Holidays for family, friends, fellowship

What has happened to our tradition of a good ‘ol Thanksgiving Day? Fellowship with friends and family, time to enjoy the weekend with family we often do not get to see regularly, and just being grateful for all we have. We are fortunate to live here where the sun shines every day, tradewinds cools our hearts, our blue Pacific Ocean calms our soul, and fresh water nurtures our wholesome gardens.

Now, Thanksgiving dinner brought by families to loved ones waiting in line for stores to open, or having Thanksgiving dinner with newfound friends just met waiting in those same lines, brings a new tradition.

However, no child expects toys and latest tech gadgets to replace love and wholesome time with family that this holiday weekend really projects. They prefer your time. Love, fellowship and relationships with friends and family is the true meaning of this holiday season.

Hasn’t it always been?

Nancy Wong
Kaneohe

UH-Manoa proud of international ties

At the University of Hawaii-Manoa, the Manoa International Education Committee meets monthly to study and put into action initiatives to forward international education.

Over the last calendar year, in addition to the 1,390 figure your paper reported on the number of international students, which accounts for those with F-1 and J-1 student visa status, 151 students arrived from Pacific Compact Free Association states, and an additional 300 with alternate visa status.

Furthermore, last year UH-Manoa hosted more than 2,100 international students, who participated in short-term programs. Every year, we send out more than 450 students on study abroad programs, and an additional 150 on independent student exchange. We are also in conversation to build ways to offer UH-Manoa student scholarships to enhance these and other study overseas programs.

The figures reported on Monday are just the tip of the iceberg ("Tally of foreigners attending UH plummets," Star-Advertiser, Nov. 19). Our state can be proud of our international engagement, but it must also be aware that there is still much more to be done.

Edward J. Shultz
Assistant vice chancellor for International and Exchange Programs, University of Hawaii at Manoa

UH spending shows poor judgment

I concur with state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim’s concern about the appropriateness of hiring law firms and a public relations firm to represent the university in the Stevie Wonder fiasco ("Panel doubts value of legal, PR services hired by UH," Star-Advertiser, Nov. 23).

The outside law firms were employed to keep information from the Senate Special Committee on Accountability and the PR firm was employed to fashion a pretty face on an unsightly public affair. Taxpayer funds should not be used for these purposes.

This raises questions about the administrative ability of UH President M.R.C. Greenwood. Instead of her initial concern about her job, she should have instead gotten ahead of this whole affair, taken charge, used the UH’s own staff general counsel and recognized the impropriety of these expenditures.

Joe Gedan
Round Top

Voters have spoken, give Leeward rail

I am tired of the rehashing of issues or candidates when voting has determined what the majority of the people want.

It was the will of the majority that rail is a go.Yet the minority continue to fight, block and squander the funds allocated to move this project forward.

If there are issues regarding the funds, then we should work together to solve them, but not reverse or discuss all over again this decision.

Leeward Oahu has received the least amount of funds for improvements and is the largest, and still growing, sector of population on this island.Leeward is still suffering daily massive traffic on the freeway and side roads daily. Is there no end to what the rest of the island has a right to, that Leeward does not?

Alan Megia
Waipahu

Elected officials must move together

"Imua e na poki‘i a inu i ka wai ‘awa’awa, ‘a‘ohe hope e ho‘i mai ai" — the battle cry of Hawaii’s great warrior-king, Kamehameha I; prior to a battle, he addressed his warriors endearingly as his younger brothers, saying, "Go forward and drink of the bitter waters (engage the opposition with every fiber of your being); there is no retreat!"

In today’s challenging times, I, as a keiki o ka aina, call upon all supporters of President Barack Obama to stand united as we move forward together.

My thoughts are with my kaikamahine and mo‘opunakane.

Sens. Daniel Inouye and Mazie Hirono, Reps. Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard — kokua!

Patrick Keliinui
Kapahulu

Videoconferencing makes good sense

Thank you to Barbara Krasniewski for her letter regarding conducting a conference call between the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and Ansaldo executives ("Conference call would save cash," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 21). It’s only common sense versus HART’s request to fly out the executives. I agree with Barbara that HART had the nerve to request to fly them out here.

It’s bad enough that HART also requested more funding, including for Wi-Fi. I say forget that, and forget rail altogether!

Alexis M. Liftee
Nuuanu