UH football program needs better finances

In light of the chronic and severe cuts to instructional services at the University of Hawaii, perhaps it’s time to revisit the debate over whether UH wants to be an institution of learning or a backdrop for notorious scandals and fiscal irresponsibility in our embarrassing football program.

Ever since the June Jones days that reconfigured the football program and instituted the practice of paying outrageous (and usually undeserved) salaries to coaches, the taxpayers and students have been forced to subsidize a relatively few student-athletes, coaches and staff, while programs that really educate and develop young minds have been sacrificed.

Isn’t it time that we hold the football program to the same fiscal restraints and limitations that the UH imposes on the rest of the university community? If the supporters of the football program really want it, they will put their own money up and guarantee the football budget will never be red in the future.

Francis M. Nakamoto
Moanalua Valley

Tour operators wrong to sell ‘free’ tickets

As a former tour guide, I can attest to the fact that there is a major influx of foreign visitors to the USS Arizona Memorial national park. The supposed selling of free entrance tickets cannot be ignored.

A balance between the non-touring public and tours sold by tour operators is critical. Original planning is vastly outdated with today’s marketing to foreign markets. As the No. 1 supposedly non-fee tourist site on Oahu, the National Park Service needs to revisit the actual memorial itself for accommodating more people, more service boats and more personnel.

The service should fine or revoke permits and the privilege of bringing guests to Pearl Harbor from tour operators found to have violated park rules by charging for what is free.

The park service also needs to end the sale of advance tickets to tour operators. That was never the original intent of this national park. Two wrongs do not make a right.

Paul "Pappy" Lowe
Moiliili

Palace vandal given pretty light sentence

It’s illuminating to see just how the legal system works in Hawaii ("Woman given year in jail for Iolani Palace break-in," Star-Advertiser, Nov. 13).

Case in point: The willful destruction of an irreplaceable artifact — a custom-made, etched-glass panel from the Iolani Palace valued at well over $100,000 — led to a conviction as follows: The presiding judge, in all his legal wisdom, decides that an $11,500fine, the cost to replace an artifact with a piece of junk, is a sufficient fine. The felon does get a one-year sentence, but, get this, this conviction can be cleared by just being good for the next four years.

We all know that our parole board will not stand for such a long sentence. Best bet is six months, max.

James Robinson
Aiea

Enforce anti-noise law against boom boxes

The loud boom-box noise blasting from car radios has got to stop.

Sitting in your car waiting for the green light, with a boom box blasting behind you, you can feel the vibration in your car. The sound also travels up into our apartments. It’s nerve-wracking. I don’t want to support a hearing-aid business. I just want to maintain my healthy hearing.

It took time and taxpayer money to get a noise ordinance, so why is it not being enforced?

The solution? First-time offenders should pay a $50 fine. For a second offense, take the car and let the offender ride TheBus and pay the cost of getting the noise box back.

Result: We get relief from the noise and the city gets much-needed money.

Joan Johnson
Ala Moana

Thanksgiving history not well understood

As the end-of-the-year holiday season approaches, may I, a British-born gentleman, gently remind American readers, first, of Andy Warhol’s famous barb, that "shopping is more American than thinking," and, second, that Thanksgiving:

» Is not a global holiday;

» Was not observed on the same day in the U.S. until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln initiated the tradition;

» Does not commemorate the first English settlement in America, which occurred not in 1620 at Plymouth Rock but, rather, in 1607 at Jamestown;

» Is not a cause of celebration among Native Americans, whose ancestors were the victims of a multitude of evils perpetrated by name-calling, land-grabbing and disease-carrying invaders from foreign shores.

Those seeking an antidote to the "feel-good" propaganda about Thanksgiving that is too often swallowed faster than an American turkey should consult "The Truth About the First Thanksgiving," Chapter 3 of James W. Loewen’s award-winning book, "Lies My Teacher Told Me."

James Henry Smithson
Moiliili

FROM THE FORUM

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.

­­­­­“Takai heads to Washington with hope for bipartisan unity,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 17:

>> He is going to Congress and will hit a brick wall.

>> What a waste of opportunity. We could have had a representative who could actually accomplish something. We deserve the politicians we voted for.

>> What’s done is done. I would give him the benefit of doubts and wish him the best of luck. He needs it, as do we all.

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“King Street track should keep cyclists off sidewalks,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 17:

>> Not to worry. I am sure that the Hawaii Bicycling League will have 24/7 citizen patrols at every corner to make sure that bicyclists stay off the sidewalks, respect traffic signals, yield in green zones, stay well clear of pedestrians and follow other rules of the road.

>> Somebody is going to get badly injured, be it a bicyclist, a pedestrian or someone who parked and is going to feed their meter. Road rage on South King Street will increase, too, with the loss of a lane of traffic.

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“Easing of rules for ohana units sought,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 18:

>> While easing these rules is a good move, the existing rules are rarely enforced, as one can tell passing through many neighborhoods.

>> Being that every other owner in my currently quiet and respectful neighborhood currently rents to tenants other than family members, I can’t see how this change in zoning law will have any negative impact on neighborhoods. Parking issues do need to be addressed though. 

>> OK, now, which neighborhoods get the new ADU (accessory dwelling unit) exemptions? Or will the exemptions be given according to lot size? That’s when neighbors go against neighbors.

>> Ohana units sound good until a few go in next to you and all of a sudden you have double the density of people, double the traffic, double the problems. Then you realize there was a reason to limit them in the past.

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“Pacific Air Forces will lose no one because of budget cuts,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 18:

>> The Army is obsolete, isolated, redundant and no longer needed on Oahu. The Air Force, Navy and Marines are not being cut on Oahu because they are relevant, deployable and strategic.

>> Economically it is not good for Hawaii but a reduction in Army and Marine forces in Hawaii is appropriate to match the changes that are best for the U.S. military.

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“Vets get vouchers for medical help,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 19:

>> What is not addressed is the complete lack of trust and confidence in the Veterans Administration by a very large number of veterans due to the debacle that it has been for more than half a century. With the Choice Card, a vet must receive approval from the VA and be treated by doctors on its list. Despite what has been reported, we know of no one who has been fired or disciplined. There should be a very long line there.

>> I received the card two weeks ago and was told that I would be contacted in two to three days to “activate” it. I’m still waiting. Also, I called in August for an appointment with my primary care doctor and was given an appointment for June 2015. Anyone who tells you that the wait time is lessened doesn’t know what they are talking about. I think the VA doctors, nurses and technicians are great. I just can’t get in to see them.

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“Homicide case was flubbed, prosecutor admits,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 19:

>> How refreshing to have an elected official admit a mistake and own up by taking responsibility for it.

>> He took responsibility? When does his resignation become effective?

>> An apology? That’s it? Some heads need to roll. Start with the supervisors and managers of the department where this happened, then all the people who were involved. That would be taking responsibility.

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“Hundreds of isles’ homeless are new to state,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 20:

>> In Hawaii, we have weather that allows homelessness all year round and we are one of few states that give general assistance, a cash welfare program for homeless single people. Add that to the generous medical and food stamps that we dole out and it’s easy to see why we attract the homeless, especially if other states issue them one-way tickets here. 

>> The only assistance the state should give is one-way tickets to where they came from.

>>  The cost of living is certainly cheaper on the mainland but the chances of getting shot in the ghetto are a lot higher.