Fugitive's relatives misdirect their anger

He was hard working and had hopes. He was a good boy with plans and a future. His kids were close to him and they are traumatized by his death. He was doing so good! Why were there so many shots and why did the police not capture him with non-lethal force?

This is how family members describe a dangerous fugitive who dragged a policeman behind a stolen car last month ("Fatal shootout angers fugitive's family," Star-Bulletin, June 20).

If the fugitive's family is angry, then I am angry that their son/brother/father/nephew was stupid enough to get into a shootout with the police, and I am even angrier that he injured one of Honolulu's brave policemen.

Gil Riviere
Waialua

Politics will forever keep university down

The power of his initial messages and his charismatic ability to express his visions made me an early and strong supporter of Evan Dobelle.

I was hearing what I longed to hear as a longtime faculty member of the University of Hawaii. It seemed that Dobelle spoke directly to me and promised a host of reforms many of my colleagues and I desired after so many years of bad news and constant political interference.

Dobelle had a great message and vision, but the man himself was incapable of delivering all he promised, and it took only a few more months to see that much of his message was tied to a behavior akin to that of a traveling medicine man, hawking wares with promises of magic elixirs -- but not delivering.

I do not lay the blame solely on his head, for those most opposed to the needed changes worked hard to erect barriers, continuing the political interference that has severely hampered the university for decades.

After 30 years of service to the state and to the university, I have sadly come to believe that given the insular politics of Hawaii, UH shall never be able to achieve its full potential.

Vinnie Linares
Faculty member
Maui Community College

Life goes on but where are we going?

The so-called war with suicidal maniacs of the Middle East goes on like a rabid re-run movie. Weary warriors come home for R&R, along with valiant comrades in wheelchairs or on gurneys to receive their Purple Hearts and never walk again.

We take a break from the blood-soaked newsreels to mourn the loss of one of our best presidents. Our current president, the day or so after, dresses the walls of the stately White House with pictures of Bill and Hillary. And Nancy Bey Little adds her usual touch of negativeness the day after that (Letters, June 16).

Not one president is perfect. Does anybody really stop, and look, and listen to what is really going on? Or are we just lost in a mist of routine, wondering if we'll be alive tomorrow for our six pancakes drenched in maple syrup and butter?

It didn't take long to get back on the train of everyday life, still wondering what our destination is.

John L. Werrill
Honolulu

Maui needs candidates to boost quality of life

July 20 is the last day to become a candidate for Maui County Council. Our local government is in desperate need of people willing to work with all of our people and not just the large and powerful interests who so dominate today's council. We are losing Wayne Nishiki; Jo Anne Johnson and Charmaine Tavares will need allies.

Quality of life depends on access to an environment that feeds us internally. For some it is at home with the kids after a hard day's work. For others it is beach access to ride the waves. We all have that special thing that makes life better for us, and our island has these in abundance. And they are under assault by people who stand to make phenomenal money by selling off this quality of life -- and the long road to diminishing our island continues.

Aren't there people who have the vision, training, skill and diligence to protect these precious parts of our lives before serving the profits for themselves and others? I hope they will step forward to serve as council members and ensure we have a real future -- not just a tag line in a seller's prospectus.

Sean Lester
Haiku, Maui

Sale of Verizon is bad news for Hawaii

The recent announcement that The Carlyle Group is purchasing Verizon Hawaii is not good for the people of Hawaii. For starters, I wonder how committed they are to Hawaii. They recently unloaded Horizon Lines for a nice profit after only about a year of ownership.

It wouldn't surprise me if the purchase goes through and Carlyle unloads Verizon Hawaii in the near future. I just cannot grasp a multinational company with interests in multiple areas would be committed to Hawaii for the long term.

I'm a Verizon DSL customer and have been very happy with the service. I'm concerned that I'll be facing higher monthly costs for my DSL service with Carlyle in control.

I'm worried about who will provide tech support or maintain my DSL modem. It is my understanding that I could keep Verizon Online after this purchase goes through. But what will the cost be? Currently through local resellers, DSL costs more than double than going through Verizon Online.

If you want to voice your concerns, I urge you e-mail the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission at Hawaii.PUC@hawaii.gov or the Hawaii Consumer Advocate at dca@dcca.hawaii.gov.

Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona

Rich outsiders buying too much land

In her letter to the editor (Star-Bulletin, June 22), Karen Beauchamp of Kaneohe brought up a good point about the Department of Land and Natural Resources refusing to renew the lease of land in Waimanalo to Sylvester Foundation's Candy Lake. Once again this leased land will be handed over to predominantly outsider-haole people to live in their million-dollar homes. Let's see the farmland developed for the rich to live on. Let's watch and see what happens now.

Lana Ululaniokekaihawanawana Robbins
New Port Richey, Fla. and Hilo, Hawaii