Dancer took her name from Hilo Hattie song

The Hilo Hattie Web site and the Star-Bulletin's May 10 article on the new ownership of the aloha-wear stores don't tell the whole story of how the Hilo Hattie name originated. Before it became Clara Haili Inter's stage name, Hilo Hattie was the title of a song ("When Hilo Hattie Does the Hula Hop") written by my father years before Clara became famous in Hawaii.

After many years of my dad featuring Clara's dancing to "HILO HATTIE" with HIS orchestra at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, she came to him one day and asked if she might be given permission to change her name legally to Hilo Hattie, which he, of course, graciously gave her permission to do. They were very good friends. That's how that happened.

Ted Nelson, new owner of the aloha-wear stores, says in the Star-Bulletin story, "We like what Hilo Hattie stands for." I do, too, Ted -- a great father, wonderful musician, a great teacher (just ask any of his hundreds of pupils, many of whom are professionals now), and one of the most honest men I have ever met in my life. Let's keep the record straight.

New homes will dog golf course birds

The killing of 90 some wedge-tailed shearwater birds on the Kahuku golf course by loose dogs is exasperatingly tragic when one thinks these colonies coexisted with the golfers, beach goers and fishermen for years (Star-Bulletin, May 7).

But this might be only the beginning of the birds' problems. Continental Pacific is proposing reconfiguring the Kahuku golf course for a road and infrastructure for 18 lots for high-end homes along the beach side of the golf course. The birds will then have to decide whether to pack their bags and leave or get run over by the bulldozers. Who let the dogs out?

Hawaii's generosity can heal sick baby

I live near the Nakachi family, and I was appalled that in this great nation a child -- a small, sweet, newborn struggling for life -- has to deal with the atrocities of the American medical system ("A mother's plea: Get your kicks and help a sick baby," Star-Bulletin, May 11).

I have seen the garage sales, plate lunch booths and fund-raisers that have happened in a desperate attempt to help this family. The amount needed to help baby Tahlia is overwhelming for an individual ohana, but not for our Hawaii ohana.

What greater gift for Mother's Day can we give to Hollie Nakachi and her family than the life-saving surgery her child needs? If each of us in the Hawaii ohana could contribute only a few dollars, we could lift this burden from this struggling family. You won't feel the pinch of a few dollars in your life, but baby Tahlia will get life.

Gasoline consumers do have a choice

Gasoline consumers of Hawaii, now is the time to act!

For too long we have mindlessly gone to the pumps and paid whatever price was listed. The gas stations were virtually in collusion with each other to keep the prices high. They really never had to compete with each other because to us a few cents really never mattered.

Now it should. Now we should make the gas stations compete for our business.

Do the research. If you know of a station down the street that sells gas for a cent less, go there! If another station goes lower, switch and go there!

We don't need a gas cap law to keep prices down. All we need is real competition. Reward the lower-priced stations with your business.

Traffic will clear up as gas prices rise

I think I see the solution to our traffic congestion on the horizon. Rail or no rail, it's the rising cost of gas. And, once there are fewer cars on the road, insurance rates will rise. Two cars in every garage will be a thing of the past, and there will be convenient parking available everywhere. The 12-mile drive to and from work will be less than 40 minutes, even after dropping the kids off and picking them up at school.

Sure, there are down sides: It will probably cost, what, maybe, $60 or $80 a day to drive. Ah, to dream.

Court should treat teen suspect as adult

Anybody who is capable of committing violent crimes such as rape and murder in the Karen Ertell case should be tried as an adult and receive the maximum penalty allowed by law ("Suspect's age delays trial in Ertell case," Star-Bulletin, April 13).

The punishment should coincide with the crime. The non-decision by the judge in this case is a travesty of justice.