SOCCER

NU'UANU STUDENTS OFFER SOLUTIONS

Nu'uanu Elementary School students from the third, fourth and fifth grades wrote letters to the editor about the dispute between two young soccer fans over who should be able to keep a soccer jersey given away by David Beckham at a Los Angeles Galaxy game at Aloha Stadium in February. They were responding to an Advertiser story on April 24, "When good deeds go bad."

FRIENDSHIP MORE IMPORTANT THAN JERSEY

I believe that this jersey is not as important as a perfect friendship, and I think this fight has gone way too far.

My solution may not work, but it is worth a try.

I think both families should give up the jersey and give it to the Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club.

I feel this is the best solution, because if you give the jersey to one boy, the families will just keep fighting and the two boys will never be friends again. Both kids play on my soccer team and I noticed that they always used to partner up for passing drills. Now they don't even talk to each other. It is really sad to see best friends become worst enemies.

Hopefully, they will learn a valuable lesson and maybe become friends again.

SILLY TO HAVE TO HIRE LAWYERS OVER JERSEY

My solution is to sell the shirt and buy regular Beckham jerseys for the both of the kids.

Then, they would realize that it was not worth that much money, because I did research and found out it was only worth about $100.

I think it is silly that they had to hire lawyers because they are best friends, and after all it is just a shirt.

If it was me, I would've just let my friend keep the shirt. I bet if the parents did not get involved it would not have gone this far. So, I think the parents did more arguing than the children.

KIDS SHOULD SELL JERSEY AND THEN SPLIT MONEY

I felt shocked because families should not be fighting over a soccer game jersey.

To solve the problem, I think both families should sell the shirt. Then, split the money between both families because friendship is more important!

RETURN SOCCER JERSEY AND RESTORE FRIENDSHIP

I personally think what the two kids need to understand is that friendship is much more important than a soccer jersey.

Here is a possible solution: David Beckham should get his jersey back and have the two kids become friends again.

I hope everything works out.

SOLUTION OFFERED TO LET EACH BOY HAVE A SHIRT

Let the Ho family keep the signed jersey they say is real, and let the Kerr family keep the jersey from David Beckham.

I think this is fair because both kids will have a jersey from Beckham, each boy is happy and their friendship will be back together because they don't have to go to court.

ONE POSSIBLE SOLUTION: THROW THE SHIRT AWAY

I have a possible solution to the dispute over the soccer shirt: Throw the shirt away!

Why trade friendship for a jersey? It's just a shirt. They should grow up!

Friendship is more important! Forget the jersey. I hope this helps.

IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHO JERSEY GIVEN TO

My solution to the problem is that the two boys should share the David Beckham jersey. They shouldn't cut it in half or anything in that sense, because it would just defeat the whole purpose of David Beckham giving it away. David Beckham didn't even have to give it away! It was very nice of David Beckham giving it to them, and they should know to be thankful that they actually got the jersey.

Even if they went to court and the judge decided who should have the jersey, the jersey wouldn't be worth as much sentimentally, and most of all it would ruin their friendship.

First of all, when the parents started getting involved with lawyers, they took the problem way too far. I mean, we all fight over things but we don't go and take the problem to court, even if it is for an authentic David Beckham jersey.

It doesn't matter who David Beckham gave it to because their friendship is way more important that a jersey.

KEEP FRIENDSHIP, LET GO OF BECKHAM JERSEY

When I read that article, I quickly had an idea for the two boys and their families.

Since I strongly think the boys' friendship is more important than the jersey that caused this fight, I think they should keep the friendship and let go of the jersey.

The solution I came up with is that they should sell the jersey for money that can be split in half.

Then both of the families will get the same amount of money. I hope this solution works and the two boys become best friends forever again.

SOLUTION IS TO JUST GIVE THE SOCCER JERSEY BACK

I have come up with a solution to the problem the boys are having with David Beckham's jersey.

Since the boys are fighting over it, just give the jersey back. We may never know who Beckham wanted to give the jersey to. And if you don't appreciate what you have, you shouldn't get anything at all.

SHIRT IS NOT WORTH RUINING FRIENDSHIP

I think the solution is to destroy the shirt, because if one person doesn't get it, the other shouldn't get it either.

This should happen because friendship is more important than a soccer shirt. Their friendship might be ruined for their whole life. It's just not worth it!

SOLUTION IS TO GIVE ONE JERSEY TO EACH FAMILY

I would like to offer a solution to the two families involved. I think that they should give the signed jersey to the Ho family because they think it is authentic, and give the game jersey to the Kerr family because they think the signed jersey is a forgery.

