UH FOOTBALL

JUNE JONES CLEARLY CARES ABOUT PLAYERS

When June Jones held Colt Brennan out of the critically important game against Nevada last week, he showed me two things.

One, that he has a lot of confidence in Tyler Graunke, and two, that he genuinely cares about his players. He demonstrated to me that he cares more about his players than winning one football game.

No matter what happens the rest of the season, I consider this season a tremendous success and I commend June Jones for that.

SOME FANS' BEHAVIOR WAS OUT OF BOUNDS

It was really impressive to see all the fans from Hawai'i at the Nevada game; although there was no band or cheerleaders, we managed to cheer the Hawai'i team on. But for some of the fans, they went way too out of their way.

The Hawai'i contingent was in the same bleacher area and there was a handful who used foul language in their cheer and would light cigarettes even with a no-smoking sign on the fence.

In fact, one of the fans reminded a female (not a lady) that the smoke was bothering her and the smoker turned around and practically yelled in her face.

These fans made obscene gestures to the passing Wolfpack fans, and also to the end-zone fans. Anybody trying to stop this surely would have been punched out. We were so uncomfortable.

I urge the fans to cheer for our team, but do it within limits and please, do not boo the opposing team. We have more class than that! Go Warriors!

VISITING FANS SHOULD BE TREATED WITH ALOHA

I'm a devoted 13-year-old University of Hawai'i Warrior football fan. I really enjoy going to all the home games.

It's embarrassing to hear that some of the Fresno State fans were harassed and had to deal with verbal abuse and intimidation from some of the UH fans.

The university is having a great season and the team members have been great ambassadors for the state of Hawai'i.

As UH fans, we have to step up and do our part, too. It's really terrible that the opposing fans have traveled such a long way to cheer on their team and then they get treated this way by people who live in the Aloha State.

If we live in the Aloha State, we should treat our visitors with aloha. Everyone should be able to enjoy the games, no matter what the outcome is.

The university is having a great season, and if we are going to be champions we should start acting like it. Even a kid can understand that concept.

Go Warriors!

PAY-PER-VIEW FANS DESERVE BETTER PICTURE

Jeremy Nerius brings up a great point regarding the need for more HD channels here in Hawai'i (Letter, Nov. 20).

HDTV is truly enjoyable. So, imagine my utter disappointment when I switched from ESPN HD to my pay-per-view channel to watch the University of Hawai'i Warriors game two weeks ago and found the local pay-per-view coverage to be so very un-HD.

I pay big bucks each week to watch the UH Warriors, and I do so gladly because they are a great team and the games are very exciting and enjoyable. But, it seems unfair that I must pay so much to see such a terrible picture.

So, UH and Oceanic — I realize we can't get the games in HD, but can we please figure out a way to provide the local paying customers with a clear picture and improved camera work? Go Warriors!

TELEVISION

BLAME CBS AFFILIATE IN HD TRANSMISSION FLAP

This is in response to Jeremy Nerius (Letter, Nov. 20), who criticized Oceanic for not providing CBS programming in HD. The local CBS affiliate wants to be paid for the rebroadcast of the HD signal by Oceanic. If CBS is paid, every local station would line up at Oceanic to ask to be paid and all cable bills will go up even higher.

The retransmission is a win-win situation for both CBS and Oceanic and neither profits excessively. CBS reaches all the homes that are unable to receive their direct transmission signal and Oceanic is able to provide a more diverse cable package.

The local CBS affiliate here is the culprit in this negotiation.

I would suggest to Oceanic, if it is legally and contractually able to drop the retransmission of the CBS signal entirely, analog and digital, that they do so. The drop-off in the number of homes that would be able to see CBS would be quickly noted by the advertisers on CBS. The drop-off in ad revenue would bring CBS quickly to the realization that the retransmission of the signal is a significant benefit to them.

I personally have dropped CBS from my list of favorites on my channel selector, so they do not exist in my home. It makes it easy to decide if I will watch Leno or Letterman.

HOMELESSNESS

SHUTTING DOWN B&BS IS NOT THE SOLUTION

Ursula Retherford says vacation rentals contribute to the homeless problem (Letter, Nov. 10).

