In Hawaii, May 1 is also Law Day

May 1 is Law Day and this year’s theme is "Realizing the Dream: Equality for All." The Hawaii State Judiciary has taken major steps in its ongoing effort to realize the dream of equal access to justice.

This past year, at almost no cost to the public, the Judiciary opened self-help centers in courthouses in Hilo and on Kauai and Maui, staffed by volunteer attorneys.

Oahu already had, for many years, court-staffed customer service centers in the Family and Honolulu District Courts.Last year, however, in collaboration with the State Bar Association, Access to Justice Commission, Legal Aid Society and AmeriCorps, the Judiciary opened Access to Justice Rooms in both courthouses, where volunteer lawyers provide free legal advice to parties representing themselves in civil cases.

Not only does the Access to Justice Room provide welcome assistance to self-represented litigants, it gives attorneys the opportunity to provide direct legal services to the public.

Hilary Benson Gangnes
First Circuit District Court judge

Hanabusa, Schatz the same

What is the controversy over U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz? Both share the same Obama policies of perpetual war, violation of civil liberties, and the furtherance of the corporate state.

Richard Lightner
Waipahu

Cartoon insulted Bush, library

I am saddened by the bad taste the Star-Advertiser used in running a cartoon that negatively depicted the George W. Bush Library the day after the former president’s library was opened (Star-Advertiser, April 26). No class!

Kathy Novak
Moanalua Valley

Prom article was inspiration

Thank you for the wonderful pictures and article on special-needs students being able to celebrate their high school prom ("Sash and crown, corsage and memories," Star-Advertiser, April 29).

After all the bombings, drownings and natural disasters, it was so refreshing to see these students who had never felt included in other prom activities being able to cut loose in a safe environment.

With the support of their teachers, parents, friends and even a state representative, they danced the "shimmy, pop, lock, pogo and boogie" with abandon. They even crowned a king and queen who "held court over the best party in town."

The joy on their faces brought tears to my eyes and a smile I carried around all day. What a rare treat!

Linda Carlson
Palolo

Prom day shows joy of living

Thank you for placing coverage of the prom for special-needs kids on the front page. I see some of them quite often on the bus, and their joy in life and expressions of friendship light up the day for me.

Let’s all enjoy the blessings of their presence.

Beverly Kai
Kakaako

Hee wrong on minimum wage

State Sen. Clayton Hee chastised his fellow legislators for failing to pass a minimum-wage-hike bill implying that they were not helping those below the living wage ("Minimum-wage hike proposal falls short," Star-Advertiser, April 27).

With all due respect to the senator, the minimum wage was never intended to be a living wage. It gave opportunities for entry-level workers (usually high school kids living at home) to join the work force, make some money but learn about working and life. It was a great way to learn what it takes to make it in the real world.

When I was 16 and began at the Maui Pine cannery, it was not because I had great skill sets, but I and many other kids got a real lesson in the real world, on what it takes to show up and do a good job, take orders and have a clue on what going to work is all about.

Raising the minimum wage would only discourage business owners from hiring young kids with no experience.

Scotty Anderson
Honolulu

Avoid ‘Roundup Ready’ products

The Monsanto issue is threefold:

» Are GMO (genetically modified organism) seeds bad for the environment, and their foods unhealthy?

» Should GMO-generated foods be labeled?

» Should Monsanto be allowed to sue "seed savers" for patent violations?

If GMO foods are labeled, we can choose whether or not to consume them. Monsanto’s seeds include their "Roundup Ready" seeds, are designed to resist Monsanto’s Roundup pesticide — one good reason to avoid "Roundup Ready" soy products.

Monsanto, which controls much of the global seed market, attacks seed-saving farmers who refuse to re-purchase their seeds every year. In the U.S., Monsanto has sued hundreds of farmers, and won every case. Thousands more have settled out of court and paid stiff fines.

Of the three issues — health, disclosure and economics — the third is the most potentially devastating. By disallowing subsistence farmers to save seeds, Monsanto is starving the planet, not feeding it.

John Wythe White
Haleiwa

GMOs can ease food shortages

The GMO issue is becoming ridiculous. Opponents of GMO (genetically modified organism) foods may have good intentions but display scientific ignorance. There is nothing mysterious or evil about GMO foods. They are simply food products that have been modified to enhance size, taste, economy to the consumer and availability. Modification of our foods is as ancient as mankind. To be sure, using poisons and other chemicals on already planted crops is debatable but that is not the issue here.

Another reader said doctors have had to treat patients for harmful effects of GMO foods, but I am unaware of any such studies and would welcome documentation to the contrary.

With our (U.S.) abundance of food in general, GMO foods seem mostly a matter of economics and convenience to consumers — but for countries where starvation and food shortages are common, GMO foods can be lifesaving.

There are many more important issues to deal with in this world at this time. Please let it go!

Geoffrey V. Davis
Aiea

Rich invest in early education

Everybody in Hawaii who has ignored early education in our public schools ought to read "No Rich Child Left Behind," by Sean F. Reardon in The . The reason the rich are not like everyone else is because they start educating their kids in the crib.

For the same reason that children who begin learning football when they are 3 or 4 end up in the NFL draft, kids who learn the three R’s and math end up in MIT and Harvard. In New York, the rich have preschool test preparation tutors. Maybe our teachers would get a lot better results if their students were better prepared. The rich think so.

Jim Growney
Diamond Head