That way, they will solve the problem and the boys can be friends again because any friendship is more important than a jersey.

I hope the two families will consider my solution. Thank you.

GIVE JERSEY TO CHARITY CHOSEN BY SOCCER TEAM

I never thought I'd see people hiring attorneys over a soccer jersey! My solution for the two boys and their families is that they donate the soccer jersey to a charity chosen by the Galaxy soccer team.

The two families should not receive anything back. Both of the boys shouldn't have been fighting and didn't show any aloha to each other. They have to remember that friendship is more important than any soccer jersey.

SELL BECKHAM SHIRT, SPLIT MONEY EQUALLY

My solution for the boys, since they were fighting over a David Beckham game jersey, would be to sell the shirt and then split the money equally between the families.

I think this is a good solution for the boys because friendship is more important any game jersey. Don't you think so? Thank you for considering my solution.

FRIENDS SHOULDN'T BE FIGHTING OVER JERSEY

My solution to this problem is both boys agree to give the game jersey back to David Beckham.

I think that this will be fair to both of them, and they could stop fighting over a simple jersey and think about their friendship.

Friends shouldn't be fighting over something like that.

BOYS SHOULD THINK OF ALL THEIR MEMORIES

When I read this article, I realized how much people care about a Beckham game jersey. I think the boys should give the game jersey back to David Beckham because it is breaking up their friendship.

I think friendship is more important than any jersey. Think of all the different memories you have together.

BOYS' FRIENDSHIP MORE IMPORTANT THAN SHIRT

I think that fighting over a soccer jersey is not a very smart thing to do. This problem is tearing this friendship apart. Friendship is more important than one jersey that David Beckham wore to a soccer game.

I believe that the solution is simple. They should just get rid of the jersey by selling the shirt and split the money that they make. The kids should try to be friends again. Another solution would be to sell the shirt at an auction and to donate the money to a charity.

Either way, the Ho family and the Kerr family can work on being friends again. Hopefully, they will.

FRIENDSHIP WORTH MORE THAN $100 SHIRT

I have a solution for the families involved. I think the Ho family should keep the signed jersey and the Kerr family keep the one from the game. Because if the Ho famiy thinks the signed shirt is real, why don't they just keep it?

Anyway, it's only worth about $100, because I looked it up on eBay, but their friendship could last a lifetime.

Which would you choose — a $100 shirt or a friendship that could last a lifetime? I would choose the friendship.

DON'T RUIN FRIENDSHIP THAT COULD BE LIFELONG

When I read this article, I thought that this argument was getting crazy because lawyers are involved! I think that it's very unintelligent to fight over a jersey and ruin a friendship that could have lasted a lifetime.

I thought of a solution that might help those two kids: Both families split the cost of some kind of storage area that they can use to put the jersey and other soccer things. Both families will have keys and they can both go and see the jersey.

I think this is a fair solution and I hope this solution will help those two kids be friends again.

LET EACH FAMILY KEEP ONE OF THE JERSEYS

Let the Kerr family keep the original jersey that David Beckahm gave at the game. The Ho family can keep the signed jersey that they got from the locker room.

RETURN SOCCER JERSEY AND REVIVE FRIENDSHIP

I am writing to you because I have come up with a solution to the problem. When I read the article. I thought that it was a very petty argument, not because I'm not the biggest soccer fan, but because the feud is ridiculous.

At first, I thought it was only fair that he (the 9-year old) got the jersey because he got it first. When I read on, my opinion changed because the Kerrs' son was holding the sign that possibly led David to them in the first place. With these two things in mind, I came up with an ideal solution. My solution is to give the jersey back to David Beckham.

I think this because if one jersey is going to ruin a friendship between two families, then no one should have it. Therefore, by not giving it to either of the boys they can start talking and possibly revive their friendship.

GIVE SHIRT TO BECKHAM AND FORGET ABOUT IT

I think it is a shock that best friends for three years are fighting over a jersey! This is a pity and the arguing should stop! It is breaking their friendship apart like a piece of paper.

I think that the boys should give the jersey back to Beckham and just forget about it. Friendship is worth more than the jersey.

I went to that game and I know and understand that it could be worth a lot of money, but friendship can be hard to get back.

I have been through losing friends before and it is not fun! I can tell you that right now. You don't want to go through that.

