'New' Hanauma Bay not so bad, after all

A while back, I wrote a letter complaining about the way Hanauma Bay was being run.

Now I must compliment the city on showing itself more "user-friendly," after all.

Opening Hanauma Bay on Saturday evenings is a wonderful thing. It enabled me last Saturday evening to have an unforgettable experience with a rented light, seeing all the red fish and other creatures that come out only at night.

And down that dark crater, without light pollution, the stars are magnificent.

I took another look at the exhibits and found them very good and saw the brief entry movie again a while back. It's not half bad. (Also, I got on the list so I don't have to see it again if I don't want to, but I do recommend it to my visitor friends and watch it with them.)

Also, the attendants were all nice and helpful.

So I take back most of my complaints -- although the beach still needs more shade and lower grass (more trees, I think), and elsewhere where people have to congregate and wait, such as at the bus stop (awnings, I think).

But thank you very much for a fine evening.

Jim Beaman

Give Saddam option of going into exile

Perhaps there is a way to avoid an Iraq war and get a democratic Iraq. Offer Saddam Hussein an option: Let him leave Iraq with his family. He will not be prosecuted; he will be offered asylum -- possible countries are Syria, Jordan or Lebanon. He will not be allowed to re-enter Iraq.

There should be an election, supervised by NATO, to choose an Iraq president. This individual must pledge not to manufacture weapons of mass destruction or resort to terrorism.

Finally, the United States will agree to put up $100 million to assist Iraq's economy.

How Tim Chang

Ashcroft wants to strip away our freedoms

The Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003," drafted by Attorney General John Ashcroft's office, poses far-reaching threats to liberties our country was founded on. It would give the government sweeping new powers to increase domestic intelligence-gathering, surveillance and law enforcement while reducing citizens' rights to judicial review and many types of information.

Highlights of the DSEA include:

>> revoking key elements of the Freedom of Information Act;

>> authorizing secret detention of U.S. citizens in connection with any "terrorist" investigation;

>> stripping individuals of citizenship for participating in or supporting organizations deemed "terrorist";

>> revocation of laws prohibiting police from spying on citizens without substantive evidence of criminal activity.

Ashcroft drafted the DSEA last year and kept it secret, apparently waiting for President Bush's war on Iraq to begin before unveiling this new assault on our constitutional rights. Fortunately it was leaked to the Center for Public Integrity, which published it on the Internet.

If you think this law would affect only terrorists, read it for yourself, consider the tremendous potential for abuse and voice your opposition to this un-American attack on our freedoms. Recall the words of James Madison: "If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."

Noreen Parks
Keaau, Hawaii

Brunch, Sunset events are great showcases

We are snowbirds, residents of the Royal Grove Hotel and the recipients of the wonderfully warm hospitality of Waikiki.

We commend Mayor Harris and his crew for initiating and continuing to implement the Brunch on the Beach and Sunset on the Beach. Where else in the world would you experience blue skies, bright sunshine, sea breezes, palm trees, tropical flowers and the camaraderie of the local people? The mayor has added to this an elegant brunch served by many fine restaurants, and Hawaii's finest entertainers on stage.

The evening production of performers, food outlets and movies brings residents and vacationers out in unprecedented numbers.

We applaud the mayor's ingenuity and dedication to show your city, your culture and your hospitality to the world.

Well done, and mahalo!

Marc and Rhea Poulin
Nelson, British Columbia
Canada

Article about protests showed ignorance

I'm disturbed that the Star-Bulletin would publish the Associated Press article on anti-war protests as a main feature. The article was incredibly ignorant and naive. Not only that, but the article bashed America, which has come assist so many with her wealth. No one's perfect and neither are we, but the article was a disgrace to all Americans.

Even the 500,000 protesters are not half as many of his own people as Saddam Hussein has tortured and killed. The question is not whether Saddam has weapons or whether he's close to a making a nuclear weapon, it's when he'll use them.

Do we not remember that Saddam bombed and pillaged his own neighboring Muslim country? What do you think the man will do if he gets more weapons or a nuclear bomb? Hold onto them? We can't substantiate that he destroyed the weapons that he has. Hello? Is anybody home? The man has broken 17 U.N. directives.

The Associated Press Article was mostly opinion and irresponsible. I am very disappointed.

John Scalera

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