MAHALO

CAMP TAYLOR CREW EXHIBITED TRUE ALOHA

My family was one of the fortunate Hawai'i families sponsored by Camp Taylor for a four-day camp in Mokule'ia (a first in Hawai'i).

The California volunteers were organized, hard-working, loving and giving. They spent the past year planning this event and raising money for it (including the teenaged mentors who have heart disease).

They transported tons of equipment, games and gifts, rented equipment here (including an ambulance) and carefully prepared to make the camp experience enriching for the Hawai'i families.

It was a wonderful experience. Every Camp Taylor volunteer was generous, gracious and always complimentary of Hawai'i and Hawai'i's people.

Camp ended with tearful goodbyes. My daughter's mentor (Kathleen) was a few years older than her, and has serious medical conditions. Yet, she was always upbeat and smiling and caring.

They exemplify the true meaning of aloha.

FAMILY COURT

PRISONS NOT THE PLACE FOR CONVICTED JUVENILES

Auwe to the Family Court in Hawai'i for its record of "never having turned down a request to waive jurisdiction over a juvenile charged with murder in the past 10 years."

This is not a record the court should be proud of. It only says that they continually do the "status quo" and do not take the time to consider each and every case separately. I find it hard to believe that over 10 years there has never been a case that warrants the denial to have a juvenile tried and sentenced as an adult.

Our prisons do not provide the kind of rehabilitation needed by juveniles convicted of serious crimes. Child offenders deserve a chance to become contributors to society through proper rehabilitation.

Just imagine a child placed in a facility with 30-, 40-, 50-year- old murderers and rapists. It is common knowledge that being in jail and/or prison only teaches a person how to become a better criminal.

Let's not give up on our youth quite so easily.They are our future, the future of Hawai'i.

WARD VILLAGES

UNIQUE FIND AT PROJECT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED

The Associated Press story about human remains at the Ward project (July 8) includes an out-of-context quote from me that makes it sound as if the Society for Hawaiian Archaeology is looking for undisturbed burial sites to excavate. It is not.

The quote refers to an intact traditional Hawaiian living surface found at the Ward Villages project. This unique find does not contain burials.

It does contain information about everyday traditional Hawaiian life in Kaka'ako. Our society is concerned that the state has not required the site be investigated. We are worried that the site itself and what can be learned from it, will be lost.

OCEAN

SURFERS SHOULD ABIDE BY RULES OF THE LINEUP

Re the July 5 letter on surfing ("Badgering new surfers is immature behavior"):

Wherever I have surfed — Australia, Bali, Hawai'i California, and Mexico — the rules of the lineup remain the same.

No dropping in is first among the rules of surfing. Seeing someone riding a wave and then turning around and paddling for that wave is disrespectful.

Try that at "Pipe" or, better yet, at Makaha. Dropping in is also dangerous. Like changing lanes while driving on the freeway without looking or signaling. You endanger not only yourself but everyone around you.

When I see surfers dropping in, they are informed of the rules of the lineup. If they refuse to obey those rules they are asked to leave. If they still refuse to obey the rules, they are not given any more waves.

The rules of the lineup exist for the protection of everyone.

REPAVING

CITY TRYING TO PREVENT DISREPAIR TO STREETS

Regarding Donn Parent's June 28 letter ("Road repair schedule doesn't make sense"), the city project to address the lesser-used streets in the Waipi'o Gentry area is part of our Localized Rehabilitation of Streets program.

As previously stated by Mayor Mufi Hannemann, the city's war on potholes is a four-pronged approach consisting of pothole patching, first-aid resurfacing, contract rehabilitation and localized rehabilitation.

The theory is that while we fix our deteriorated streets, we also need to prevent our other streets from falling into disrepair.

Similar to the federal government's Pavement Preservation program, the idea is to extend the life of a pavement before it needs to be reconstructed.

It's estimated that for every $1 spent doing so saves $6 to $10 in future major rehabilitation costs.

The major Waipi'o streets, e.g. Waipi'o Uka, Ka Uka, Moaniani, will be addressed in an upcoming contract rehabilitation project.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

HISTORY, CULTURE OFFICE ALSO HAS STAFF SHORTAGE

Regarding the current crisis at the State Historic Preservation Division, it is important to remember that staff shortages are not limited to archaeologists.

The almost-forgotten History and Culture Branch, within which the Burial Sites Program is supposed to be administered, is nearly entirely devoid of staff.

This is no small observation, since History and Culture is supposed to provide an important "check and balance" to decisions made by archaeologists during the historic preservation review process.

Many historically significant resources, including traditional cultural practices and properties, are poorly served by archaeological criteria alone; and, the input of trained historians and cultural specialists is essential.

Shortages of History and Culture staff should also be headlines along with the shortage of archaeologists. This issue must not be forgotten during the rebuilding process of the division.

SECURITY

TSA UNIFORM FOUND FOR SALE IN THRIFT STORE

I want to express my concern over an incident that occurred on July 3.

While I was browsing at the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Kailua, I noted that a TSA uniform was on the rack for sale. The uniform was in good condition, complete with TSA patches and embroidery.

When I saw the uniform, my heart sank. Is there no policy about donating and reselling TSA uniforms? With all the strict security measures in place at airports, I was very disheartened to see that I could simply buy a TSA uniform for $2.50.

The same policies that pertain to the donation and resale of police uniforms should also apply to the TSA.

As I see it, the responsibility for this type of incident lies with both the TSA and the Salvation Army. The TSA needs to make sure that former employees return their uniforms. The Salvation Army needs to screen donations more carefully.

I would like to encourage both organizations to evaluate their policies in the interest of public safety.

GEORGE W. BUSH

LETTER ABOUT PRESIDENT PROVIDED HILARITY

Regarding The Honolulu Advertiser's timing in printing Rosita Spiriok-Siregar's anti-Bush letter ("Does Libby decision mean it's OK to lie?" July 6) immediately followed by the pro-Bush missile written by Thomas E. Stuart ("Libby sentence was miscarriage of justice") stating that Bush was courageous in pardoning Libby with his regret that Dubyah cannot serve another eight years in office:

Personally, I regret that Bush has and will be serving eight years currently.

I laughed so hard reading Stuart's letter that I saved five minutes by skipping the comics section. We need more hilarity like this.

8 MORE YEARS OF BUSH? YOU MUST BE JOKING

Mistakenly, you ran this on July 6 in the Letters section instead of on the comics page ("Libby sentence was miscarriage of justice"). Eight more years of Bush & Co.? You've got to be joking!

Scooter Libby was certainly the fall guy for Cheney, who's up to his ear lobes researching how to bomb Iran and make it look like they attacked us.

Alberto Gonzales is trying to find his memory, while the Supreme Court is getting their ducks in a row allowing the Republicans to steal the 2008 election.

What a great country we live in. And letter writers such as Mr. Thomas E. Stuart make it all possible.

SOME WANT IRAQ WAR TO GO ON DESPITE COST

Thomas E. Stuart's letter to the editor (July 6) calling people opposed to George W. Bush "ungrateful baby boomer hypocrites who compromise the majority of this gutless postwar generation" is a reflection of "Bush Backers" who take the president's word as gospel.

Thank goodness I have a mind of my own and can see through the transparent nature of President Bush and his policies.

To call people "gutless" tells me that there is a subculture of activists who want this war to continue regardless of how much money and lives it will cost. They don't care that Iraq has turned into a training ground for al-Qaida. They don't care that America's credibility in the world is in the toilet.