Brainstorm! Challenge

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Japanese have money to spend in Hawaii

I'd like to portray a brighter side of the economic picture for the now-reeling Japanese tourism industry in Hawaii. After returning from a two-week trip to Japan, I predict that in five years Japanese tourists will be returning in the numbers equalling those of the late 1980s and early '90s, provided the following changes take place:

>> the world terrorist threat subsides, easing up security requirements, especially at the airports;

>> the recent reforms initiated by the Koizumi government become a reality. These reforms will lower taxes and release more money to the people.

The people are economically well off; however, they are spending their money within their borders. Gourmet restaurants I saw were full, with long lines outside some establishments. High-priced specialty shops were full of customers.

The automobile and high-tech industries are still making huge profits. My prediction will become reality when the world is at peace and terrorist-free, and the government succeeds in implementing its reforms. The Japanese people are anxiously waiting to travel outside of their borders.

Toshio Chinen
Pearl City

What's so great about 'traditional' marriage?

The recent defenders of traditional marriage are grasping at straws. Those who are citing scripture are reading mistranslations and interpreting out of context. They need more academic discipline.

In Biblical times, and more than a millennium later, women could not make legal vows. They were traded into marriage for a dowry, treated as property and in most cases served as slaves to their husbands. Until recently a divorced woman was shamed. Only virgins were considered marriageable.

Marriage as a political institution is only 500 years old. With the Protestant Reformation it was no longer considered a sacrament. Today, civil marriage has no relationship to religion. Having a religious ceremony is simply a matter of choice.

Of course, without traditional marriage there could be no extra-marital affairs, no divorce or spousal abuse. There would be no need for marriage and family counselors, divorce courts, priests and prostitutes. Homosexuals are not asking for any of those privileges. They only want the right to form a relationship of shared commitment, responsibilities and love equal to others under the law.

Fred Wells
Kapaa, Kauai

Humanity should progress, not stagnate

Amazing how so many "straight" people are in such turmoil over something that really has no bearing on their lives ("Gay weddings defy ancestral tradition," Letters, Star-Bulletin, Dec. 1). To alienate a certain group of people from equal rights in the pursuit of their own happiness is preposterous. It's shameful to think that a person would use the past experiences of mankind and not learn something from them. To observe all of our history as a human race without paying close attention to the fact of progression as "people" is ignorant.

According to the "Archie Bunker" mentality of a few, women should be barefoot and pregnant, certain ethnicities should not have rights and gay people should be sent off to an island, making the world a better place? (We have, and it's the Hawaiian islands.)

Thank God that as a whole, humankind has progressed. It had been a long, difficult battle, yet we as a race persevere and seem to head in the right direction of equality for all.

An open mind and acceptance is all I ask of our humans peers. I'm not asking you into my bedroom, just for your mutual respect and consideration. I find myself constantly having to muster up compassion for the ignorance of a few, not to mention having the respect to keep my comments to myself.

Be a brave human and stop being scared of what you do not understand. Ask questions, become enlightened and then go about your own life!

D.J. DeMent
Hanapepe, Kauai

U.S. commits terrorism against Hawaiians

Regarding letters by William McCoy and Lee Laquihon (Star-Bulletin, Dec. 3): Both are wrong about the facts regarding the subject matter of Eric Poohina's letter: The overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the actions committed by the U.S. government then and thereafter were and still is an act of terrorism as defined in Black's Law Dictionary: "Act of Terrorism" (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by assassination or kidnapping.

These crimes are being perpetuated in the Hawaiian islands instead of remedied while your great country calls for democracy and justice throughout the world fight against terrorism.

Both your comments and the like only fuel the flames of hate and racism against Hawaiians. Denial will not bring back the aloha spirit your government stole from us through our identity, lands, culture and dignity.

And yes! Let's deal with the overthrow. I am a citizen by inherent right of Ka Pae Aina/ Kingdom of Hawaii. Not an American as many of you incorrectly believe.

Foster Ampong
Lahaina, Maui

Clean polluted areas before ruining more

Our governments have had a long history of polluting our aina from the Territory of Hawaii when Ala Moana and Kakaako Waterfront Parks were once landfills, from when Pearl Harbor was transformed from a "breadbasket" of fish to a place for ships leaking oil by WWII, from when Hawaiians were evicted from Makua in 1943 and banned from returning to Waikane Valley after it was determined to be too dangerous. Now to fulfill the desires of the new addition to our tourism industry in Ko Olina, the City Council struggles with where to relocate our landfill.

I suggest relocating our Waimanalo landfill to Waikane Valley. Too dangerous, you say? Then the state and federal governments better figure out how to clean Waikane and Kahoolawe before deciding to destroy another piece of our aina.

R. Kealoha Kaliko
Honolulu

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] Dirty gutter talk Those orange rolls that highway engineers have been shoving into storm drain openings -- there must be a more efficient or practical or attractive way to filter out road debris. These things are about as useful and pleasing to the eye as huge, discarded cigarette butts. Send your ideas, drawings and solutions by Thursday, Dec. 17 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or mail them to: Brainstorm! c/o Burl Burlingame Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Fax: Brainstorm! c/o Burl Burlingame 529-4750