School officials allowed bullying

I read with frustration the article about the racial and sexual harassment of a student at Waianae High School ("Bullying prompts retraining," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 17).

While Hawaii is often described as a "melting pot," anyone who has lived here knows there is an undercurrent of racism. We have just practiced the art of denial for so long we can’t tell the difference between our fantasy and reality.

What is frustrating is that the administrators and the teachers who did nothing — which should be interpreted as supporting this racist behavior — will most likely not experience any consequences other than participating in "sensitivity training." If this occurred in the private sector, they may very well have lost their jobs.

Not only should sensitivity training be routine for all staff and students, there must be consequences to those who ignore it.

Election guide not much help

I am disappointed that the only question to state House and Senate candidates printed in the Star-Advertiser’s General Election Guide was "How would you have voted on House Bill 444, the civil unions bill?"

Many of us would rather know about each candidate’s stance regarding the economy, joblessness, homelessness, education, housing, transportation, taxes.

Instead of informing citizens about our candidates’ perspectives on complex civic issues, the Star-Advertiser reduced the campaign to a single, polarizing, hot-button social issue.

Target doesn’t belong in Kailua

It is not too late for Target to acknowledge that Kailua is unsuitable for a big-box store.

Target’s Kona, Salt Lake and Kapolei stores are successful because they are sited on the outskirts of towns, near highways where size, aesthetics and traffic are not a problem for residents. But Kailua is not Kapolei. Residents and tourists familiar with Kailua know that planting a 130,000-square-foot store in its heart will undermine the pedestrian-friendly interaction Kailua is working hard to preserve.

Cricket article was lovely

I don’t often delve into the sports section, but the article, "Cricket has roots in Hawaii," drew me in (Star-Advertiser, Oct. 15).

Me mum’s an Aussie, and while she didn’t teach me to play, she taught me how to understand the rules when we watched it on TV and when we visited her rellies. I was amused, however, by Mark Berwick’s comment that it’s "too hot for tea in Hawaii" to explain why no tea was served between innings. Mum always said that if you drink tea in hot weather that it would make you perspire a bit, and that would cool you off. I look forward to taking her to a local cricket match with a thermos of tea. Thank you for this lovely article.

Obama should get more credit

Bob Freeman, referring to President Barack Obama states: "We elect a leader of the wealthiest country in the world a man who has never managed so much as a paper route." ("Voters to blame for sad situation," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 16).

Obama created, staffed and managed the most incredible presidential campaign ever seen in this country. In the process he demonstrated the extraordinary management skills that make him such a great president.

‘Hardship’ plea seems specious

Thank you for your Kyo-ya editorial ("City weak on Waikiki planning," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 8).

The city was indeed weak on Waikiki planning, but so were you in reporting on this important issue. You stood by too long detached and silent, watching the travesty of the sell-out of our environmental laws unfold.

How can the city justify granting variances of such magnitude and consequences based on the "hardship" argument presented by the developer?

The Waikiki Special Design Ordinance was in place long before the hedge fund Cerberus became the main stakeholder in the Moana Surfrider property. The Moana hotel has not changed shape, or historic status, nor has the lot grown narrower since. The development restrictions and challenges under the Special Design Ordinance were known, and probably considered in the acquisition price. Did Kyo-ya/Cerberus count on being able to circumvent the restrictions later? And this by pleading hardship and using political influence to undercut our environmental laws and public interest in order to benefit corporate investors?