How about designated areas for graffiti?
I have an idea to save time, money and drama concerning graffiti.Graffiti is an art form enjoyed by many. Why not let the kids have a few designated walls to express themselves? One wall in need of paint is the long wall on Kamehameha Highway heading toward Waipio from the H1. It is ugly in its current state. Some fresh thoughts and pictures would be nice.
A truce could be called and the highway signs and other surfaces could be saved. This idea has worked in several European cities.
Waipahu
Get involved if you want better schools
I just read teacher Derek Bishop's May 19 commentary about the Big Island's Naalehu School. If conditions at that school are half as bad as he says, I say to Big Island and state legislators, "Shame on you!"The treatment of disruptive special ed students sounds like a constant Catch-22, which I suspect is not exclusive to Naalehu School. The condition of the school with the obvious solution of available portable classrooms is inexcusable. One bathroom for 460 students?
When Foodland has its "computers for the classroom" program, I always select either my elementary school, Pauoa Elementary or Naalehu School in memory of my late mother-in-law, who was a Big Island teacher for more than 40 years. But I realize that while they could use a new computer, what they need is some aggressive lobbying on their behalf.
Jonathan Yorck, kindergarten teacher at Punahou School, has a yearly book drive for Naalehu. It is his passion and a mission. We need more Jonathan Yorcks to go to bat for this school.
Write letters, make phone calls, bug the heck out of somebody.
Honolulu
Adults, don't give alcohol to teenagers
The 2003 National Academy of Sciences Report revealed that two-thirds of teenagers get alcohol from their parents or other adults. Parents who think it's OK to host a party with alcohol for their teenager need to think again. It's irresponsible, illegal and can have serious consequences on teens for the rest of their lives.That's why Anheuser-Busch Sales of Hawaii and Anheuser-Busch are working with convenience stores, grocery stores and other retailers in Hawaii on a responsibility program aimed at parents and adults. Titled "Prevent, Don't Provide," the campaign reminds adults to do their part in preventing underage drinking by not providing alcohol to minors.
The good news is government studies show that more than 26 million youth ages 12-20 are doing the right thing by not drinking, and the number of fatalities in teen drunken-driving crashes has declined by 60 percent since 1982. But we know there's more work to do.
At Anheuser-Busch Sales of Hawaii, many of us are parents sharing the same concerns as every other parent about underage drinking, and we know mixing teens, inexperience and alcohol can be a recipe for disaster. Responsibility matters, and we urge parents and all adults 21 and older to join us in this fight and help prevent underage drinking -- don't provide alcohol to minors.
Marketing manager
Anheuser-Busch Sales of Hawaii
New Filipino Queen will honor the sakadas
I would like to congratulate my wife, Reyna Padilla Rahman, for being chosen Mrs. Hawaii Filipino 2005-06. She also is the first Centennial Hawaii Filipino Queen.The Filipino community is celebrating the 100th year of sakadas, the first 15 Filipinos who came to Hawaii in 1906. As Filipino Queen, Reyna plans to continue to be a spokeswoman and role model for the Filipino community in Hawaii and around the world. She is proud of her heritage and the sakadas whose hard work and perseverance have translated to better social, educational and economic opportunities for Filipinos in Hawaii and many other places.
We love you. Reyna. Keep up the good work.
Kaneohe
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