CUT BECKHAM JERSEY IN HALF AND SHARE IT

I have a possible solution to the problem. I think that the boys should cut the shirt in half so that each boy could have at least part of the shirt.

I think it would be cool to have half of a jersey hanging in your room! Though some people may say that cutting the jersey in half will make it lose its value, I believe their friendship is much more important than the jersey.

A shirt can be repaired, but once a friendship is ruined it can never be repaired. I know how important David Beckham's jersey is, but friendship is more important.

GIVE DISPUTED JERSEY BACK TO BECKHAM

I'm a fifth grader and I have a suggestion for the families.

Give the jersey back to David Beckham because that way the friendship won't be ruined.

My solution is fair to both boys, because neither of them would get the jersey and there wouldn't be anything to argue about.

The two families are acting pretty immature about this situation. What do you think is more important — a friendship or a jersey? I personally think the friendship is more important. I hope you consider my suggestion. Thank you.

FRIENDSHIP SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN A JERSEY

I agree with the solution that the president and general manager of the L.A. Galaxy suggested — get a pair of scissors and cut the David Beckham jersey in half. That way the two boys can each get a piece of the jersey. Each half is like a memory.

The two families may not like the solution, but I think that cutting the jersey is the best solution because each family gets something.

I also think that their friendship is worth more than a jersey. A friendship lasts longer than a jersey.

GIVE JERSEY BACK AND THEN MEND FRIENDSHIP

I think a good solution to the debate between the Ho family and the Kerr family regarding David Beckham's jersey is to give the jersey back to Beckham. That way both kids will be even. Then the kids can mend their friendship and they won't have anything to fight over.

I think this would be a good solution because 1) this is crazy that they've hired lawyers, and 2) a good friendship is much more valuable than a soccer uniform.

I hope the two families are able to resolve this issue, even if not through my suggested solution.

SILLY ARGUMENT OVER WHAT IS JUST A SHIRT

This is a silly argument because it's just a David Beckham shirt.

I think the two friends should make up and be friends again because a David Beckham shirt is not as valuable as friendship.

My solution to resolve their problem is to cut the jersey in half and they should each take a half, so that way they both have some of the shirt.

SELL JERSEY TO MUSEUM, THEN GO LOOK AT IT THERE

After reading the story, I have found a solution that makes both of the boys and their families happy and richer.

My solution is to sell the jersey to the museum and split the money that the jersey is worth.

I think the kids should do this because with the money they got from the shirt, they can go buy something else but still go visit the jersey inside the museum.

SHARE SHIRT, OR SELL IT AND THEN SPLIT MONEY

I think that this whole fight is just plain silly and should not have started in the first place.

I have two possible solutions. One is the Kerrs' solution and they share the shirt so both kids get the shirt. The other possible solution is they sell the shirt on eBay and split the money between the kids and pretend the whole fight never even happened. I hope you consider my solutions.

REPAIR FRIENDSHIP, DON'T GO TO COURT

My solution to this problem of the David Beckham jersey is to sell it.

I think they should sell it, because when they get the money back it would only be a little, and they would realize that the jersey wasn't worth a friendship that was going on for three years.

I know this jersey only cost a little bit of money because I did some research on eBay, and it said that it only cost about $40.

After they sell it, I hope they repair their friendship so that they can stop fighting and not take this problem to court. I hope they use my solution and that they stop fighting.

WHY FIGHT ABOUT SOMETHING SMALL, SILLY?

I think friendship is much more important than a soccer jersey. Why would someone fight about something so small and silly? Getting an attorney will not help the problem.

I think they should sell the shirt on eBay and split the money. This is fair because no one will get the jersey but they both get money.

Hopefully they can repair their friendship and forget that this has ever happened.

GOING TO COURT OVER A JERSEY A BIT TOO MUCH

I agree with the solution that the president and general manager of the L.A. Galaxy suggested. The suggestion was to get a pair of scissors, cut the jersey in half and to give half to each friend so that each child gets a piece of it.

Going to court for a fight over a jersey is going a bit too far. Besides, friendship is way more important than a jersey!

MAHALO

ALOHA SPIRIT ALIVE AND WELL AT QUEEN'S BEACH

As a member of the NOAA Monk Seal Response Team, I just wanted to give a public mahalo to an anonymous family I met near Queen's Beach on May 24.

We had a monk seal haul out and take a nap in the middle of the beach. Before I could even put my gear down, there was a full plate of food and a cold drink in front of me.

"Are you here to help with the monk seal?" the gentleman asked. When I replied "yes," he said, "Well, we're taking care of you."

