Federal official not too encouraging

Hooray! The cavalry has arrived!

Two high-level federal bureaucrats from the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness are here to help solve our homelessness problem (“Kakaako is in ‘crisis,’” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 21).

Matthew Doherty, the executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, had a lot to say, but everything he said we already knew.

Not a single profound thought, but ending with the not-so-encouraging comment that he doesn’t know the exact “strategies that will be effective.”

It would have been nice if he could have cited some USICH success stories.

Steve Chang
Chinatown

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Homeless need jobs, skilled and unskilled

Hawaii’s state and city governments, as well as regular citizens of Hawaii, are doing their best to help ease the life of homeless families here.

The homeless people must understand they are citizens of the United States and must obey the laws of the government; if they don’t, they will be punished like any one of us.

The homeless must realize they are not privileged citizens; they should appreciate any help the government and citizens offer, and should do their best to get out of homelessness.

The government should create a government-operated factory where it can employ unskilled and skilled people. Many of the homeless people are not educated about computers. They are unable to apply for any job nowadays because most companies are computer-operated.

Bring back the factory like the old pineapple company; these canneries were a great help to many unskilled employees and gave them financial help, instead of handouts that are causing the taxpayers hardship now.

This is what Hawaii needs to bring back the homeless families to be members of our society again.

Kenneth Yoda
Pearl City

Happy birthday, Duke Kahanamoku

In this month, when many are paying tribute to Duke Kahanamoku, whose birthday is Aug. 24, it seems fitting to mention Duke’s boys.

Back in the early days of canoe competition, Duke gathered up a group of young men who loved the ocean. They formed a canoe team. He mentored and coached them. They won almost every race they entered. They were known as Duke’s boys. They developed great love and respect for him.

When Duke died, Duke’s boys paddled the canoe that took his ashes out to sea.

After he died, every year on his birthday, as long as they were physically able, Duke’s boys paddled out to Duke’s spot, said a prayer, scattered blossoms and remembered.

Every year, something seemed to show that he heard — a school of fish swimming around the canoe, birds overhead, a gentle ocean swell, a light mist.

Happy birthday, Duke.

Mary Louise O’Brien
Kaneohe

Atherton House fostered friendships

Although I lived at Atherton House only during the fall semester of 1941 (74 years ago!), I have fond memories of my time there.

Having just come from California, I was tossed into a chop suey of foreign, outer island and local students.

Very interesting, and a real introduction to Hawaii.

Several of the ones I met there have been my friends ever since.

Interestingly, my part-time job while attending the University of Hawaii was for Frank Atherton, as an orchid grower with his large collection.

His home is now the residence of the UH president.

Ted Green
Kaaawa

Give news coverage to keiki competitors

The 40th Annual Queen Liliuokalani Keiki Hula Competition occurred on July 23-25.

The first day started with 25 children, ages 5-12, competing for the titles of Miss and Master Keiki Hula.

There were also entrants from Japan.

The following two nights continued with the competition of kane and wahine hula kahiko and hula auana, similar to events at the Merrie Monarch competition for the adults.

Where was the Honolulu Star-Advertiser?

Why was no one there to document the event and give praise to the winners, their parents and their kumus?

The children worked very hard to prepare for this competition, not to mention traveling from the neighbor islands as well as Japan for this great event.

If the Merrie Monarch is so praised and published in the newspaper, shouldn’t the keiki be, too?

Do you realize what this type of media recognition does for the children, especially the winners, their families and kumus — memorializing this once-in-a-lifetime honor?

The Star-Advertiser should support the children of Hawaii.

Clare Choo
Waipahu

Blackout warnings bad sign for future

On the evening news, I watched a Hawaiian Electric spokesman warn the public about a possible rolling blackout due to the increased demand for electricity because of the hot and humid weather.

He urged the public to reduce the use of air conditioning, cook at later times and do other things to reduce electricity use at peak times.

The spokesman also said that all power production units at the power plants are on line and there are no problems.

What is going to happen when the developments in Kakaako and Ewa are completed? Are we going to have to live with permanent rolling blackouts?

The developers projected a better economy and housing for Hawaii, but it seems like that we are going to have future problems with our electricity, water and sewers.

Steven Okuhara
Hawaii Kai