Keep memorial holidays distinct

I applaud those who made the Memorial Day lantern floating event at Magic Island such a success again this year, but I hope that this success doesn’t water down the original intent of Memorial Day. Please remember that the holiday, formerly called Decoration Day, is to honor those who died "while serving our country."

I also hope it does not confuse those who see the similarity between Monday’s grand event and Toro Nagashi, the centuries-old Buddhist lantern floating ceremony that is held at the end of the obon season, to light the way and guide the spirits of ancestors back into their world.

Both Memorial Day and Toro Nagashi are long-standing traditions in the U.S. and Japan, respectively, and deserve to be preserved.

Keith Haugen
Nuuanu

Liu rejected for good reasons

In their essay on Goodwin Liu’s nomination to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Sens. Dan Inouye and Barbara Boxer note that it is "unfathomable" that Senate Republicans blocked the nomination ("Goodwin Liu’s nomination should have been OK’d," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, May 29).

They refer to Liu’s stellar academic qualifications and make repeated irrelevant references to his ethnicity, but fail to note his lack of law practice experience or having served any federal bench time.

Also not mentioned is the Republicans’ real reason for blocking the nomination: Liu’s hard-left judicial philosophy. Liu believes in a "living Constitution, subject to what a judge perceives as societal needs. Republicans do not want another activist judge on the much-reversed liberal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

I hope this helps the senators fathom the failed nomination.

Tom Freitas
Hawaii Kai

Praise for Liu left out much

I read with interest the commentary by Sens. Dan Inouye and Barbara Boxer (see citation in previous letter). It’s not surprising that both of these progressive senators supported Liu. Inouye and Boxer heaped praise on Liu, but didn’t tell the whole story.

For example, Liu believes in an "adapting" Constitution where judges can invent constitutional rights to promote social welfare. He supports reparations for slavery. And he strongly believes in racial quotas for schools, so much so that he thinks there should be inter-district balancing, directed by the judicial system. In other words, forced busing. He has denounced free enterprise, private ownership of property and limited government.

The term "activist judge" doesn’t even come close to how Liu would rule from the bench. But here’s the kicker: He has no courtroom experience.

Sorry, senators, but Liu got what he deserved.

Gilia Rethman
Kaneohe

Hawaiian keiki not fully served

Graduation — what a blessing! Two of my moo­puna (grandchildren) just graduated from preschools in Anahola, Kauai.

Still, many of our Hawaiian keiki are left behind.

With so much land in Anahola, perhaps one day Kamehameha Schools will build a preschool whereby preference will be for our Hawaiian keiki. Perhaps one day, we’ll also have a Kamehameha High School here in Anahola.

Until such time, praise God, we have Kanuikapono Charter School.

Marie M. Torio
Anahola

Families should take care of own

The article "Scratching for good food at school" (Star-Advertiser, May 31) tells how far we have come to dependency.

I am 87 years old and come from a very large family. We all had good healthy lunches made from scratch, lunches made and packed by our mother or older siblings.

When did we start providing meals — sometimes breakfast, lunch and dinner — for school kids? That’s the responsibility of parents. What incentive does the family have as a unit to take care of its own and not rely on others? Auwe!

Lile Hanson
Ewa Beach

Don’t let up on tobacco control

Every year, smoking kills more people than the combined deaths from alcohol, murders, car accidents, drug use and AIDS. Luckily, Hawaii has one of the lowest smoking rates in the nation.

The programs for tobacco prevention have proven worthy of the funds they receive. More than 40,000 people have quit smoking, and statewide youth smoking rates are a reported 11 percent.

It’s scary to think about the potential impact if we take away tobacco-control funding or further reduce it. Progress could backslide. It’s a deadly move.

Other states that have cut tobacco funding have seen positive trends reverse. Smokers will not be the only ones suffering; we will all suffer. We will suffer in a lower quality of life, and pay in the end when health problems that stem from tobacco use settle in and burden Hawaii’s health care system.

Valerie K. Saiki
Kauai Community Coalition coordinator, Kapaa