UH caved in too easily to small group

After reading how the University of Hawaii administration basically rolled over to all the demands of a very small group of protesters against the proposed Navy research center (Star-Bulletin, May 5), we now know how UH students can stop the proposed increased tuition costs. Another small group only has do exactly what the first group did and again the UH administration will completely cave in to their demands and roll back tuition costs to 2000 levels. How can this go wrong when the administration has already set the standard by not showing any backbone to the protesters?

Perhaps this administration has forgotten it also owes the people who pay for UH, the taxpayers, a group far larger then 35 protesters, more say in how UH is run. Until then, students, get back in that office and in two weeks you will get those tuition rates back where they should be.

UH protesters hamper needed research

So all the little Ward Churchill and Michael Moore wannabes at the University of Hawaii are protesting the potential contract between the Navy and UH for classified research. This is research that most likely will assist our Navy in helping to protect sealife and possibly help find alternative fuel sources from deep within the ocean.

It's research that might assist our military in protecting our harbors and shores (which Democrats -- such as these protesters -- claim aren't protected enough). And only 15 percent of this research will be classified as top secret. Not to mention the fact that this contract would bring $50 million to the university.

Are the protesters going to make up the difference and provide UH with the $50 million the university will be losing out on? If this contract doesn't go through, you know these same protesters will be out again protesting the tuition raises that will be necessary due to the loss of this important contract.

McClain's attitude served everyone well

While I have some opinions about the notion of conducting military research at the University of Hawaii (I believe there are many potential mutual benefits if properly handled), I'm compelled to reflect on how proud I was of the maturity, wisdom and strength shown by UH Interim President David McClain and his staff throughout this controversy.

I've graduated from UH twice and have personally experienced countless controversies as a public figure, and I can appreciate how this entire matter could have erupted into ugly emotional demonstrations and resulting negative public perception of UH. Because McClain insisted on personal candor and respectful treatment of protesters, cooler heads prevailed and returned the courtesy by not abusing Bachman Hall. He accomplished this without shirking his duty to seek a course of action that is best for the university, whatever that may turn out to be.

We are fortunate indeed to have a wise and strong leader at the helm of UH in the person of Dave McClain.

Kapalama Canal cleanup appreciated

Mahalo to the group who cleared out the mangroves in the Kapalama Canal above Dillingham Boulevard! It's beautiful!

Kalaheo fans' behavior must be dealt with

The decision to put Kalaheo High School on the road as a visiting team for the remainder of the girls' basketball season due to unruly fan behavior is right on the mark (Star-Bulletin, May 5). Unruly fan behavior has been rather frequent among Windward high schools in all sports. I have witnessed groups of family members, often dressed in matching shirts or colors, harass game officials, coaches, players and other members of the audience. The last time I saw such poor and unacceptable behavior was at a Castle High School game, which involved a group of grown men dressed in matching black shirts.

The Oahu Interscholastic Association needs to move swiftly and firmly to control unruly audience behavior. It is imperative that all high school athletic events are made safe for coaches, players and everyone in attendance.

Drinking at UH might prevent accidents

I am a freshman at the University of Hawaii-Manoa. Recently there were comments made about having stricter rules for underage UH students who are caught drinking.

Even with stricter rules, students are still going to drink; they are just going to do it off campus, which I believe is more dangerous. At least if they are still on campus, they won't be drinking and driving, and if they get into trouble on campus (like in a fight or attacked), there will be security guards and a lot more people willing to help.

When people have friends come over to drink, there is always that one person who doesn't know his limit and gets really drunk. If that person drove to the party, then at least he will have a place to stay until he can drive home. As a parent, wouldn't you rather have your child not come home because he slept at the dorms than not having him come home because he got into a fatal car accident?

I think the UH administrators should just leave the policy the way it is because there haven't been many accidents, and besides, we are college students, adults. We should know what is right and what is wrong because we are more mature than most high school students. Most people know not to drink and drive because we've seen what can happen and will never put our lives and others' lives at risk.

Let Mayor Harris store his own books

The thousands of unsold copies of former Mayor Jeremy Harris' book "The Renaissance of Honolulu" should be sent to his residence forthwith (Star-Bulletin, May 6). They surely will be nifty handouts on his current speaking tour, and it will save the city money and space on storage costs!

OHA's funding goes to the right places

In light of the negative publicity surrounding the Office of Hawaiian Affairs audit (Star-Bulletin, April 29), the public should know that Nanakuli High and Intermediate School (where about 70 percent of the students are of Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian ancestry) has just received a grant for $75,226 to aid in the improvement of literacy. We are both extremely grateful for the opportunity to bring about positive change in this school through the generous funding from OHA.

From Iraq to rail, are we being misled?

Following the 9/11 attack the public was misled into believing that the United States had to invade Iraq to retaliate. After the dust settled, the public became aware that Saddam was not allowing corporate America to profit in Iraq; now the invasion has changed that.

Oahu's freeway gridlock has given motorists time to contemplate what they would rather be doing than sitting in traffic, such as working a second job so we can pay our share of the billions of dollars it costs for the Iraq war.

So, are we misled when told that a $2.6 billion rail system is the answer? This is like legalized gambling, maybe rail will work and possibly not, as some cities have reported insufficient riders to cover the operating cost. But wait, it's win-win for the contractor who develops and builds the system; no gridlock on those profits.

Have we talked about the long walks for residents who live beyond where the rail system goes? Are we considering how a raised rail system will further deface our island? Like the song goes, "We don't know what we've got 'til it's gone."

