Lingle had conflict with political forum

For Ed Case to complain about Linda Lingle dodging a debate (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 17) is unfounded. Lingle was in Haleiwa visiting the voters of the North Shore at the same time as a forum where Case said she should have been.

I haven't made my mind up yet whom I want to vote for, but with an attitude like his, Ed Case won't be getting my vote. Case must think that everyone must plan their events around his.

Case is at the bottom in the polls. Why would a another candidate want to go hang out with someone at the bottom? Debates between candidates from the different parties should wait until after the primary election.

The people of the North Shore also would like to meet the other candidates.

Mark Trexler
Waialua

'Hawaiian' refers to ancestry, not race

This is in response to John W. Goemans' letter to the editor (Star-Bulletin, July 31) asserting that Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy discriminates based on race. Race is defined as "a division of mankind possessing traits that are transmissible by descent and sufficient to characterize it as a distinct human type." To the best of my knowledge the known races of mankind are Caucasian, Negroid and Mongoloid. Kamehameha Schools does not perform admissions based on appearance, but on someone being descended from a citizen of the Hawaiian kingdom.

Take a look at the schools' photo album and you will see any number of physical characteristics represented. These are descendants of a kingdom that the United States overthrew and repressed. If the admissions were based solely on race, then all Polynesians would be considered for admittance. You would see Samoans, Tongans, Fijians and Malaysians. But you don't; you just see descendants of the citizens of the kingdom of Hawaii.

To argue that Hawaiians are a race is like stating that as a citizen of the United States, my race is American. It's not, it's Caucasian. Being born in Hawaii in no way makes you Hawaiian. Calling yourself Hawaiian is like calling yourself Californian, it's more an indication of what state you are from and not an indication of your race or ancestry, unless of course you happen to be descended from Hawaiians of old.

Timothy Fredricksen

Democrats support anti-Hawaiian bill

I recently read about the forum involving several Democratic gubernatorial candidates, each of whom said they will do what they can to pass the Akaka bill (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 14). Did anyone bother to talk to Dr. J. Kehaulani Kauanui or other Hawaiian scholars regarding the bill? Is everyone blind? Don't they know that passing the Akaka bill is the final blow to Hawaiian independence?

If the bill is passed, then plenary power will fall under the federal government and we Hawaiians will be completely under its whim. Perhaps fooling Hawaiians into believing that the Akaka bill is the only way toward independence was the plan all along. If each candidate is willing to help the bill pass, then should I choose from among the lesser of all evils, or do I just not vote at all?

E ala kakou! Wake up! That includes candidates as well. Get all the facts before rushing into something without understanding the full consequences.

Raphael Kealoha Kaliko

Right-turning cars hazardous to walkers

Freedom to turn right on a red light after stopping may be good for drivers in a hurry, but it's hazardous to pedestrians. Drivers turning right typically look left for a break in traffic so they can go-go-go. If a pedestrian is standing on the curb to the driver's right waiting for the walk signal, the right-turning driver often does not look in the direction of the pedestrian before peeling rubber and rounding the corner.

How many pedestrians have to be mowed down before lawmakers take action? People first. Cars second!

Tom Dolan

Hanauma Bay stars real fish, fake rocks

I've been watching the $13.1 million Hanauma Bay opening on the telly. Over and above the ridiculous nature of this expense plus overruns, one question remains: Was a new herd of colorful fish included in the $13.1 million or are we relegated to watching the same tired old free fish? For $13.1 million, we should be offered a Cirque de Poisson with a few flaming hoops for them to leap through.

I am especially fond of the fake rocks. If people want to see real rocks, point them in the general direction of, how you say, mauka.

The best part of the plan was not funded. A mountaintop restaurant was the most original idea to come out of the mayor's office in years. Perhaps he should have condemned the land.

Arnold Van Fossen

Hassles at airports keep travelers home

I fully agree with Rowland Nethaway's Aug. 8 column about the scariness of checking in at the airport. Thousands of Americans are being relentlessly searched at airport check-ins. This reminds me of the jitters during World War II when Americans of Japanese ancestry were rounded up and sent to internment camps.

Today we have a different type of war. Unlike World War II, when we could concentrate on the nation as a whole, today's war is concentrated in the Middle East and against an enemy that is scattered all over the globe. Although America has contained most of the militant Islamics from infiltrating our borders, American travelers are still being subjected to ridiculous searches. These are the wartime jitters of today.

Until this security check-in cools down, we are omitting our air traveling rather than going through all that hassle. Pity the airlines for losing billions. These security checks are partly to blame.

Robert Kam

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