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Alcohol makes families leave games early

Banning alcohol at Aloha Stadium (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 4) would be a victory for our community! Many parents and families have long complained about leaving games early so as to not expose their children and themselves to the drunken, rowdy behavior and language in the stands.

Alcohol, more so than any other substance, is also closely related to injuries, attacks and violence. I urge the Aloha Stadium Authority to support the alcohol ban.

Elaine Wilson
Honolulu

Stadium alcohol ban won't solve problem

In response to "UH football and beer don't mix, Aiona says" (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 4): The lieutenant governor is correct in his thinking that no beer means less crime; i.e., beer spills, asinine behavior by students (and alumni), and, worst of all, fights between fans. But the lieutenant governor is naive in thinking that a ban on beer sales will solve these problems.

Most fans are totally buzzed prior to the game. Isn't that what tailgating is all about? Does the lieutenant governor think that he can keep all liquor out of the stadium? Not to mention just plain drugs. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Tim Slear
Honolulu

Raising taxes is same as cutting our pay

Let's see if I've got this right. Hawaii is enjoying a boom economy, but the government is cutting our pay.

It goes like this: Hawaii's economy is strong, with growth that is producing lots of construction and jobs. Unemployment is at an all-time low. Tourism is up. Thanks to the booming economy, both city and state governments are enjoying windfall tax revenues. That means they should be cutting our taxes.

But the windfall isn't enough for our Legislature, our governor, our City Council or our mayor. They actually want more. They want to impose a pay cut on the rest of us by raising our taxes.

If you don't think that increases in parking fees, bus fares, sewer fees, property taxes, vehicle fees, conveyance taxes, rents and the general excise tax are the same as a pay cut, I suggest you sit down with your earnings statement and a calculator. Then factor in the impact of the current real estate boom on our young people who are trying to find an affordable home. The insane stampede to increase our taxes makes it clear that our elected officials haven't a clue about the adverse consequences of over-taxation on our residents and our economy. Or they don't care. In either case, we definitely need more accountable leadership.

Robert R. Kessler
Waikiki

Hawaiians must act to safeguard future

Today, I was fortunate to absorb the wisdom of Aunty Miriam Kahalekai. She was disturbed by the federal court ruling overturning the Kamehameha Schools admission policy that provides preference to Hawaiian children.

Aunty Miriam noted that for more than a century, the policy was respected by people living in Hawaii: Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese and Caucasian, all races. No one challenged the policy because it was understood that the schools should benefit Hawaiians. She said that although there was some envy, this was an issue of respect.

Aunty Miriam said, "Now there is no respect." Aunty is right. Litigious racists continue to take from people who have little. It is not enough that their diseases decimated our bloodlines and that Western laws were erected to steal our aina, our livelihood. Our struggle continues. You can no longer sit and watch. It is time to stand, take action and control our future. Imua!

Sandy Padaken
Keaau, Hawaii

Kingdom set example of equity for all

Your July 31 editorial on the Akaka Bill repeats an old sob story. You say Hawaiian natives welcomed other races into their nation, and now we're holding that against them by denying them a racially exclusionary government.

Non-natives were full partners in the Kingdom and today are full partners in Hawaii. It is historically, legally and morally wrong for one partner to say to all the other partners: "Thanks for building our nation; now we're taking it over for ourselves." That's the same attitude that would have white Americans say to today's Asian Americans and African Americans, "Hey, we founded this country and you have no right to full membership."

Kamehameha could not have "unified" the kingdom without the weapons and know-how given to him by newcomers. In gratitude, he made John Young governor of his home island, and Young's tomb today lies in the Royal Mausoleum.

Non-natives brought written language and the Christian religion eagerly embraced by the natives. Non-natives who were native-born or naturalized became elected members of the Legislature and filled most cabinet positions for 80 years. Their investments created wealth, allowing the kingdom to prosper.

Whether through government service, investment, or laboring on the sugar plantations, non-natives were and are full partners. We non-natives are not holding anything against ethnic Hawaiians. Rather, we're defending our rights to full equality; we refuse to be turned into second-class citizens; and we suggest today's Hawaiian activists respect the decisions of their ancestors to have a multiracial society and government.

Ken Conklin
Kaneohe

Princess Pauahi gave students a special gift

When I was a student at Kaimuki Intermediate in the 1960s, there were fights every day causing racial misunderstanding and intolerance. I applied to Kamehameha Schools because I felt I would be safe from such judgments and persecution because students shared Hawaiian cultural background and beliefs.

What I learned was that although all Kamehameha students have Hawaiian ancestry, most students were not full-blooded. Still, the school had students with wide cultural and varied ethnic backgrounds who joined together in harmony, sharing and learning together.

All of the students and alumni had the common bond, appreciating the gift from Princess Pauahi. She gave us a special place to learn and to be proud of who we are as Hawaiians.

Mikiala Brand
Kamuela



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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




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