SOCCER COACH

RAMES EPITOMIZES PHILOSOPHY OF GIVING

I was born 56 years ago, at Kahuku Hospital. I have lived in Wahiawa for more than 50 years. I've coached soccer and track here. I've tutored reading for kids at Ka'ala Elementary School.

More than 20 years ago, I met Fred Rames and worked with him, coaching and refereeing on soccer fields. We both raised our families in this town. Fred has always been a community worker. Whether on a soccer field or in a classroom, he was always doing the most he could, to help the keiki of our community. He would drive miles each weekend, picking up and dropping off kids at the soccer field — kids whose parents had to work, or maybe just didn't have the time or transportation to allow their children organized recreation. He paid registration fees for kids who didn't have the money.

I grew up with the philosophy of giving back to the community. Fred epitomized that philosophy to a degree higher than I could ever hope to achieve.

To consider Fred Rames an abuser of children is preposterous. He will be vindicated. But there may have been too much damage, and we stand to lose the strength of this man. Our community will be poorer.

RESTAURANT CHECKS

O'AHU VISITOR OFFERS PLAN TO FEED HOMELESS

I recently visited your beautiful island of O'ahu. I stayed in Waikiki and I was surrounded by expensive hotels, stores and restaurants. It is quite a city for visitors. But what I remember most is my trip to the Leeward side of the island.

As I drove toward Wai'anae, I began to notice all the tents at the beach parks. At first I thought they were vacation campsites and then I realized that these were homes. I know that Hawai'i is an expensive state to live in, but I had never realized there were so many homeless in O'ahu.

I have an idea to propose to Waikiki/Honolulu restaurant owners. If every sit-down restaurant added a dollar to the restaurant bill and matched that dollar, and gave both dollars to the Hawaii Foodbank, then thousands of dollars could be raised to help feed some of these homeless.

As a visitor to O'ahu, I would not mind contributing my vacation dollars to those who are just trying to survive. I know that this is not an answer to a long-term plan for the homeless, but it does help them to meet their basic needs. I hope some of the restaurant owners reading this paper today will take up my suggestion.

ELECTION 2006

CANDIDATES SHOULD FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENT

Why have I heard so little about environmental policy from Hawai'i's political candidates?

Tourism, one of our state's largest industries, relies heavily on the beauty of the land and quality of the air. So why was California first to the plate with their Global Warming Solutions Act? Even worse, why has our state government been so quiet during a time when they should be applauding California's historic action?

O'ahu is currently seeing a record amount of housing being built. Why has no one proposed laws mandating green building standards on these future homes? If we do not follow California's lead in protecting the planet, we may lose what little land we have to unhealthy living conditions, rapidly rising sea levels and deadly storms.

Yes, we've taken baby steps toward renewable energy solutions. But it's time Hawai'i grows up and plays with the big boys. Let's see a candidate step up to the plate and address the bleak reality of Hawai'i's future.

Come on, who wants my vote?

ENERGY

DEPENDENCE ON OIL LEADING TO OUR DEMISE

Our incredible purchases of foreign oil are fueling our own demise!

It's hard to put a happy face on this situation. Many admirable efforts are being made to develop alternative energy, but we need to kick our efforts into massive overdrive, as if our very survival depended on it — because it does!

We are riding on the huge momentum of our oil-based economy. It's like a fully loaded, mile-long freight train careening along the rails at 100 miles per hour.

The solution is simple. We must promise much of the great wealth of this great country to those who would make us energy independent.

ELECTION NIGHT

HAWAI'I SHOULD GET RESULTS ON THE INTERNET

Why do we sit and watch TV networks that are still living in the 20th century? We sit and watch anything and everything, from former politicians who were voted out by the public to reporters primping themselves, while waiting for that first readout, then the second readout, then the third readout.

We watched the audits and were introduced to interns, who were to rush the paper readouts to the reporter, who would then read them aloud to their studio anchor people who would then retype them for presentation on a screen.

Why can't the state elections officials present their results via Web to the reporters and public simultaneously? Why do we need news people telling us what to believe again on election night?

