Give BOE election more coverage

There’s an option that seems to be mostly left out of the debate over an elected vs. appointed Board of Education: an informed public.

What if the state Office of Elections and the media put more effort into sharing and airing information about the views of BOE candidates?

What if voters took more responsibility for educating themselves about the candidates?

President correct about Chamber

The Insight article and accompanying cartoon ("President plays xenophobia card," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 14) grossly misrepresented the issues at stake in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is not merely criticizing the Democrats’ economic policies; it is mounting a $75 million campaign of attack ads against Democratic candidates using money that comes in part from foreign entities that have interests in the outcome of U.S. elections. Not only does the Chamber have members that are foreign-owned companies, it also receives donations from foreign individuals, corporations and governments that it does not segregate from funds received from U.S. members.

It avoids direct violation of the law only by the pretense that the ads are "issue ads" that "just happen" to target one party’s candidates.

President Barack Obama was absolutely right to point this out. We as citizens have a right to know who is funding attempts to sway our votes.

Hawaii could use Confucious, too

I found the article by Daniel K. Gardner both surprising and fascinating ("China turns again to Confucius," Star-Advertiser. Oct. 4).

Mr. Gardner explains that Confucius gave attention to two overarching matters: What makes for good government, and what makes for a morally good individual. The ideal ruler embodies virtue, which is expressed in his unfailingly benevolent treatment of the people.

Confucius also characterized what makes for a good person: someone who professes a love of learning; strives to achieve benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom; treats others as he would wish to be treated; is trustworthy and loyal as a friend; and is caring as a parent or an official.

We would do well as voters in the election of our next governor to consider this great wisdom of Confucius as a guide.

Kuliouou area used to be rural

I read Robert B. Graham’s letter with some amusement ("Haleiwa hotel would be great," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 14). He evidently lives in Kuliouou and stated that it would be great to go to a hotel in Haleiwa to spend some time in the country.

I grew up in Kuliouou back in the ’40s and ’50s and it was country then. Once you passed Kahala, where the electric trolley turned around, you had to catch a gas bus that turned around at Koko Head. There were a few homes along the highway, the Ranch House in Aina Haina, the RCA station, now the Lunalilo Home, and Koko Head Tavern. Just about everything else was farms.

Wailupe was the first real development, and soon other larger developments started taking place. The farms and rural life disappeared.

I can see the same thing happening in Haleiwa and Laie. In 20 or 30 years, there will be no country on Oahu.

A sidewalk is a sidewalk is a …

Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary defines a sidewalk as "a walk for foot passengers at the side of a street or road; a foot pavement."

The police, attorneys and other city officials claim that the city will have to spend $250,000 to determine what constitutes a pedestrian-use zone.

I believe Webster’s has already done that for us, and I offer this for free.

Also, it does not distinguish between day and night. Citizens want and deserve the sidewalks day and night.

Want to camp out? Get a permit.