MOVIE MADE VIEWER THINK ABOUT HAWAI'I

Saw the movie "Princess Ka'iulani" with my family and was lost for words. Having taught my keiki about their roots, their Hawaiian history for as long as I can remember, the movie was good but missed a lot of important issues. Then it brought to mind other issues.

Today, the 'āina is not what it was when I was growing up. No, the people need to look at themselves, their family, their friends, even their neighbors. Who is distributing all the drugs that have destroyed Hawai'i?

I know a few people on Kaua'i, Maui, O'ahu and even the Big Island, but I don't live in Hawai'i now. I haven't been back in 10 years; been living on the Mainland for the last 31 years. Why? Drugs, homeless people from the Mainland, illegals. Wake up Hawai'i. You going down the wrong road.

A HAWAI'I MEMORY

STOLEN WWII PLANE MADE NEWS IN '60S

I was born and raised on O'ahu and as a kid delivered The Advertiser for a few years in the mid-1960s.

I would always read through the paper before delivering it and I remember a story where an angry and drunk pilot stole a WWII bomber from Hickam Field and buzzed the hotels of Waikīkī — at times flying between them, the wings just missing the buildings — before returning to Hickam and landing. He was arrested.

The story was a really big deal at the time. Now I can find no one who even remembers anything about it nor can I find it on any Internet searches. It would be a fun story to re-run.

I try to picture it happening today. All the fighter jets from Hickam would be scrambled and Homeland Security would have a field day.

ACT 189

SHAPIRO WRONG TO CRITICIZE CALVIN SAY

David Shapiro is barking up the wrong tree in his criticism of Speaker Calvin Say's support for Act 189 ("Lawmakers interfering in private business," May 17). Further, Shapiro has no basis to assert that Act 189 will "provide more favorable leases to tenants."

The drafters of leases by the old Damon Estate, now HRPT Properties Trust, defined market rent as a rent that is neither too high for the lessee nor too low for the lessor.

Act 189 serves as a reminder for those unaware that the lease calls for a rent that is fair and reasonable to both parties. I appreciate Say's support of this bill, and many small-business owners in Māpunapuna feel the same way.

He has worked on this problem for years and we greatly appreciate his support. Even considering the facts reported in the article, for Shapiro to suggest that he's doing this for personal benefit is unfair and completely unsupported. Act 189 is important legislation and is the law in the state of Hawai'i.

IMMIGRATION

HOW CAN OBAMA NOT SUPPORT FEDERAL LAW?

Ask anyone in Hawai'i who is a legal immigrant how they feel about the southern borders of Mainland America and President Obama's refusal to support his own federal immigration law, let alone Arizona's softer immigration law.

I guess the president has forgotten what people in his own state must go through to get here and become citizens of our great country.

KAHULUI POOL

MAUI SWIM CLUB BENEFITS COMMUNITY

Maui County has been trying to conserve funds and as a result, many people are being affected by the change.

Specifically, swimmers at the Kahului Pool are concerned that the pool will be shut down to cut costs.

Maui Swim Club members currently practice at this pool and have been for more than 60 years. Every weekday, kids from all over the island assemble within the gates of the pool not just to practice together, but to laugh, chat and build long-lasting relationships with one another.

Every summer, the club hosts a free Learn-To-Swim class for the youth of Maui. Over the years, many kids have become efficient swimmers, which I think is very important considering that we live on an island.

Spencer Shiraishi Sr. is the coach of the club. He is also my grandpa. He has played an essential part in ushering competitive swimming on Maui into the fame that it now enjoys today. I know that keeping the Kahului Pool open would continue Maui Swim Club and perpetuate its unique legacy for generations to come.

CIVIL UNIONS

JAPANESE AMERICANS SHOULD SUPPORT BILL

As a Japanese American, I am extremely ashamed that some of the most vociferous opponents to civil unions are Japanese Americans like Garret Hashimoto of the Hawaii Christian Coalition and Dennis Arakaki of the Hawaii Family Forum.

Have they already forgotten the appalling oppression of their own community at the hands of the society in whose acceptance they are now basking? During World War II, Japanese Americans were interred for no reason other than the label "Japanese."

And now, decades later, they are repeating this same oppression for no reason other than fear and ignorance. Apparently, the ultimate symbol of success is to move from being the oppressed to being the oppressors.

An even more glaring highlight to the egregiousness of their ignorance and kowtowing is their opposition to civil unions while UCLA is awarding honorary degrees to Japanese Americans that were unjustly removed from school. Can they not see the irony?

I hope that other Japanese Americans are in line with the Japanese American Citizens League, which uses its hard-earned influence to battle injustice and champion the rights of the oppressed.

MEMORIAL DAY

HOLIDAY MORE THANJUST START OF SUMMER

Another Memorial Day is upon us. We are bombarded with Memorial Day sales flyers as millions of Americans will hit the roads for the "unofficial start of summer."

Somewhere buried deep under all the "fun and sun" the real reason for the holiday is lost. It is a day to honor our nation's war dead.

Seeing Memorial Day turn into just another day at the beach saddens me. It seems for the want of the almighty dollar people are turning the most sacred of our national holidays into just another day off from work.

Originally called "Decoration Day" it began as a simple act of placing flowers on the graves of the Civil War dead. Over the years as the tradition spread it became a celebrated event. Finally, in 1967, President Lyndon Johnson declared Memorial Day to be a federal holiday.

Many brave men and women gave their lives for our country from its inception. They knew going into battle it was worth fighting for and if called upon would give "that last full measure to preserve it."

So while you're "hitting the beach" during this long holiday weekend, please take a moment to thank those who have died for this country."