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POSTED: Monday, March 08, 2010

Waive schools tuition, testing

It's about time that Kamehameha Schools waive tuition and testing for all.

If they don't do that, only the rich and the “;smart ones”; will get in, and lately, Kamehameha Schools has been caught up in legal cases, splurging our moneys (from Princess Pauahi) on attorneys who are like vultures waiting to come in for the kill.

The only ones who suffer from the lack of ike (understanding) on the part of Kamehameha Schools is our children and our grandchildren, who are the ones who need to be in the schools that were created for educational purposes.

As a mother and grandmother of Hawaiian children, it is my hope that Kamehameha Schools take the leap and drop not only tuition fees, but the “;testing,”; the ways that block all Hawaiian children from benefiting from this sacred trust. Bernice Pauahi Paki Bishop gave of her lands and funds to see her people benefit and make a real life for themselves and their ohana and to play a positive role in their government.

 

               

     

 

 

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Star-Bulletin wins in content, form

I had to laugh when I read the headline about the Honolulu Star-Bulletin buying the Honolulu Advertiser.

It made me remember the underhanded and illegal deal Gannett tried to pull to put the Star-Bulletin out of business by arranging for Liberty Newspapers to dump the paper after a certain time. Some residents may remember signing the S.O.S. (Save Our Star-Bulletin) petitions circulating at that time that helped force Liberty to put the Star-Bulletin up for sale.

I realize the newspaper business in hurting, and also that the Star-Bulletin would really like to regain the use of the presses (which was denied by Gannett). However, I have serious concerns.

The first one is the lack of national columnists of all stripes in the Advertiser compared with the Star-Bulletin. Some of the weekly columnists in your paper have been conservatives: George Will, Cal Thomas and Thomas Sowell. Also featured have been foreign affairs expert Thomas Friedman and 2008 Nobel Prize winner for economics Paul Krugman. There are a number of other well-known columnists from all backgrounds in the Star-Bulletin.

Although I have never bought an Advertiser since 1999, I have seen their editorial pages and have felt their columns and coverage of national issues very narrow.

When you first said that you would be going to a tabloid form, I was not sure I would like it, but I found that it is much easier to read and handle. I hope you can find some way to keep this form.

 

U.S. military did good job in Haiti

I endorse the way our military went into Haiti to help establish the infrastructure so aid could be delivered. This is a peaceful and effective way for the military to be utilized in helping a country recover. I hope this is how the military can be utilized effectively wherever we go. We can live harmoniously with all types of governments. It is wrong to try to have every country become an “;American-style”; democracy.

 

Music funding should not be cut

The news that the Hawaii County Band will not be funded should be viewed as a disgrace to the state of Hawaii as well as Hawaii County. It is unfortunate that the decision-makers in government do not understand the importance of live music and fine arts.

Many adults and parents complain about the kinds of music children listen to. But by not funding live music groups such as the Hawaii County Band, it shows that people really have no reason to complain. By not funding these alternative sources, children will listen to what they hear on radio and TV.

With the decline in education funding, fewer school music groups will survive. With the budget priorities set by the counties, the Hawaii County Band may be no more, and questions are raised about the Royal Hawaiian Band. Who knows about the future of the Honolulu Symphony.

 

Rail, UH repairs separate issues

I am writing in response to Daniel J. Bogert's letter (”;Repairs at UH are shovel ready,”; Star-Bulletin, Feb. 24). As a former student of Brigham Young University-Hawaii, I completely understand UH-Manoa students' desire to get more funding for the university to improve their educational experience. However, they have to understand that funding for school and funding for transit are two separate things. Opposition to funding transit will not make the Federal Transit Administration relocate the money to their school. In other words, they are not talking to the right people to get their concern resolved.

Moreover, higher education and mass transit should work together, not against each other like enemies. When transit improves, UH students will most certainly enjoy the convenience and access made available through the rail extension, which, in general, will be a plus to their campus experience.

 

Elevated rail is the way to go

To oppose elevated rail routes as planned by the rail system engineers is an insult to their profession.

Elevated routes are not subject to stopping for anyone, there's no gridlock, and they stop only to discharge and pick up passengers. This is a swift way to travel. And that's what the people of Oahu really need; a step closer to living in paradise.

 

What happened to code of ethics?

The “;On This Day”; column on the morning of March 3 stated that the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a strict code of ethics in 1977. When are they going to implement it?