From the forum at StarAdvertiser.com

Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.

"Greenwood points to political pressure,"Star-Advertiser, Sept. 25:

» There’s no accountability. University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood blames Gov. Neil Abercrombie. He denies it. Not one person is willing to say, "I made a mistake." Therefore, there is no way to ensure this never happens again. Business as usual at UH. Nothing will change. The person that wired the money, without a solid contract, should be fired (and possibly investigated for being involved).

» The depth and dimension of the incompetence at UH is educational.

» I admired the way Greenwood handled herself. Considering all the pressure and stress she has been through, I was impressed that she was able to stand her ground and tell her side as well. I agree that this will go nowhere because it will not bring back the money, so I think we should just move on.

» So who did authorize the transfer of the money? Greenwood, refusing to name names unless she was put under oath, seems as if she was just making up the "political pressure" excuse to keep Donovan around. The situation is no clearer than it was before yesterday’s Q&A session, but many people predicted that. The only new information is that the governor was involved. And since his denial is only a press release, maybe Sen. Donna Mercado Kim should invite him to her next session.

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"Paddlers in global spotlight after tackling 12-foot wave," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 25:

» Warrior women! Good job, ladies. I would be crying like a baby and praying like never before. But, that’s me.

» There is no excuse for not cancelling the race. Had anyone died, the comments would have been much different. The fact that nobody did, was a miracle.

» You don’t need anyone to tell you not to go into the ocean if you are afraid of wave heights. If you feel that the ocean is too much for you, then don’t go.

Extreme sports appeal to extreme athletes. Mountain climbing, big wave surfing, bull riding, racing, and many other extreme sports all have danger built in to the activity. All of those sports have taken lives. The reason you take part in the sport is the thrill of the action, the memories that stay with you for the rest of your life. There’s nothing like it, nothing.

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"Kawamoto steps up work at Kahala site,"Star-Advertiser, Sept. 27:

» It is hilarious to watch Genshiro Kawamoto engage in this mysterious endeavor. I drove by Saturday afternoon and was presented with the most comical sight of this property, cheap pagoda statues scattered about. I laughed. Kawamoto either has a wonderful sense of humor that only wealth can indulge or he is just proof money and taste are mutually exclusive.

» The current owner is a bit long in the tooth to be able to have the time, according to how slowly he proceeds, to match what he is trying to replace. It will all work out in the end, as in most things of this nature.

» The Kahala aristocracy is up in arms. But the more complaining the aristocrats do, the more gaudy and appalling Kawamoto is likely to develop his properties in a sort of faux-European style. This is a "tribute" to his disapproving neighbors!

» Wah, Wah. Poor Kahala snobs. At least it’s not crack houses.

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"FAA gives state $250,000 for space tourism efforts,"Star-Advertiser, Sept. 27:

» What a waste of money. This study was done years ago, and it was decided that Ka Lae Point was the best place, as it is the most southern and closest to the equator. However, residents of the Big Island did not want a spaceport on their sacred land, so nothing happened.

» We have a third-class airport but the Federal Aviation Administration gives a quarter-million dollars to "space tourism." Great sense of priorities.

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"Court turns down city’s call for do-over on rail project ruling," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 28:

@Body text1:» Good to see the courts slap some sense into them, saying, yes, the laws do apply to you. What were you thinking? Way to go bureaucrats, wasting up to $100 million due to your willful failure to simply follow the law. What you should all do is apologize for your willful failures and resign.

» The city administration and Hono-lulu Authority for Rapid Transportation are still rushing to disaster, all at the cost to the taxpayer. But then again, why not? It’s not their money.

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"Arcades raided for sweepstakes machines," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 28:

» Yes, it is a gambling device but not as defined by Hawaii law. Why is Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro wasting police resources on something that will, in the end, be thrown out of court?

» It is an election year and Kaneshiro is a politician first and a prosecutor second.

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"NCAA’s inquiry of UH rolls on," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 28:

» This has been ongoing. Lots of rumors last year, none substantiated. Most rumors centered around a couple of players but no coaches. This probably will end soon but there appears to be no coverup.

» Big time college sports has taken away from the main intent of a higher educational system, that is to get a good education. Downsize to Division II and redirect funding to academics.