Voters should pick person, not the party

Having read your articles on the withdrawal of Mayor Jeremy Harris from the governor's race, more than ever I felt the political bondage that politicians have in the state of Hawaii. Not once did I read about who is the best candidate for the people of Hawaii.

Instead, I read about how Democrats are scrambling to keep the Republicans from entering office, and how the Republicans are going to use their best shot, Linda Lingle, to capture the governorship.

No one is saying, "Who is best for the people of Hawaii, regardless of whether he or she is a Republican, Democrat or independent?"

The main issue is that Democrats simply want another Democrat and Republicans want to put in one of theirs. Well, I think the people of Hawaii are smarter than this. They will choose the man or woman with the best ideas. They will choose a man or woman who will walk the talk.

Hawaii doesn't need to play the label game. Hawaii needs a man or woman of substance -- moral, political and philosophical. One who will constantly say to himself: "What is best for the people of Hawaii?"

Rich Wilbur

Case has the record to be a great governor

With Mayor Jeremy Harris out of the gubernatorial race there is only one candidate who is truly qualified to be Hawaii's next governor and his name is Ed Case.

Every Democrat, Republican and independent in Hawaii should take a close look at his record and his qualifications to lead our state. Don't believe it? Check out his Web site -- www.edcase.com -- and find out for yourself.

Tim Slear

Forbes seems to have hang-up about Hawaii

What is it about Hawaii that compels the usually staid Forbes magazine to focus an inordinate amount of attention on economically inconsequential Hawaii? What is it about Hawaii that gets Steve Forbes so riled that he sees red, or at least "the Peoples Republic of Hawaii?"

Is he truly concerned about Hawaii's well-being or is Hawaii's liberal political posture such a thorn in his side that he can exorcise it only by publishing passionate prose of contempt, derision and disparagement against the "semisocialist welfare state"?

Hawaii must be doing something right to attract so much attention and vitriol and still survive. However, the damaging remarks have somewhat weakened Hawaii's traditional commitment to the welfare of the public in general with health care, social justice and social security for all.

Richard Will

Habitat editorial gave reasoned response

I agree 100 percent with the Star-Bulletin's May 31 editorial "Habitat plans don't warrant dire concern." Thanks so much for publishing a factual concise informative editorial on the topic, especially after so much misinformation has been published.

What everyone seems to be forgetting is that we need to protect and designate land for threatened and endangered species to recover, not to exist on the verge of extinction in what few areas are left after development, agriculture and wild invasive species have claimed the rest.

Thanks again!

Naomi Arcand

Our lives will improve if development stops

In the Star-Bulletin's May 31 editorial "Habitat plans don't warrant dire concerns," you write that of the proposed new critical habitat "... much lies in areas not suitable for development."

Are you suggesting that if we of the opposable thumb crowd can't use something then it is OK to let the critters have it?

And who says that the habitat can't be developed? Dozers, dynamite and desire can develop any piece of land.

Isn't it possible that we have consumed enough of the land? Have we fully used the land that we've seized from our earthly cohabitants? Or have we recklessly paved over, poisoned and plundered much of our territory?

Now is the time to green-belt the land we have squandered. Our quality of life will improve if we don't develop one more single acre. That new development will require new roads, sewers, power lines, cars, pollution, lost time.

The gist of the editorial is correct but the argument to save the habitat is much stronger.

Dennis K. Biby

Ivy won victory for common sense

Regarding the story, "Maui grad caught with her pants on/Ivy Kaanana picks up her diploma wearing the garb that required a constitutional fight" Star-Bulletin, June 1:

Congratulations, and a big mahalo, to Ivy Kaanana for having the courage to challenge what I consider an out-dated and unreasonable graduation requirement (that female students be required to wear a dress under their graduation gown). It's really too bad such a simple and reasonable request had to turn into such a painful struggle for Ivy and her family.

I can well remember similar frustrations back when Kahului Elementary required all females to wear dresses or skirts to school. It took years of argument before we girls were permitted the freedom and comfort of pants. That particular dress code didn't even make sense, considering that skirts often fail to preserve modesty. ("I see London, I see France...")

Be it Afghanistan, or Hawaii, we need to say goodbye to the notion that all women must wear someone else's idea of proper clothing, "just because."

Lucy Martin
Baldwin High School class of '77
Kars, Ontario, Canada

Kaanana needs lesson in community spirit

Do Ivy Kaanana and her family think that they exist in a vacuum; that they can decide to do whatever they wish without regard to the effects on those around them?

If we follow the reasoning applied to this situation by Kaanana and the ACLU, then why should any part of the graduation dress code be followed? What if a male graduate decides that he should not have to wear a tie because he's never worn one (entirely possible in Hawaii) or that a gown is too girlish?

Ultimately, students would be allowed to dress in whatever manner they please while participating in their graduation exercises. Of course, at that point graduation ceremonies would no longer be special occasions and could be cancelled entirely.

I was taught that giving in is not the same thing as giving up; that making small sacrifices for the good of the group is not necessarily bad; that there is often more honor in doing what is best for all than there is in "winning" and forcing your opinions and ideals on the rest.

It is not about conforming. It is not about standing up for your rights. It is about being part of society, where you can't always have your way. I guess I was brought up differently.

Ross Hironaka
Waipahu

Statue resembles the wrong race

Those who objected to the statue of a bare-breasted mother unveiled at Campbell High School were objecting for the wrong reason (Star-Bulletin, May 31). They should have complained that the statue -- which is intended to represent a Hawaiian -- looks more like an Asian than a Polynesian woman.

Women in ancient Hawaii did go bare-breasted, but they did not look like Asians. The Star-Bulletin's photo reminded me of drawings and paintings of early Hawaiians done by French artists in which the Hawaiians all looked French.

Keith Haugen

HMSA's practices make costs rise

On May 2, I received a letter from HMSA stating that the premium for my Medicare Gap insurance would rise from $98.25 to $138.50 per month. The premium already had been raised from in October 2001.

The letter stated that the increase was due to higher than expected use of medical services by members in this plan.

Imagine my surprise when two hours later, I opened the Star-Bulletin and read the headline "HMSA profit skyrockets."

It was reported that the insurer had $19.1 million net income for 2001 on it's health insurance business, soaring 318 percent from the previous year's $4.6 million.

Sometime later, I called HMSA after getting an itemized hospital bill with an extra $1,000 in erroneous charges. They told me, "That bill is already paid and they gave us a good price, so don't worry about it."

If this is a good way to do business -- just raise the prices to the insured and pay whatever is billed without a thought -- then no wonder the price of health insurance is going up.

I really wonder how these folks can look their neighbors and friends in the eye and speak to them. Even more astounding is how they look at themselves in a mirror in the morning.

Mary A. Fouste
Makakilo

---

How to write us The Star-Bulletin welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point (150 to 200 words). The Star-Bulletin reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed and include a daytime telephone number. Letter form: Online form, click here E-mail: letters@starbulletin.com Fax: (808) 529-4750 Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210, Honolulu, HI 96813