Brainstorm! Challenge

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Symphony scribe gives readers 'touch of class'

I must commend the Star-Bulletin for having such a classic, informative and excellently written column, "Crescendo," authored by our own eminent concertmaster, Ignace "Iggy" Jang. This article give us an insight to the symphony's agenda for the week.

It is not only informative on the musical selections and guest artists, but often gives personal information and reflections that Iggy shares with the readers. We have a wonderful symphony and are most fortunate to have him as an author, as well as a most accomplished musician.

It is this column that brought me back as a subscriber to the Star-Bulletin. Please keep printing it; my friends and I appreciate it immensely. It certainly gives the Star-Bulletin a touch of class over its competitor.

Mitzi C. Austin
Membership chairwoman
Honolulu Symphony Associates
Aiea

Trees do so much good, what's a little mess?

This letter is in response to the article "City trees causing cleanup frustration" (Star-Bulletin, July 7). I would just like to remind those that want to have the trees cut down of the tremendous benefits of trees. They provide climate control by reduced the effects of sun, wind, and rain and reduce our energy costs. Without them, we'd much higher temperatures, less rainfall and more erosion. They filter pollutants from the air and help prevent pollutants from entering our aquifers and the ocean. They provide habitats and food sources for birds and other wildlife.

A beautiful, well-maintained street tree creates curb appeal and can increase property values by 5-20 percent. Their beauty also contributes greatly to the beauty of our islands, helping to make Hawaii a premier tourist destination. They can actually have a positive effect on attitudes too. Studies have shown that surgery patients recover quicker if they have a view with trees. As a certified arborist, I may be odd, but a gorgeous Shower, Tacoma, or Gold tree in full bloom can just about take my breath away.

So, for those that think that fallen flowers are a messy nuisance, please remember what a horrible place this would be without trees. And, after all is said and done, is flower litter really that much of an eyesore?

Gloria Maker
Honolulu

Public should know about UH fund audit

University of Hawaii journalism professor Beverly Keever is on the mark in requesting UH to release the final audit of President Evan Dobelle's protocol fund (Star-Bulletin, July 10). Given other similar public documents during the last three years, I've begun to doubt the integrity of the UH Foundation.

If current foundation practice launders money into the pockets of an employee as if it were personal income, then the audit, as a public document, should also be made available to the Internal Revenue Service and the state Ethics Commission.

Whatever the content of the final audit, it also may help us understand why Dobelle was fired "with cause." It will affirm public confidence in its university, where the legal aspects of "privacy" ought not to be used as a spin.

It is also important to UH faculty. Tenure is a traditional device for protecting academic freedom, but it does not protect "moral turpitude," for example. The president's fall-back tenured position at UH-Manoa should not be an exception, if the regents have sound reasons for the firing. At present we do not know, but we need to know the truth, or at least the content of protocol fund audit.

Victor Kobayashi
Honolulu

Maturity takes time, even for great golfers

Golfer Michelle Wie is here to stay, as your editorial of July 9 declares. However, for her sake, I hope she takes the slow path toward becoming the next Tiger Woods. Her emotional breakdown at a previous tournament proved that teenagers, phenoms or not, are not fully developed emotionally, much less mentally or physically. I hope she has the patience necessary to learn her craft to truly succeed and not attempt a premature bull rush at the megabucks that are surely awaiting her.

Let's recall other teens that burned out after tasting early success in other sports. Although I'm not a golfer, given the current state of Woods' game, it is apparent that the sporting gods giveth and they also taketh away. Michelle also needs to realize that she is young and should spend time just being a kid. Adulthood will find her sooner or later.

James Ko
Honolulu

Other isles ignored in HSTA Senate pick

The Hawaii State Teachers Association recently recommended Gary Hooser for state Senate without even talking to his opponent, Maryanne Kusaka, a former mayor of Kauai. The union leaders on Oahu made this decision without the approval of the teachers on Kauai. Teachers on Kauai and Niihau, and probably on other islands as well, want to have their say. I am a public school teacher on Kauai, and I know I do. What is HSTA afraid of?

Please consider Kusaka, the candidate the HSTA did not even choose to interview for this endorsement. Kusaka is a retired public school teacher with more than 30 years of teaching experience in Kauai and Maui. She is a member of the HSTA-Retired Teachers Association with many, many friends and former colleagues on Kauai and throughout the state who support her. As mayor of Kauai from 1994-2002 she has a proven track record of results to back her up. As you follow this Senate race, please keep in mind that the teachers of Kauai and Niihau did not give their support to the HSTA union endorsement for Hooser. We were never asked. Please vote for change -- cast your vote for Maryanne Kusaka for state Senate.

Carol E. Seielstad
Special education teacher
Hanalei School
Kauai

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] The city owns a large, underground facility at Fort Barrette in Kapolei that is sitting empty. What could it be used for? Some sort of archive? A place to stash gigantic holiday decorations? A temporary storage site for Evan Dobelle’s ego? Send your ideas -- include your name, address and phone number -- by July 16 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or by mail: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Or by fax: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson 529-4750