"HPD fires officer who pleaded guilty to possessing and growing pakalolo," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 14:

» I will be interested in seeing if he files a grievance with SHOPO (the police officers’ union).

» Oh, so there are guidelines!

———

"3 Kaneohe Marines are killed in attack by allies," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 14:

» Get out of Afghanistan! We should never have been duped by President George W. Bush into fighting this war. The terrorists were chased out over 10 years ago and have moved on to other weak countries.

———

"UH chancellor defends athletic program’s red ink," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 14:

» Why should the taxpayer pay more for this bad program? It is an academic institution. Professional sports do not help our students. University of Hawaii Chancellor Tom Apple may not be the person we all thought he was when he was hired.

» Tom Apple questioned whether the state is "willing to pay the price" to be successful. We are not willing to pay the price if the money is to be mismanaged. Maybe if Apple and UH President M.R.C. Greenwood’s salaries and perks packages weren’t so high there would be money left over for other things at UH, including athletics. For Apple to create a job for Donovan at $200K a year and then question whether "the state is willing to pay the price" is being two-faced.

» Athletics is not the problem. Leadership and management of the budget are. We need to cut out the sports that do not pay for themselves. It is as easy as that.

———

"Bail stays at $100K in jet ski homicide," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 15:

» Yes, this accident was a terrible tragedy, and, according to our laws, Tyson Dagley may be guilty of a misdemeanor. That does not excuse the draconian pre-trial punishment he is receiving. The Koko Head trail stabber maniac is free to terrorize students at Windward Community College, ice addicts are summarily released on nominal bail and repeat offenders of actual malicious crimes roam our streets, but this guy is treated like a vicious murderer. I guess he’s an easier target.

» My condolences to the Canton family for their loss. I also can’t help feel sad and sorry for this young man and his family. He did not set out to kill anyone; it was a tragic accident. I just hope that Kristen did not lose her life in vain and that possibly other lives can be saved by stricter jet skiing rules. Tyson Dagley appears to be very remorseful and I hope that somehow the Canton family can find forgiveness in their hearts.

———

"Councilman Berg’s behavior prompts chairman to cut committee assignments," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 15:

» Whether you disapprove of Tom Berg’s less-than-polite behavior at City Council meetings, you have to give him credit for being a selfless warrior for the people, the taxpayers. The only motive behind his anger is a desire to serve the public’s interest, to defeat corruption in our government. He is a true public servant.

» "Selflessness" includes respect for order, witnesses and colleagues. Berg may be correct in this case, but bad manners drive his behavior across the board.

———

"High court rejects state commission’s ruling on Maui water," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 17:

» Thank you to our state Supreme Court for recognizing our state’s obligation of managing our water as a public trust resource.

» I don’t get it, On the one hand the court says Wailuku Water and HC& S have to put more water in the streams, and then says it is OK for taro farmers to take that same water out of the streams. If the aforementioned have to return water to the streams, then others shouldn’t be allowed to take it. That defeats the purpose of restoring the water.

» Taro cultivation uses flowing water through the lo‘i (taro patch). Unlike sugar cane, the water flows through the lo‘i, then back into the source stream. Sugar cane is a thirsty crop. It takes 500 gallons of water to produce a pound of sugar and HC&S had been diverting water for its purposes, resulting in the drying up of multiple streams that fed the lo‘i. Water diverted for the cane is not returned to the streams.

———

"‘I felt like they died for me’," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 17:

» This should be done every year. I have a family member who went down in the USS Arizona and our family thanks you for paying tribute to him. Go, Warriors!

»Kudos to Coach Norm Chow. College and college athletics is about teaching and leading and preparing young people for life. Chow understands this and is utilizing all the uniqueness of the islands and its history to make being a Warrior and a student at University of Hawaii truly a special experience. Now if only the administrative leaders of UH understood this same mission and opportunity in running the school.

———

"Oahu troops among dead in Afghanistan copter crash," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 17:

» So sad. So very sad.

» We can argue whether Afghanistan was worth the cost, but we can never doubt our debt to those who served and those who served and died. They will forever be examples of the best in Americans, a standard against which to judge ourselves, and a silent reproach if we are unable or unwilling to live for what they died for. Rest in peace.

———

"Thief swipes bicycle safety advocate’s ride," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 17:

» That is a sad story but at least you can be comforted in knowing that there is a huge selection of comfort and touring bikes that are built really well and you deserve a "new ride"!

» Gotta watch out. There are a lot of nefarious characters who hang around Honolulu Hale (where the bike was stolen).