Homelessness is a problem of many levels, from the inability to pay rent even though holding multiple jobs to chronic drug use and emotional challenges.

The solutions are many layered also, from outreach programs to shelters.

We cannot address Hawai'i's homeless issue by shutting down vacation rentals.

Give the homeless issue the respect and attention it deserves. Homelessness is too serious and horrendous a problem to tie to vacation rentals.

HEALTHCARE

SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM CAN FOCUS ON WELLNESS

This is in response to "Chasing the dream of 'free' medical care" by Dr. Richard R. Kelley (Focus, Nov. 18).

Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Eighty percent of us are not seriously ill and don't use much healthcare. The 20 percent of us use 80 percent of the care. With one risk pool, everybody in, nobody out, we have enough money to cover everybody. We are paying for universal health insurance but we are not getting it.

Forty-seven million Americans have no health insurance and another 47 million are underinsured. These people delay going to the doctor and are sicker and more costly when they do get care. Our health outcomes, life expectancy, infant mortality, etc., are worse than in any other country.

A single-payer system can provide global budgeting for hospitals and focus on wellness and prevention, not only on high-tech expensive tests and treatments.

HR 676. Medicare for All (Conyers-Kucinich), has more than 85 co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives, and we should all be proud that our two representatives, Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono, are among them.

Medicare has a low overhead and is not for profit. The for-profit private insurance companies have a high overhead, take 31 cents of every healthcare dollar and work to deny claims. The four major principles of healthcare financing reform are: 1) everyone is covered, 2) you choose your own doctor, 3) no for-profit institutions, and 4) medical decisions are made between the doctor and the patient.

Check out the "Sicko" DVD. The other side of the story is told by TV ads. Think about it.

SUPERFERRY

FERRIES WORK VERY WELL IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

While recently in Hawai'i, my husband and I followed with interest the trials and tribulations of the Hawaii Superferry.

We reside in coastal British Columbia, Canada, where similar ferries are a way of life. They are extensions of our highways, and in many cases our only links. They carry more than 10 million passengers and cars per year in fragile waterways that are shared by marine mammals and other wildlife.

They successfully unload 450 cars in less than 10 minutes (four at a time) and load in the same amount of time. They run like clockwork and the whole process is a well-oiled machine — highly efficient and highly effective.

It can work in Hawai'i and would probably be a great asset to the Islands. It will take organization and cooperation at all levels. We hope to see a successful Superferry operation the next time we return to the Islands.

AKAKA BILL

PANEL'S REVIEW HELPED EDUCATE THE PUBLIC

The Hawai'i Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights voted not to make a recommendation on the Akaka bill. The commission has been in opposition.

Our six public hearings generated great public interest. We heard from supporters and opponents of the bill, which was authored by a friend, Sen. Daniel Akaka. As a keiki o ka 'aina in a family of Hawaiian citizens since the 1840s, I reflect a perspective infrequently expressed. My kupuna kane, grandfather, born in Hawai'i in 1885, was a royalist, as were his father and older brothers who were arrested by the revolutionaries and held in the armory.

According to Queen Liliuo'kalani's book, his father, J.S. Walker, died during the revolution "by the treatment he received from the hands of the revolutionists. He was one of many who from persecution had succumbed to death."

To the extent the premise of the Apology Resolution and the Akaka bill is that the revolution deposed a queen only of Native Hawaiians, they are wrong. On that infamous January day in 1893, Hawaiian citizens of all ethnic backgrounds lost their queen and nation.

The Akaka bill provokes strong responses. Supporters point to the unlawful U.S.-backed revolution that should be made pono. Opponents are of two camps. One says our Constitution gave Hawaiians parity and the right to vote. Separatists want independent recognition, which Dr. Blaisdell said would be multiracial. All sides claim polls show the public supports them. Regardless, the issue has never been voted on.

Our consideration of the bill helped educate the public about Hawaiians and the plight of their neediest constituents. Regardless of one's stand, we can all agree that Hawai'i would not be Hawai'i without Native Hawaiians.