Ad word usage reflects our coarsening culture

In a culture that has become increasingly rude, coarse and dumbed down, where words and slurs that demean and denigrate people are entering the vocabulary of the young as hip slang, where women and girls are called "bitch" and "ho," and where girls recently have been kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered, I was surprised to see a Star-Bulletin advert titled "Pimp My Cube."

Pimp is defined as "one who procures customers for a prostitute" and "to be a pimp." Perhaps the "R" is missing and you meant "Primp My Cube?"

Why would the Star-Bulletin advocate this usage of the word pimp? What a sad example of how the beauty of words and language are being replaced by slang, slurs and redefined shells. No wonder our children are struggling in school and life with reading, writing and speaking. No wonder our young are becoming insensitive to the usage of words that wound.

UH-Hilo tries nurturing Hawaiian language

I was distressed by the article "Hawaiian master's degree approved after heated debate" (Star-Bulletin, April 22). The University of Hawaii-Manoa's Center for Hawaiian Studies director Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa's comments might have given readers a false impression of UH-Hilo's Hawaiian Studies program and professor Larry Kimura.

In 1997, the state Legislature approved UH-Hilo's Ka Haka 'Ula O Ke'elikolani College of Hawaiian Language. The college offers certificates, bachelor's and master's degrees, laboratory schools, a curriculum, a dictionary of modern words and a teacher training program. Despite these successes, new initiatives are rarely funded. Staff is scattered about campus, waiting for a building. Our accomplishments came because of the sacrifices of the faculty, including Kimura.

Ka Haka 'Ula O Ke'elikolani faculty put in countless hours saving a language from the brink of extinction. The program is a model for indigenous revitalization around the world.

Let's all remember our common goal: E ola ka 'olelo Hawai'i -- the Hawaiian language shall live.

People should demand action on housing

I commend the Star-Bulletin for its eight-part "Through The Roof" series about Hawaii's high-cost housing crisis. It is about time someone had the guts to shed light on a problem that will cause Hawaii's robust economy to backfire and spiral downward. Doesn't anyone realize that high-priced housing will reduce consumer spending, affecting all other market sectors of the islands' economy?

On top of that, Hawaii's government wants to raise excise tax and property taxes? It doesn't take an MBA to figure out that an economic bust is surely at the end of this tunnel for Hawaii.

I place the blame on Hawaii's government. Once again, the legislators are sticking their heads in the sand -- and they won't do anything about the situation until they feel that their positions are being threatened.

People do have the power to make change in Hawaii. There are two excellent recent examples to prove this: the Van Cam repeal of 2002 and the reformation of Bishop Estate from the Bronster case. I only hope and pray that people of Hawaii have the courage now to rise up and get their legislators to stop an economic time bomb that is sure to explode if Hawaii's high-housing costs and taxes continue to increase.

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[ Mother's Day Tributes ]

Doctor's kids need her so please be careful

Every day when the phone rings for my mother, my little 4-year-old sister blocks the door and starts crying because she doesn't want Mommy to leave for the hospital again. My mom is an orthopedic surgeon who is very busy and works long hours taking care of people who have broken bones, arthritis and other disabling problems.

It seems like she gets called to the emergency room every time we sit down to eat dinner or as she is putting us to sleep. I do not think it is right that she has to give up time with her family when she is not being paid to be on call.

Doctors, like other people who work, should be paid if their services are needed. Many of the patients she cares for do not have insurance or any money, but my mom treats them like everyone else. You pay for a plumber to fix your sink, don't you?

Please be careful when you are driving a car or playing so that you don't get hurt so my Mom can spend more time with the family.

She wiped away tears and shared all her love

As I sit here in my college apartment at the tender age of 20, I take this time to reflect on my life and especially the people in it, who make it all worthwhile. One such person whom I would like to pay tribute to on this special day would be a very dear woman to me -- my mother, Mary Carleen Ogo Atalig.

Let me share with you why she deserves much recognition not just on this Mother's Day, but always.

Twenty years ago to date, the world not only welcomed me with open arms, but also a new mother -- my wonderful mother, at that. At about the same age as I am now, she entered the world of motherhood not knowing what to expect and not yet knowledgeable of the future that lay ahead of her. I am happy to say that 20 years down the road, I find myself looking up to her, wishing that one day when I become a mother myself, that I may be just like her.

As I grew up with five other siblings, you can only imagine what my mother had to endure on a daily basis. Waking up every morning to the sound of one of six kids crying; slaving over a hot stove day after day to ensure that our tummies were always satisfied; ever vigil of our health she was, always caring for us all when we were ill; settling the ridiculous fights that arose between all my siblings and me, which often began with the famous line, "But she/he started it!"; always offering such comfort in her overburdened arms; through her weary eyes I can always find this unspoken understanding between us; always sacrificing anything and everything to give us, her children, all that we want and need; wiping away our tears, and always knowing exactly the words to say to make everything better; so much love in her heart that she has enough to share with everyone in the world, yet she only chooses to share with us; teaching us the rights from the wrongs; sharing our every laughter and also each of our pains, she's there for the good and bad, through thick and thin.

I do not know how she does it all, but she continues to find a way to do so. It is with much pleasure that I take this time to pay tribute to her. She has done so much, and she deserves much recognition, that my mere words cannot measure up to the task. So Mom, I want you to know that you are truly appreciated, and I know that it may seem like we take you for granted sometimes, but that is not so.

I love you very, very much, and I am proud to say that you are my mother. Thank you, Mom!

How to write us The Star-Bulletin welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point (150 to 200 words). The Star-Bulletin reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed and include a daytime telephone number. Letter form: Online form, click here E-mail: letters@starbulletin.com Fax: (808) 529-4750 Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210, Honolulu, HI 96813