KS head falls short as Hawaiian leader

There was always one thing that set me apart from most of my childhood friends; I went to Kamehameha and they didn't. I have known so many Hawaiian kids in my lifetime who so earnestly wanted to go to Kamehameha and weren't accepted. It stuns me to think that there is not the same kind of craving on Maui.

Every one of my friends who wanted to go to Kamehameha had extreme talents in some aspect of life. The reason that they weren't accepted had nothing to do with their qualifications; rather, it was the huge group of competitive Hawaiian children applying. It pains me to hear that Chief Executive Officer Hamilton McCubbin fails to realize that every and any Hawaiian child is qualified to go to Kamehameha, each with his/her own talents to bring to the campus. Perhaps, instead, it is McCubbin who has fallen short of reaching the qualifications of a true Hawaiian leader who can realize the potential of Hawaiian youth.

Punihei Anthony
Kamehameha Schools
Class of '01
Kaneohe

Some candidates abuse 60-day sign law

Election laws in this state stipulate that no signs shall be displayed until 60 days before an election and no later than 10 days after an election. Yet for the past month, I've seen banners prominently displayed (mostly by Mazie Hirono's campaign) all over town in flagrant violation of this edict. Other candidates seem to be voluntarily complying.

Candidates who have no regard for the law before an election are likely to have no regard for the law after the election. Maybe it is due to sheer ignorance, which is worse. I think voters need to be cognizant of this and take it into consideration when casting their votes.

Pradeepta Chowdhury
Hilo, Hawaii

How about a nice place for residents to relax?

It would be nice if Mayor Harris would put as much aesthetic attention on the residential parks as he does the tourists. We, not the tourists, are his constituents.

True, athletes such as softball players, basketball, volleyball, soccer and tennis players and skateboarders get more and more park space converted to flat, sun-baked athletic fields and paved courts, but that certainly doesn't make our neighborhoods beautiful, cool or shady like I see in other cities.

Is it too much to ask that we share these spaces and coordinate playing time, so the rest of us silent residents can enjoy picnicking with our families or visiting with our friends under some trees?

What this city needs, especially in residential areas, is an upgrade in neighborhood aesthetics. The administration knows full well how important aesthetics is to the tourists. It was very telling when it made the decision to beautify Waikiki and then encourage the residents, who paid for it, to come and enjoy it because there is nothing remotely comparable in our own neighborhoods.

I worry every time I see or hear about more visioning if what they've done to this no-longer-beautiful city is an example of vision.

Carol Ackerman

Share cost of televised UH games with friends

Unless one is really down and out, paying $5 to watch a game on pay-per-view is not a big deal if you're really a University of Hawaii fan ("TV deal hard on neighbor islanders," Star-Bulletin, July 11). Why not have a football party and invite your friends over? You can rotate the games among several friends, share the cost and have a good time. And you'll be helping the university financially.

Jon Rickard
Temecula, Calif.

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