BOARDING

$2 BILLS WOULD HELP CUT DOWN BUS TIME

When going from one place to another, people usually like to do so in the shortest possible time. I've noticed a delay in bus travel: people paying with dollar bills. Using $2 bills would certainly shorten boarding time. But, how to get $2 bills?

Once or twice a month, the banks should have a $2 bill day. When people come in to get the $2 bills, the bank could hand them an advertising circular. Maybe even a promotion: 50 $2 bills for $98 to bring in prospective customers. ATMs could issue $2 bills for a service charge.

AMERICA

HISTORY LESSON IS THERE FOR THE READING

Here's that familiar phrase again telling the Hawaiians to forget the past, concede defeat and succumb to the country that stole their land.

Mr. Wisecarver (Letters, Aug. 10), the ethnic groups that you mentioned and others came to America to better their lives because of what was happening in their homelands. The Hawaiians did not go to America because they were quite satisfied living in their own world. America came to Hawai'i and put a price on land that only Americans, not Hawaiians, could afford, the very same scheme that was used in Texas to force the Mexicans out.

Restudy your American history, especially the small paragraphs with small writing at the bottom of some history books. You'd be amazed at what you might learn.

How ironic it is that you should mention that the Native American is on a reservation today. The Indians lost their chosen lands by way of force. The Hawaiians lost their land by trickery.

Hawaiians never were and are not now anti-America, but the continuous eroding of our lands and lifestyle makes it hard for the many decent haole who live here among us. They have a right to be here, but so do the original people of this land.

1940S

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS USED SHAKA AT PAU HANA

Donn Terada's suggestion that Lippy Espinda originated the "shaka!" greeting is credible. Lippy was never at a loss for words, pidgin or otherwise, and children loved to imitate him.

I, however, saw the shaka hand sign much earlier. In the mid-'40s, all Honolulu was having a construction boom. My husband and many friends looked forward to pau hana time after a day of hard work. That meant a few beers and light pupu, preferably in someone's backyard. Ours, in Hobron Lane, was popular with its picnic table under a banyan tree and its nearness to the kitchen and lua. Workers driving home signaled to others with a pau hana sign: wiggling a hand with only thumb and pinky exposed, the thumb pointing to the mouth. I remember the children copycatting it.

Years of construction continued, as did the camaraderie of pau hana, shaka sign and all. "Shaka!" as a vocal greeting wasn't used then, but children, quick to pick up new sounds, probably added it later.

I imagine that if we were all using cell phones in those days, we'd have had no need for a shaka sign. We'd have lost this treasured signal and sound, no matter how mysterious its origin.

FIX IT

STOP DODGING ISSUE OVER MAKIKI LIBRARY

Gov. Lingle recently said no to a request from the Legislature and the City and County of Ho-nolulu for $4.5 million to renovate the historic Makiki Community Library. Despite visiting the library and talking to library volunteers, the governor came away with misunderstandings that deserve clarification.

The governor stated there is no plan for the renovations. In fact, the Makiki Library Board has a detailed plan that calls for significant and justified repairs, including a security system and renovations that make the library more usable for those with disabilities. The problems that the governor laid out in her Aug. 16 letter to the editor declining funding are the very things we want to fix.

Also, contrary to the governor's recent statements, the Makiki Library Board never said that it doesn't want to be part of the state library system. This is an option we would consider, but to do so would require the state system to add an entirely new library to its annual budget, and include staff, a larger facility and new collections. This would cost significantly more money than the amount already appropriated to renovate the existing facility.

This should be about more than politics and jurisdictional questions. The city can say that libraries are a state function, the state can say that the library is in a city building, and Congress can say that this is a non-federal issue. But if everyone keeps pointing fingers and shifting responsibility, the library won't get the help it needs. We need leaders who will fix this problem, not shift the responsibility.

BUS RIDING

BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIPS

I am writing before the back-to-school rush starts. It would be nice if riders would move from the front of the bus so all can board. Seniors and other riders have trouble reaching for grab bars. The others will move slowly to the rear and give other riders room. Riders should also keep rear doors clear so exiting would be easier and faster.

SURPLUS

SPEND IT ON EDUCATION

Interesting that, on the same day, it is announced there is a nearly $500 million budget surplus and that 66 percent of Hawai'i schools fail to meet federal guidelines. Why is this surplus not used to help get Hawai'i's public school system off the bottom of the national rankings?

ROLE MODELS BROUGHT RELIEF FROM DAILY GRIND

Congratulations to the world champion Little League team from 'Ewa Beach. Their parents, coaches and friends such as Mark and Teresa Milton of Mililani don't just talk about "family values." They practice them and showed positive role models for not only the baseball team, but for all of us.

For a short time, their examples and success overshadowed the horrors of war in Iraq, increased taxes, gas prices and mass transportation problems. Thanks for the ray of sunshine!

'EWA BEACH IS PROUD OF ITS WORLD CHAMPIONS

Congratulations to the 'Ewa Beach Little League team. You guys are the pride of West O'ahu, the state of Hawai'i and the United States of America.

Nobody can take this away from you. Sunday will forever be your day. I still have goosebumps just thinking about it. Great job, everybody. 'Ewa Beach is proud! Hawai'i is proud!

You guys are opening up eyes around the world. Hawai'i boys can play and have a lot of talent. Good job once again. 'Ewa Beach, world champions!

WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM GREAT 'EWA BEACH TEAM

What more can you say about the great kids from 'Ewa Beach? Having watched and cheered all the way from New York City, it gives me great pride to say that I, too, am from Hawai'i. This wonderful moment has taught us all so many lessons: