Classified research has great value

Since the 1960s, the University of Hawaii has long held a prejudice against accepting research of a classified nature, or crediting professional experience that remains classified because of its significance for national security. Professor Karl Kim has expressed that prejudice well and completely (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 26). Prejudice, however, even if widely held, as this one is, narrows horizons and breeds ignorance.

Our state's university is thus ignorant of vast areas of technology and policy. At one time, our nation's universities helped save the nation from fascism, and their graduate students gained irreplaceable experience in advanced research. Today most classified research is done beyond university walls. Vital links to science, engineering and policy studies are lost.

If the Board of Regents is now ready to adjust this misguided policy, it is a good sign.

Restore arch, beach for war memorial

In its Dec. 5 editorial, the Star-Bulletin asserted that if the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium is not brought back to its original condition, the memory of our World War I veterans would be disrespected. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Kaimana Beach Coalition supports a plan to redesign a nonfunctional swimming pool and decrepit bleachers into a functional, two-acre memorial beach with a spectacular near-shore swimming channel running from Kaimana Beach through the demolished natatorium pool and up to the Queen's Surf groin. This oceanfront area, dredged 75 years ago to create the natatorium pool, promises to become Hawaii's premier near-shore swimming course.

A restored memorial arch framing the new beach, new bathroom facilities, carefully constructed groins to protect sand from erosion and a beach volleyball court would make this addition to Kaimana Beach a welcome improvement to our precious Waikiki shoreline.

The memorial beach would become a valuable resource reflecting our community's respect for veterans. It also would provide new recreational opportunities and a healthy, child-friendly environment while saving millions of dollars in maintenance costs.

We must take a deep breath and join Mayor-elect Mufi Hannemann in moving into the future by recreating a war memorial beach that will stand the test of time, and show proper respect for our honored veterans and, just as importantly, for our community.

We have a new mayor and a new plan. It's time for Mayor Harris to let go of his failed dream and not waste any more taxpayer money.

More information on the natatorium and an artist's rendition of its future state can be seen at www.savekaimanabeach.org

New bus schedule needs improvement

With the amount of traffic gridlock on Oahu, it is always a pleasure to have the city get serious by expanding the mass transit service. The city has new buses with a new route. The "E" express travels from Chinatown through the business district then to Aloha Tower. From there it travels toward Ala Moana Shopping Center, passing the Ward shopping complex, then to Waikiki and back to Chinatown.

From a personal view, this may seem like a pleasant ride. From a business perspective, a few adjustment are in order. Why do we need to have these extra-long, articulated buses pass every 10 minutes? These buses are never more than half-filled and many times there are fewer than five passengers. This is because this route duplicates other routes in the vicinity. The letter "E" might very will stand for "empty."

So my solution is to have the "E" express every 20 minutes instead of the current 10-minute intervals and place the extra buses on routes that always have passengers standing up.

Students put on fine Christmas show

I would like to thank the staff and students of Kamehameha Schools for their outstanding performance at the Christmas concert recently at the Blaisdell concert hall. All the performers, including the orchestra and the brass band, were excellent and very professional. I am a longtime Hawaii resident, but I originally come from a country called Wales, in Great Britain, where music and singing are very much part of their culture.

Again, I appreciated the professional singing and music rendered by the staff and students of this school.