Hawaii lured, then pushed him away

After nearly 20 years of calling our beloved Hawaii home, the time finally came to set myself free. No longer could I justify my own love of tradewinds, rainbows, mountains and surf in exchange for a decent home of my own with some of the best schools in our country for my children. Only one who has loved the Hawaiian Islands as deeply and completely as I have could possibly understand how it feels to leave them. It is almost like leaving a loved one forever, breaking hearts, shattered dreams, longing for home.

My life changed forever in the islands; it was there that I became who I am today. It was there where my children were born. It was there where I learned to identify native plants, hiked countless remote valleys and mountain peaks. It was there that I married and found everlasting love. Furthermore, I had tried to help the aina and its people whenever I could.

Unfortunately, I witnessed Hawaii, as a state, become completely and utterly broken, so totally inefficient and almost embarrassing. The state and city governments both acting out a horrible joke on the people (the Superferry fiasco being only one in a long string of ridiculous wastes of taxpayer money and time).

I will dream of the tradewinds and sweet blue surf from here in my huge new $200,000 home on the mainland. And I owe it all to Jack Lord. If not for "Hawaii Five-0," I never would have packed my bags and showed up 20 years ago just as malahini as any young haole boy could have been. As in the title of the episode of the show that completely changed my life: "Aloha means goodbye."

Shipper's surcharge is Bush's fault

Blame George W. Bush for Young Bros. Ltd.'s surcharge due to rising oil prices (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 16). It is estimated that about 30 percent to 40 percent of the world's oil price increase is due to the uncertainty of the Iraq war. Bush said Iraq possessed WMD and attacked Iraq based on that lie. He is responsible for the Iraq war.

Also, the Superferry has a 28.3 percent fuel surcharge added to the price of its tickets.

So the fuel surcharge is not limited to Young Bros. There are several other companies that have raised their rates due to the price of oil.

Do the EIS first; that's the law

Regarding the Superferry, the actions of Gov. Linda Lingle in relation to the law and the courts that enforce them are significant. Indeed, there seems to have been no regard for the law. What are laws for then? Why bother?

As for the legislative bill that is being put in place to supercede the existing law, to have the governor put the environmental rules in place is like asking the fox to guard the henhouse (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 18)!

The neighbor islands weren't consulted, as is the law.

Are laws of no account to simply be changed or ignored if the powers that be don't agree? Are we a military dictatorship or a democracy?

Do the EA/EIS before the ferry, as is the law upheld by the Hawaii Supreme Court 5-0.

Do neighbor isles want to secede?

My wife and I moved from Oahu to Maui in 1970 to escape development madness. Then we experienced the overrunning of Maui first hand. When the last secret surf spot appeared on a tourist guide map and the roads gridlocked, we returned to Oahu after 30 years.

The Superferry is not the issue. Its impact on the environment or whales is simply an excuse to stop truckloads of Oahu residents who wish to surf, fish and camp.

The demonstrations against the Superferry are a direct attack upon Oahu residents who would like to enjoy state-maintained parks and beaches on Kauai. This exclusionary mentality leads to succession from the state. How would Kauai fare without easy access to medical and other Oahu benefits? Oahu could do nicely without Kauai. Do the residents of Kauai really think that they could exist apart from the rest of the state? I think not, but that's where this Superferry issue is headed.

Do something about all the trash on Kauai

I visit Kauai for two weeks every year and very much enjoy the island. But every year I find the area around Poipu and the beaches littered with trash.

I find (and pick up) beer bottle caps, cigarette butts, bottles, cans and all sorts of trash. It is a shame to see the island treated like this. Can something be done about this?

While I am at it, I would not be in favor of the interisland ferry. What good could it do but more of what I find on my walks around Kauai. More people equals more trash, unless a concerted effort is made to get it up. Keep Kauai beautiful!

Stop Oahu developers -- start with Disney

Reading the Oct. 4 article about the new Disney resort at Ko Olina makes me sick. As a student at Hawaii Pacific University, a fairly new person to the island, I believe allowing large companies such as Disney on the sacred grounds of Hawaii is a step in the wrong direction.

Did Disney think about what it is going to do to such a beautiful island? Now is the time to stop the building on this island!

This is my first attempt to boycott the building of this resort. I hope people from the whole island stand against the continuation of commercialization on Oahu. Let's band together to stop Jeff Stone from selling all this land to big resort names! It is not too late!

John Kelly stood firm against injustice

When we began the modern day awakening of a movement for justice for our Kanaka Maoli and aina in Kalama Valley in 1970, it was John and Marion Kelly who stood by our side in support and solidarity while many in Hawaii could not understand why the "natives were becoming restless!"

There are those to this day who feel we natives should be satisfied to only sing, dance and entertain at parties, but otherwise be silent about the injustices to our Hawaiian nation; but not John Kelly. He was there in the trenches with us, taking photos of the Kalama Valley experience, using his printing press to help us educate the community, getting his young surfers from "Save Our Surf" to help support and kokua Kalama Valley, Waihole-Waikane, PACE (People Against Chinatown Eviction), Sand Island fishermen and striking garbage collectors and countless other struggles.

John was always there for the "little guy" though he was raised in one of the first few homes built on Black Point Road. His legacy will not be forgotten; he was a great man who dedicated his gifts and talents in pursuit of justice for all; an exemplary citizen who touched the lives of many people in these Hawaiian Islands.

Ua mau ke ea o ka aina I ka pono!