Aloha eases pain of a son's death

Editor's note: Mike Sheldt, an 18-year-old University of Hawaii swimmer from Charlotte, N.C., died March 4 after collapsing in a pool at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatics Complex.

The "aloha spirit" -- four weeks ago I'd never heard the expression; for the rest of my life I will cherish it. We came to Hawaii to bring home our friend, our brother, our boy -- Michael Sheldt, a University of Hawaii swimmer. We came to Hawaii with broken hearts, void of emotion and spirit, yet we left Hawaii overflowing with your aloha spirit.

What an amazing people you are! Be it the simple gestures of total strangers who knew of Michael's death or the printed words of introspection offered by hardened sport's beat reporters -- the ones who figured out Michael was just a kid with a bad heart -- both offered us a renewal of the spirit. We returned from Hawaii with hope in our hearts, so much so that people wonder if we are doing OK. We seem too much at peace.

To those who have voiced their concerns, we have shared that our ohana is so overflowing it's hard to be sad.

Our son Michael loved life; he loved Hawaii; he loved the waves; he loved the people. He wrote of the joy he felt finally being home, of how he'd wake up some mornings and just know he was dreaming.

To all of you who ever encountered a sweet kid with a big grin spread across his face, thank you. Thank you for sharing your home with Michael; thank you for sharing the ride; thank you for giving Michael ohana; thank you for your aloha spirit. Just as it inspired our son's joy of life, so too has the aloha spirit replenished and inspired our own. Aloha.

Shawnee, Mike and Mikaela Sheldt
Charlotte, N.C.

Bill would usurp rights of condo owners

Rep. Cynthia Thielen deserves a big mahalo for her letter on leasehold legislation ("Chairman deceptively changed Senate bill," Star-Bulletin, March 21). Unfortunately, she had to endure 25 minutes of reprimand by Rep. Ezra Kanoho when SB 1468 was heard.

The "sunshine" is quickly disappearing from Hawaii government, with the deceptive practice of pushing bills such as SB 1468 through committee. If passed, this will remove all rights condominium lessees have had for a 12-year period under Honolulu's Chapter 38.

The state resolved this problem with the Land Reform Act for single-family lessees, but didn't have the guts to provide this same protection for multi-family lessees, resulting in the city providing protection under Chapter 38. Now the state is attempting to invalidate this right. There are leases expiring as early as 2005 that will result in displacing lessees from their homes. Who will take responsibility when this occurs?

Let us all call or send messages to all members of the House asking them to vote "no" on Bill 1468, which will allow the existing Honolulu County Ordinance, Chapter 38 to continue providing the ability to lessees to purchase the leased-fee interest in our condo/co-op homes.

Helen T. Carroll

Legislators should refuse pay raise

Regarding the Star-Bulletin story "Panel recommends boosting salaries for isle legislators" printed on March 26:

I can't believe this! The increases are binding unless the Legislature rejects them. Will any legislators reject this? Please, lawmakers, do the right thing for the people of Hawaii.

Robert G. Devine
Ocean View, Hawaii

Stop delaying tactics: Pass 3-strikes bill

I am tired of reading about elected politicians who what to "study" proposals to death. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Sen. Colleen Hanabusa wants to "study" the "three strikes and you're out" policy for a year before she decides to vote no.

Hawaii is the most liberal state in the country, even more liberal than California. At least California has a three-strikes policy. Hawaii has the highest methamphetamine usage. Hawaii has the highest property crime rate. What's to study?

I agree with City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle when he said a study seems to be the way they try to use time as a way to hope the citizens will forget about it.

My friends in the police department are fed up, too. They are the ones who have to deal with these repeat offenders.

I ask Hawaii citizens to join me in this fight for our rights back! Send a message to Hanabusa: Get tougher on criminals or you're fired!

William McCoy
Ewa Beach

No need for bottle bill with city recycling plan

I applaud Mayor Harris and others promoting the idea of curbside recycling on Oahu. Given our dwindling landfill space and the large number of empty shipping containers we export, this is an idea whose time has come.

If recycling is launched, however, why will we need the "bottle bill" that will force us to pay a 5-cent deposit on every bottled or canned beverage starting next year?

The bottle deposit system will cost everyone more money than recycling, yet it covers only a small fraction of recyclable waste. On top of that, it will be redundant; we will already have a method to recycle cans and bottles.

I urge the mayor and City Council members to demand that Honolulu County be exempted from this boondoggle if recycling is implemented.

Mike Strong
Kaneohe

Positioning of photos sent anti-war message

I'd like to know what you intended to say by placing a picture of a wounded Iraqi child on the front page of the March 25 paper below a U.S. Marine flashing a victory sign while rolling by in his military convoy. It doesn't take much to connect the service member to the bandaged child below him. Is this what you want children to think? That their mommies and daddies are in Iraq putting helpless children in the hospital?

If you'd like to show the horrors of this war, how about some pictures of those Americans who were shown on Iraqi television? You know, the ones with the gun shot wounds in their foreheads.

The March 25 front page looks more like an anti-military statement than an impartial deliverance of news.

Melissa D.T. Lee

Opposing bad policy can be patriotic, too

"Patriotism" is the rallying call of many who have demanded support for our president in his war against Iraq. Let us not confuse patriotism (love for or devotion to one's country) with blind support of those who happen to be its leaders. History reminds us of the many tragic mistakes made by leaders.

The office of president of the United States of America is a genie that grants its occupant great power; it does not endow him with wisdom. Rather, it is for the occupant to bring wisdom to the office and resist the intoxicating and corrupting influence of that power.

If a president starts a war that need not have been fought and puts our troops in harm's way, he has failed the country that I love. It is my patriotic duty to oppose him.

Joseph Gedan

Ailing airlines need public support

Since we are at war, along with supporting our troops we need to be supporting our airlines. We are more dependent on airlines than people living on the mainland due to our geographical location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

If, for example, Hawaiian and United Airlines went out of business, we'd be in big trouble. United is the largest airline serving Hawaii, and if it liquidates it would have a devastating ripple effect on the whole state and national economy.

Besides the loss of available seats, which won't be easily replaced, there will be a significant loss of jobs directly (and indirectly) and tax revenue.

United and Hawaiian are important cogs in the economy. So remember when you are supporting our troops in Iraq, to support our airlines, too.

Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Islanders won't travel without good grinds

Regarding the American Automobile Association of Hawaii's "Tips for Travel" (March 26, Star-Bulletin):

AAA Hawaii's advice to "avoid packing food items" is bound to keep locals from traveling to Las Vegas and interisland. Someone at AAA does not understand locals. Hawaii people will take food with them to Las Vegas and more so interisland. Why don't the Feds stop, look and listen?

Local people are happy-go-lucky, and would not do anything to disrupt their vacations at home or in Las Vegas. Granted we need security at the airport, however, don't cut off our local fare from going with us. The "Tips" column should keep domestic flights separate from international, so as not to confuse the would-be traveler.

Curtis R. Rodrigues
Kaneohe

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