Mahalo for building the skate board parks

I'm waiting patiently for Kaneohe's skateboard park to be finished so my sons don't have to travel out of our district. I'm also thankful that some parks have been built and the skateboarders are no longer jumping off the sidewalks and into the streets.

Parents should be responsible for their kids not skateboarding after hours ("Late skaters a pain for Kailua residents," Star-Bulletin, Aug. 19). I'll make sure my sons obey the park hours to show their appreciation of finally having a skateboard park in Kaneohe.

Also, mahalo to the Kaneohe police officers who have been so patient with the skateboarders. The park is almost ready.

Claire Brunn
Kaneohe

'End time' believers ignore Bible teachings

I was disheartened to read "Signs of the end" (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 24), not for its Biblical conclusions but rather for the sanctimonious attitude displayed by preacher David Hocking.

Why do those who claim to place such extreme belief in the Bible often choose to ignore its teachings? Matthew 5:43 tells us to love our enemies and pray for them. But rather than try to reach an understanding with those who think or worship differently, Hocking would prefer to drive the wedge even further by creating an atmosphere of fear, intolerance and hate.

Substitute "Christianity" for "Islam" in Hocking's proclamation and one can easily envision Osama Bin Laden using the same diatribe to rally his operatives as they hijacked the planes last September.

Regardless of what Hocking says about the end of the world, I will still invest in my 401(k), will still attend and participate in interfaith events and continue my efforts to build a bridge of tolerance and understanding over his valley of exclusivity and ignorance.

Roland Halpern
Social Justice Council First Unitarian Church of Honolulu

Islanders show aloha by clearing trash

We have visited Hawaii every winter since 1992, and it is wonderful to see that people are cleaning up ("Off-roaders clear Kaena Point trash," Star-Bulletin, Aug. 18). I love Hawaii and feel very sad when I see abandoned cars and other trash on this beautiful island. I was born on the smallest island in Canada so I appreciate island life.

Heather Stewart
Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Maui excels in field maintenance

I recently returned from participating in the 27th Annual State Senior Softball Tournament at the War Memorial Complex and Keopuolani Park in Wailuku, Maui.

Maui did a super job in running the tournament and with the maintenance and preparation of the fields before and after every game. Maui can be proud of all the departments that hosted this year's event; the Department of Parks and Recreation, Kaunoa Senior Services and the Department of Housing and Human Concerns. Mahalo for a job well done.

Their fields are the best; it's clear their personnel take care of the fields year round. They have the ability to show Oahu's parks and recreation people how a field should be maintained. Our fields on Oahu are in bad shape, and it is very hazardous to play on some of them.

Les Lunasco
Waialua

Mainland ohana loved cheering on Waipio

My ohana and I drove up to Williamsport, Pa., from Maryland to cheer on the Waipio team in the Little League World Series ("Waipio wins in 3-2 thriller," Star-Bulletin, Aug. 16). It was awesome from a fan's standpoint. We sat right behind the parents of the Waipio players, and it was a terrific experience that my ohana and I will never forget.

The Little League World Series is an experience that a child will never forget, and to have been there to support the Hawaii team was wonderful. Congratulations, Waipio!

Nani Lowery
Montgomery Village, Md.

Internet radio brings isles to the homesick

I'm writing on behalf of the thousands of Hawaiians and Hawaiians-at-heart who are living on the mainland or in a foreign country, and for local boys and girls who are serving our nation in some strange land (I was once one of them.). Internet Radio Hawaii is a means of connecting with home and the remedy for homesickness.

The Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts and local artists should know that we need Internet radio, specifically Internet Radio Hawaii. From the days of "Hawaii Calls," we have been tuning in to reach back to the islands of Hawaii, to be close to something Hawaiian.

While our leaders work out all the kinks with the Internet Radio Fairness Act (HR5285), let's ask our artists to give their permission to play their music in return for free Internet stream time, the promotional value and CD sales generated by Internet radio listeners.

Remember the times waiting by the radio, waiting for your favorite program to air, then think of the young man or young woman on the other side of the world, maybe in some hostile area, just waiting to hear their favorite Hawaiian melody take them away for just a moment to their beloved Hawaii.

Mark S. Campos

What whine goes well with smoking?

Like clockwork, a smoker exhales stinky fumes our way again in the media ("Smokers must keep what little dignity they still have," Gathering Place, Star-Bulletin, Aug, 11). Let's take a look at the points in Linda Ginoza's article:

>> "I lost my right to smoke."-- Your right to smoke ends where my right to breathe clean air begins.

>> "I lost my dignity, I am treated like a second-class citizen."-- How dignified is it to suck on an expensive stinkstick of rolled-up, burning, dead leaves; advertised by lying corporations, emitting carcinogens and poisonous fumes; preventing children, pets and other adults from breathing?

The intake of clean air should be the rule, rather than the exception. As it is, I am forced to second-hand smoke eight cigarettes a day and deal with the litter dropped by smokers who don't care one iota about the aina, smoking ban or not.

If smokers want dignity, they should stop whining and start living responsibly and healthfully.

Allen St. James

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