components that can be objectively quantified.

For those who know how to watch figure skating, the Canadians' performance was superior, and justice ultimately was served when they received a gold medal. All any athlete wants is a fair chance, which the Canadian pair were not originally given. True, the judging protocol should be reformed, but that is a subject for another letter. For now, let us all enjoy the memories of this great Olympics.

Dick Morris

Treat Coach Jones with patience, aloha

University of Hawaii football coach June Jones needs our aloha and our patience. The news media are presenting an inaccurate picture of greed in his contract negotiations.

My guess would be that Jones was assured, upon being hired, that the athletic program's "powers that be" would improve every aspect of this program, with the focus on football. Have the promises been kept?

I believe the tools promised, which would ensure the success of UH athletics, have fallen by the wayside and this is what Jones' main concerns are. If we are patient, maybe June will receive a deal he can live with, and we won't find ourselves saddled with another huge severance package and the loss of a great person and one fine football scholar.

Roberta F. Arnold

"Carmen" truly is Opera for Everyone

Hawaii Opera Theatre's "Carmen" sold out Wednesday for an Opera for Everyone performance. Almost 2,000 of Hawaii's students and their teachers attended. We can be proud of not only these discerning students, but the local talents of Quinn Kelsey, Mary Chesnut, Eric Haines and Geogine Stark.

Honolulu is fortunate to have these musicians as well as those in the American Choral Director's Western Division Convention Concert. The Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble was followed by the crowd cheering for the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus. The performance ended with the Kamehameha Schools Concert Glee Club.

What a joyous, inspiring evening. Look for future presentations by these groups. You can see "Carmen" today, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Norma B. Nichols

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