Brainstorm! Challenge

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Everyone should show 'kahuna' more respect

Bob Ruiz makes an interesting analysis about religious freedom ("Are not isle 'Kahunas' equally offensive?" Letters, Feb. 10). If Hawaiians are going to complain about one company for insulting their religious philosophy, then they should go after all of them. Many times Hawaiians do complain, but people don't listen.

The kahuna are the priesthood of the Hawaiian religion. The religion is called Ho'omana, the temples are the heiau and the philosophy is the Kumulipo.

The foundation of the Hawaiian religious philosophy is based on the origin of the universe, spontaneous generation, evolution and spirituality.

As a Hawaiian religious practitioner, I say stop the degradation of all of our sacred temple sites in Hawaii and stop using our culture and religious philosophy as a tourist attraction, a military training site, a site for high-tech global telescopes or as a business slogan. Enough.

The Hawaiian religion is very much alive today and all people residing in Hawaii have an obligation to preserve it and learn from its ancient wisdom. A wise kahuna once said, "What seems to be most insignificant may well be the realm of reality."

Eric Po'ohina
Kailua

Protest against car's name is place to start

Bob Ruiz brought up a good point about the inconsistency regarding the use of the word "kahuna" and was nice enough to look in the local phone book to see what other companies use the word in their names.

What he doesn't realize is that the reason John Book started the petition (to protest the naming of Dodge's concept car the "Kahuna") is the lack of research on the word by a group of people who know little of the Hawaiian culture. Also, why should we allow everyone else to continue to co-opt the Hawaiian culture?

It has to start somewhere, yet as soon as Hawaiians speak up, people have a problem not with the issue at hand, but rather the fact that "an issue" was brought up.

Kalani Mondoy
Glendale, Calif.
Former Hawaii resident

Comments about Lingle were insensitive

Sen. Kalani English comments about the visit of a Jewish woman governor -- Linda Lingle -- to a Muslim country -- Iraq -- were inconsiderate (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 11). He showed his inability to participate in political leadership. Such comments about race, religion and sex have no place in today's society.

Thomas Kaphingst
Honolulu

State's actions doom tourism's future

I have been doing weddings on the beaches of Maui for 17 years. I bring thousands of visitors to Maui who feed the economy. I have never interfered with the public's use of the beach.

The people who attend my weddings are the public! They come to Hawaii to be married because of its beauty. All Maui visitors come for a reason. They come to surf, sail, fish, scuba, snorkel, get married and so on. Are these what the state is calling "commercial businesses"? Are the hotel concessions commercial businesses? If permits are required of these so-called commercial businesses, it will annihilate the visitor industry as we know it.

I had a wedding with two people stopped by the Department. of Land and Natural Resources a few years ago. I filed suit and the state settled out of court because it knew it had violated the state law that says all beaches are public. Now the state is amending this rule (Title 13) to eliminate virtually all businesses that use the beach.

If this becomes law, the state's economy and our future are doomed. How will I explain to couples who have reserved flights and hotel rooms for themselves, their families and friends, that the wedding they have dreamed of cannot take place in Hawaii?

Sandy Barker
Romantic Maui Weddings

'Elderly' workers are forgotten resource

I am a 63-year-old woman who has been seriously looking for a job, part-time or full-time, for the past nine months. I have skills, and I am pleasant, well-groomed and keep in shape. I have gone to temporary employment agencies and they can't seem to get me anything.

Recently, at an employment service, I was told that employers are not allowed to discriminate based on age, but that they do, that employers want young and energetic people. I also was lumped into the "elderly" category there.

Many people in human resource departments are very young. Is it their perception or their employers' that those over a certain age are not good for their business? If you are over that age, just realize that these people want your business -- but they will not hire you if you are in need.

Barbara Jessee
Ewa Beach

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] Can you design a quarter that represents Hawaii?? Some states have issued collectible quarters that commemorate their entry into the union. The front of the coin looks the same but the eagle on the back has been replaced by something that represents that state. For example, Georgia's quarter has a peach on it. If you could design Hawaii's quarter, what would it look like? Send your ideas and solutions by Feb. 17 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or mail them to: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Fax: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson 529-4750