Bill is a license to steal special fund

The Democrats in the Legislature want to raid another special fund. They passed a bill that would raid the Compliance Resolution Fund of some $30 million as a partial means to balance the budget. (The governor vetoed the bill this week, but legislators may try to override her veto before they adjourn May 6.)

The CRF is funded by real estate licensees and dozens of other professions requiring state certification. Licensees pay half of their biennium fees into this fund. The many uses of the fund include enabling the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to create educational programs for real estate licensees to better serve sellers, buyers and existing homeowners.

A raid on this fund would amount to a confiscation and theft of monies. It is definitely time to vote these Democrats out of office and to elect legislators who will treat Mr. and Mrs. Hawaii Taxpayer fairly.

Benjy Wong
Kailua

Please, retailers, let me have some fun!

Just as I was breathing a sigh of relief from Easter sales, advertising for Mother's Day confronted me the minute I opened the Sunday paper. I know in short order I will be faced with graduation, Children's Day, Father's Day, Kamehameha Day, weddings, the big American retail shoot-out of Independence Day and every month someone's anniversary. It's relentless.

Please, folks, back off. I need a rest from all the buy-it-or-you'll-feel-guilty special occasions. How about something playful, like a "Sale for No Reason," or "40 Percent Off Just Because," or "Two-Hour Lunch Shopping Break," or "Manager's Off Island" specials?

I need a vacation before the stress of Back to School sets in. Give me something that makes me smile as I skip through your stores scattering coins and bills for my personal pleasure rather than your quarterly profit.

Marjorie Scott
Kailua

Researchers at UH might save the world

"Coming soon: Asteroid hunters" (Star-Bulletin, April 25) was a fascinating article. Careful reading brings out that Pan STARRS telescopes will not only detect small, deadly asteroids but also other space objects such as comets that can be equally harmful to Earth. Advance knowledge of their orbits will allow us to deflect them.

But the article says much more. It shows that we can be proud of the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy for the great research that goes on there. The development of powerful electronic cameras and the pairing of data received from them with super-computers is one example. The idea of using multiple small telescopes to cover wide areas of the sky is another. Getting all of this protection for about $50 million is an incredible bargain.

This project brings substantial money to our state and will create long-term jobs. Pan STARRS is a winner. Thanks to reporter Helen Altonn for telling us about it in such an interesting and understandable way.

Phil Whitney
Honolulu

Menor must know gas cap won't work

Sen. Ron Menor says he now believes that the implementation of his gas cap bill will be delayed until the end of this year or beginning of next year (Star-Bulletin, April 28). He says the reason for the delay is to allow time for details to be tweaked.

The public needs to read between the lines. The senator has in effect acknowledged that his gas cap plan is unworkable. But he is up for re-election and wants to be known as the guy who fought to lower gas prices. By delaying the implementation of the cap, he does not run the risk of incurring the public's wrath at the polls when it ultimately fails.

Mike Sana
Honolulu

Free events are more than worth the cost

We usually arrive at Waikiki at 1 p.m. on the third Saturday of April, in time to see them packing up Brunch on the Beach. This year we started our month here earlier and enjoyed the wonderful day. The food, entertainment and accommodations were outstanding. Mahalo.

We spend 11 months of the year telling anyone who will listen about TheBus, Sunset on the Beach, the Royal Hawaiian Band, the Community Center on Paoakalani and the fine nightly programs at the Mound and most hotels. We understand financial responsibilities but these programs are enjoyed by locals and visitors alike and certainly help to bring tourists to Honolulu. I wish they had been available when we were young and living here with no entertainment budget. I am certain many programs are appreciated today by young families. Mahalo to those working on these projects.

Betty and Howard Seacord
Santa Rosa, Calif.
Former Hawaii residents