DOWNTOWN

FURTHER CLARIFICATIONS ON RESURFACING STORY

Your article on "Downtown Resurfacing" (Aug. 2) requires clarification. Contrary to the last paragraph, the Beretania Street Resurfacing project was not put on hold by Mayor Hannemann, but canceled upon recommendation by the Department of Design and Construction because of a defective low bid and the relatively high cost of the next lowest bid. At the time, it was felt that the fiscally prudent thing to do was to rebid the project. However, the project is now suspended while the city addresses a protest involving the construction management contract. This is a federal-aid project that is 80 percent financed with Federal Highway Administration funds.

We appreciate your prompt correction of the many errors in the story and the map that accompanied it. However, I find it curious that the story characterizes "Downtown Honolulu" as stretching all the way from 'A'ala Park to University Avenue, when it's generally acknowledged that it is the area between the Civic Center and Chinatown. Even the Downtown Neighborhood Board, one of whose members you quoted at length, sets its boundaries at Nu'uanu Stream, and South and Alapa'i streets.

EDUCATION

INNOVATION IS THE KEY TO IMPROVING SCHOOLS

I am saddened by the Advertiser's editorial on July 28, "Hawai'i public schools can be competitive." Included in the introduction is an allusion to school vouchers. While the argument of the editorial isn't clear, apparently the author implies that a school voucher system is not the answer to improve our education system.

This is true, but only half the answer. What saddens me is that The Advertiser fails to take into account the ingenuity of educators.

School choice allows educational innovators to develop their work in an open and responsive environment. The second half of the answer is that innovation in the education sphere is what will improve test scores and schooling in general. The more innovation we as students and parents have access to, the more we will weed out the good from the bad.

We cannot keep doing the same thing over and expect a different result. Real change comes only from new ideas.

KAILUA

FINDING 'PARADISE' GETTING MORE DIFFICULT

We bought our home in Kailua in 2000. After 9/11 we had to temporarily relocate back to the Mainland. Now we have returned. These are the changes that we have noted:

1) Homeless living on Kailua Beach. Never before had we witnessed this. It is sad and disconcerting.

2) When we go to the beach we like a little space and privacy, but we are now experiencing people practically sitting on our towels. They are within an arm's reach, literally.

3) A home near ours has become a vacation rental. This, too, is disconcerting. We live on a small lane where everyone knew each other. Now, there are strangers coming and going, someone different each week. It ruins the continuity of a neighborhood. After paying what must be at least $1,000 for the week, the tourist has a right to relax and party, but as homeowners we have the right to peace and quiet.

We used to be part of the crowd that bragged Kailua was a "no growth" area; there were no hotels and few tourists. Not so anymore. There are hundreds of vacation rentals.

The traffic is almost unbearable. It is getting harder and harder to find your little piece of "paradise" in paradise.

SENATE RACE

TIME FOR A CHANGE IN HAWAI'I DELEGATION

Of course Senator Inouye has jumped on Dan Akaka's bandwagon.

Should Ed Case be elected, it would upset the nice little hui that our three have built over the years.

The trading of favors has gone on long enough; and it's high time it became dissolved for the benefit of all of us who want a more beneficial one.

CASE'S VOTES WERE ASSAULT ON HAWAIIANS

I agree with OHA Chair Haunani Apoliona's assessment of the need to move forward toward building a nation for Native Hawaiians (Island Voices, July 27). As she so aptly states, such a move will protect Hawaiian programs, lands and assets.

While some of the candidates running for election are actively pursuing the goals and dreams of our people, others seem to provide lip service to supporting Native Hawaiians when it is convenient. Case in point: Ed Case's legislative actions against Hawaiians in 1998. Lest anyone forget, those actions were characterized not only by Hawaiians but by the media and general community as a deadly assault on Hawaiians.

GOLF

BE THANKFUL FOR FAME WIE BRINGS TO HAWAI'I

I agree with Edward Asato's view on Michelle Wie. She will win soon enough. Michelle Wie excels in a sport in which consistency is a goal even seasoned pros cannot achieve on any kind of a regular basis.

Besides, how many naysaying adults earned in excess of $750,000 in their first year on the job? I would love to watch the naysayers play her in a match.

Enjoy her and be thankful for the publicity she brings to both men's and women's golf and to Hawai'i.

HEZBOLLAH

MODERATE MUSLIMS ALSO MUST STOP TERROR

In his Aug. 1 commentary, Hakim Quansafi argues that the United States has a moral responsibility to demand a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict. Yet he seems to have forgotten that the U.S. has been fighting a war on terror and will support any country willing to fight terrorists as well. Or perhaps he hasn't completely forgotten, since he accuses Israel of engaging in terrorism, and he wants the U.S. to stop Israel.

Yet, despite the fact that he says that he has "publicly denounced the killing of civilians who are Jews," not once does he mention what Hezbollah has been doing during this conflict. Not once does he denounce Hezbollah for starting the conflict, for holding the people of Lebanon hostage by provoking Israel, or for using civilians and peacekeepers as human shields.

Not once does he denounce Iran and Syria for supporting Hezbollah, for giving that internationally recognized terrorist organization weapons they use to attack civilian populations, or for possibly even starting the conflict by getting Hezbollah to provoke Israel so that the world will ignore Iran's nuclear ambitions and Syria's continued meddling in Lebanon.

Instead, he accuses only Israel of terrorism and the U.S. for supporting terrorism. What about the moral responsibility of moderate Muslims to stop those who commit acts of terror in the name of Islam? I hear no moral outrage from Mr. Quansafi on this matter.

'KING AND I'

THEATER CRITIC NEITHER A FRAUD NOR A FAKER

I was bothered by the severity of Mary T. Dixon's Aug. 2 attack on Joseph Rozmiarek for his review of "The King and I."

For the past 50 years I have been involved in practically every aspect of the theater. I worked as a volunteer for "The King and I," seeing it twice from backstage and once with the audience. Usually I agree with Rozmiarek's reviews. But when I don't, I'm not certain who's right. It's just a matter of opinion, you might say.

An established critic has certain advantages. He sees every major production each season and has a wider basis of comparison than the rest of us. He has to be a skilled writer with sound judgment. He is not a cheerleader.

When I do disagree, I would never call an established critic a charlatan, as Ms. Dixon does. Rozmiarek, whether you agree with him or not, is neither a fraud nor a faker.