Soccer finally gets its due in Hawaii

Well, it is here folks. It is time to step up to the pitch It has been 34 years since our youth soccer programs began the sport's explosion on our islands that aided all aspects of soccer in high schools, colleges and adult participation. Now we have the greatest show on earth coming to our pride of the Pacific, Aloha Stadium, with the likes of Brian Ching, David Beckham, Landon Donovan and others on great teams from Japan, Australia, the L.A. Galaxy, the Houston Dynamo ... many of us have waited for this time to come, so come on join us in support of the event so they will come back to our fields of dreams.

With tickets price from $10 up, how can we miss? There isn't a bad seat in the house, behind the goal or on the sidelines. That is why the Pro Bowl sells out every year, and we have the the Jumbotron to view the fast action you might have missed by blinking

For the good of the game, imua -- and hele on to the biggest soccer happening ever in the islands.

Even Vietnam's roads are better than ours

My husband and I just returned from a 12-day trip to Vietnam and while there we couldn't help but take note of the smooth, non-potholed roads that our bus rode on from the north to the south of the country. How is it, we wondered, that the poor, nearly Third World country of Vietnam can have better roads than Hawaii? It's certainly not that those roads are not used, because traffic was always heavy with thousands of motorbikes as well as larger vehicles. It's certainly not that the roads are not subjected to extreme temperatures and heavy rainfall.

Perhaps those in charge of our city and state roadways should check out what the Vietnamese road departments know and do that is not known and done here.

Rival guide took fun out of Haleakala ride

Regarding the downhill bike ride at Haleakala (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 7): My family and I did an independent ride booking through Maui Sunriders on Feb. 14. I found them to be professional; they warned us about the dangers of our downhill trek. I am an experienced bicycler and felt that we would have no problem as long as we kept our wits about us and paid attention to the road.

What I didn't expect was the behavior of one of the guided tours that came upon us on the way. Maui Mountain Cruisers approached us from behind without warning and told us to "pick up the pace or pull over" as the guide's group was coming through. Otherwise, he said, he was going to call the police. All of this took place in just a few minutes, not allowing my small group of two to respond.

After they passed us, the company's van and sag wagon then pulled over into the bike lane. We could only presume that it was to slow us down and keep us from following too close behind, a dangerous tactic at that. Our bike excursion was ruined as we were frightened for our safety for the remainder of the trip.

Only a fool would think that a trip downhill such as this is safe. You bike at your peril and as such are responsible for yourself. What scares me is that I can't be responsible for the guides who are supposed to know better. If biking down Haleakala is to survive as a sport, then those who profit from it need to oversee their own.

What do Obama's words really mean?

In a half-page campaign advertisement in Monday's Star-Bulletin, the following Barack Obama quote was highlighted: "We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

Say what? What does that mean? That quote could mean almost anything to anyone -- perhaps that's the intent. Where's the beef? Incredibly, that was all the substance there was in that half-page ad! There definitely needs to be more substance behind the candidate; I'm eager for him to reveal it.

Dinnertime calls don't help political causes

I've always viewed unsolicited telemarketing as an insidious and unwelcome way to do business. I am really tired of the unwanted recorded messages that I have been receiving during the dinner hour from the Democratic Party this past week. Why in the world would I want to vote for anybody who obviously endorses and utilizes this obnoxious practice?

Give them benefit of doubt on plagiarism

It is so interesting that Sen. Hillary Clinton is accusing Sen. Barack Obama of plagiarism.

The good senator from New York has been paraphrasing George Santayana ("Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it") and William Gladsone ("A politician is one who looks for the next election. A statesman is one who looks for the next generation").

In the end it is often speechwriters who plagiarize.