Get with the times Hawai'i! Maybe if you can't get it done, then call a local elementary school, and the kids there will show you how to do it!

SENATE RACE

ETHNIC JUDGMENTS ON VOTES ARE STEREOTYPING

During and following the primary election, there were numerous analyses on how and why the voters voted as they did. I normally read these analyses with a grain of salt because they are basically the analysts' subjective judgments. Jerry Burris' analysis of the Akaka-Case race is a case in point. Burris erroneously assumed that most white Mainland newcomers voted for Case. The stereotyping of Mainland white newcomers is shortchanging us from accurately understanding Hawai'i voter characteristics.

As with all residents of Hawai'i, white Mainland newcomers each has his/her own unique way of thinking and voting. Most of us change when we move to a new environment, based on our experiences. We tend to vote for someone with the best human qualities, such as friendliness, kindness, humility and understanding. So, when the analysts stereotype an entire ethnic or racial group, they are doing disservice to Hawai'i's voters.

HAWAI'I VOTERS KEEP THE OLD-BOY NETWORK

Congratulations, Hawai'i. You have just proven to the rest of the country that the old-boy network is alive and well in Hawai'i.

Instead of looking to the future, you are content with the status quo of the past 25 years.

Hawaiian land is being sold to wealthy foreigners to build luxury condominiums, while residents are forced into being homeless or living in substandard housing that is priced way over its actual value. Jobs pay minimum wage, while living costs and housing costs are among the highest in the country. Our children and grandchildren are moving to the Mainland to get good-paying jobs that allow them to buy a home and raise a family.

Yes, the old-boy network rewards the party faithful and their relatives, but the heck with the rest of the population — until election time when they become our best friends again. Promises made; promises broken. Am I talking about Sen. Daniel Akaka and the Democratic Party of Hawai'i? You bet I am. He is a candidate whose party keeps saying that experience counts, experience is important, elect someone with proven experience to get the job done. Well, Senator Akaka with all his experience could not get enough votes to pass his Akaka bill. But we will re-elect him because of his experience in the Senate.

They say do not complain unless you vote. Hawai'i, you voted, so I guess that you have the right to complain when nothing changes.

WALKER ESTATE

HAWAI'I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE ARCHITECTURAL PAST

More than just a historic home, the Walker Estate was the most- filmed location on either "Hawaii 5-0" or "Magnum, P.I." (among others). Good guys, bad guys, rich and poor, normal and eccentric, all lived at the Walker Estate.

As a former set decorator on Magnum, it was always special to be welcomed into the home by Una Walker.

Unpretentious and welcoming to the end, Mrs. Walker once inquired if we would have her furniture put back after filming, "as the Archbishop of Canterbury was coming for tea tomorrow." And he did.

The origins of the Historic Hawaii Foundation began in that home in the mid-1970s. Wouldn't it be a fitting, adaptive reuse of the estate if Historic Hawaii could occupy the home as its new headquarters?

To see one of the last remaining, intact estates fall to another housing project is unfortunate. Honolulu has already lost most of its architectural history to termites and land values.

One letter-writer implied the Walker Estate was "a monument to Hawai'i's social elite." It is no more a monument than 'Iolani Palace, and I don't think that structure is in any danger of being torn down for townhouses.

We do need more affordable housing, but I hardly think the potential developers of the Walker Estate have affordable housing in mind.

In the years to come, it will be a sad comment on our historical past if we are remembered for our planned Trump Tower and Kapolei Shopping Center.

HOME VALUES

HAWAI'I HOUSING PRICES HAVE BEEN TOO HIGH

Your article on housing prices (Sept. 28) contains some good information. Unfortunately, it also indicates either a lack of understanding of many aspects of real estate markets or a preference for an attention-grabbing story over informative reporting.

A lowering of asking prices that were ridiculous to begin with is most decidedly not a fall in values.

Regarding the Choi house you mention, were there any comparable sales in the area indicating it might actually be worth the asking price? People often have completely unsubstantiated ideas of what their home is worth.

Has the value of the Choi house fallen some 40 percent in the past few months? Of course not. If you advertise your car for sale at almost twice what similar cars are selling for, will you get your price? Don't hold your breath.