Mahalo to those whose blood saved parents

Thank you to the emergency response personnel (firemen, police and EMTs) who responded to the Dec. 28 accident on Likelike Highway that injured 10 people, one critically. Both of our parents were rushed by ambulance to Queen's emergency. The critical patient was our father.

Much mahalo to the Queen's Medical Center staff. The physicians, nurses, therapist and ancillary staff in the emergency department, neuro ICU, medical ICU, neurology unit, patient relations and all the teams that support these units worked extremely hard in saving a husband, father and grandfather, as well as helping our mother.

A special thank you to the private citizens who responded heroically and unselfishly to help the injured. We were told by bystanders that many rushed to help our father, who was the most seriously injured.

I donate blood to help others on a regular basis. I never dreamed that the need for blood would touch my life so closely. To all blood donors, thank you very much! My donation this month will be more meaningful, emotional and special to me.

Michael Tyau
For the Tyau and Hayes families
Kaneohe, Honolulu and Boston

Issue of gas prices should be put to rest

Your January 8 article ("State's attorneys blast gas price cap report") and January 11 editorial ("Reopen gas price debate with fairness") resurrects and perpetuates allegations already proven to have no basis in fact.

The Star-Bulletin has provided a generous forum for the lawyers who, on behalf of the state, unsuccessfully sued local oil companies a few years ago for alleged anti-competitive behavior. After a great deal of testimony by experts, the lawyers conceded these charges could not be proved, and the suit was settled with no finding of wrongdoing on the part of the oil companies.

When the Legislature later decided to adopt a gasoline price cap, it wisely called for an independent analysis of the probable effects before imposing these controls on consumers. Stillwater Associates had access to unprecedented amounts of information and determined that the gas cap would probably "increase consumer costs."

Yet the lawyers cling to their conspiracy theories. The printing of their speculation that an oil company "could have drafted" part of the Stillwater report is especially egregious. Stillwater's independent experts interviewed more than 100 stakeholders, but they also interviewed the legislators who authored the gas price cap and found that virtually all of them now believe the law is seriously flawed and could hurt consumers.

Now the lawyers and the Star-Bulletin want to spend even more taxpayer money to have economists who worked on the failed lawsuit report on how Stillwater's findings compare with their own. How much more will we have to spend before they accept the simple economic facts that drive the prices of most everything -- not just gasoline -- higher than the same things on the mainland?

Melissa Pavlicek
Western States Petroleum Association

Coach gets away with shirking responsibility

University of Hawaii football Coach June "John Gotti" Jones does it again! Nothing sticks to this guy, just like the Teflon Don. He denies being able to identify the player who attacked Cincinnati with a crutch in spite of the player's jersey number and name being clearly visible. Chad Owens is suspended for two games because he returned home from Nevada with his family after he allegedly informed the coaching staff of his plans. Star quarterback Tim Chang and All-WAC defensive end Travis Laboy fail to qualify academically for post-season play and the blame is placed squarely on their shoulders despite the academic advisers on staff whose kuleana is to prevent just such occurrences.

The defining moment comes when Jones blames the officials for not taking control of the Hawaii-Houston game after being told of the taunting and other "offenses" committed by the Houston players. Isn't the coach supposed to regulate athletes' behavior? This guy needs to be held accountable for the downside because he surely will take credit for the upside.

UH may have gotten an offensive genius, but it also got a coach who won't accept any responsibility for the downside antics involving his football team. And our university is willing to reward him with a ridiculous salary, a $40,000 annual housing allowance and two automobiles, among other perks.

The Board of Regents needs to re-evaluate this travesty and the fans need to demand more from paid state employees.

J.F Choo
Honolulu

Coach should teach respect to his players

Watching the great victory Hawaii had over Houston in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl being marred by a fight made me recall that we did not have a fighting problem at the University of Hawaii's football program before June Jones became coach. Since then, there have been two fights on national television.

Coach Jones says he told the players during the bowl game to watch out for Houston's bad-mouthing them. Apparently the team did not listen to Jones for some reason or another. I think the time has come for Jones to take a hard look at himself and his actions on the football field. The team follows his actions, not his words.

He needs to be a better example for his team, to lead his team with humility, dignity and respect. If Jones yells at the officials during the game, then blames them for the fight, he is leading his team like a coward and a poor sport. I urge Jones to watch himself during every football game and ask himself: "How am I leading this football team?"

Jones is a great coach, but even great coaches can get better.

Alan Kim
Aiea