He and his family were so kind to all of us, and I really wanted to send a heartfelt mahalo to them all. Their aloha was very much appreciated.

RAIL

UH-MANOA CONNECTION SHOULD BE TOP PRIORITY

With so much news concerning the rail system, I wonder if anyone ever thought of how the traffic has been much lighter when the University of Hawai'i-Manoa is not in session.

The emphasis on connecting to the airport is great, but is it a high-priority item? I was under the impression that the intent is to ease the traffic woes. Thus, the fact of the matter is that the key is to connect to UH-Manoa, since that has the highest impact on the traffic.

Ask any commuter, and they'll tell you that traffic is so much better when Manoa is on break or on summer schedule.

The top priority should be to connect to UH-Manoa.

AIRPORT SHOULD BE ON MAIN ROUTE SYSTEM

The proper solution would be for the trains to serve the airport (not just a spur), since that is a major destination.

The spur can go to the Salt Lake neighborhood, which is not a major destination.

INTERNMENT CAMPS

SHARE KNOWLEDGE SO IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN

Those of us born in 1943 are turning 65. It is also the 65th anniversary of Camp Honouliuli in Central O'ahu, where residents were detained because they were of Japanese ancestry.

I was just a baby, and couldn't know that Executive Order 9066 opened such camps in the name of national security.

I couldn't know that this event would impact a future roommate born in a camp or that the doctor I would trust to deliver my children was in high school in a camp or that a young carpenter who would mentor my husband was living the war years in a Mainland camp.

So many people I would come to treasure as friends were impacted by Executive Order 9066.

I was just a baby unable to protest. I use my voice now to support efforts of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i to collect and disperse information about Honouliuli so the injustice will never happen again.

The mission statement of JCCH stresses the importance of sharing knowledge that may strengthen us all.

If you have any family history relating to World War II internment camps, please speak up even if it is painful. When the civil rights of one group are impacted, it impacts us all.

KEILLOR

COLUMN A DISSERVICE TO COMBAT VETERANS

I'm writing this in response to Garrison Keillor's June 1 commentary, "Horde rides high on noxious hogs in Washington."

I also saw bikers on Memorial Day at the National Memorial Cemetery at Punchbowl. Mr. Keillor wants to portray them as "grown men playing soldier, making a great hullabaloo without exposing themselves to danger, other than getting drunk and falling off a bike."

Is this how Mr. Keillor wishes us to view others who may be different from us or who may dress differently, or who drink beer instead of having afternoon tea and crumpets while daydreaming over Mary Cassatt's "The Boating Party?"

The bikers I saw were men and women from combat veterans associations who have seen real combat, who have lost friends, and sacrificed far more for this country than Mr. Keillor ever will.

These Americans are celebrating their freedom and honoring America's fallen soldiers in their own unique way, and do not deserve to be portrayed as a bunch of drunken thugs.

I think Mr. Keillor is riding high on his own self-righteousness.

WELFARE FUNDS

GOVERNMENT MUST BE CAUTIOUS IN SPENDING

There were many inaccurate statements made by Lillian Koller, director of the state Department of Human Services, in her May 22 commentary on welfare funds.

She states that "the truth is our reserve would not have been depleted in 18 months..." However, a memo dated April 7, 2008, signed by Koller, shows a negative $16.1 million balance on June 30, 2010.

She states that "every October we receive an infusion of nearly $99 million for our annual TANF block grant," but fails to mention that she was proposing to spend $137.6 million every year, or $38 million more than what the state receives. She misinforms the public by omitting this fact.

Koller claims that "we have about four times the amount of money in reserve that we spend on cash assistance each year." Not true. Hawai'i spends roughly $40 million annually on cash assistance payments to families. The director's own report lists a fund balance of only $66.8 million on June 30, 2007.

The real danger is that the director believes that spending the reserve down to zero is the right thing to do, and that is scary. Most rational people don't spend every dime they have if they anticipate hard times ahead. Government, which is responsible for providing services to the needy, should be even more cautious in its approach to spending.

These hard decisions are necessary if we want to be able to provide these services not just this year but through the next decade as well.

TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT

CITY WORKING WITH WAIPAHU LANDOWNERS

Contrary to the erroneous assertions in Dale Evans' June 2 letter, no one is designating any areas of Waipahu as "blighted." Transit-oriented development is not urban renewal.

The city is not buying up land around stations to sell to private developers. In fact, it is exactly the opposite.

The community-based planning process ongoing in Waipahu is working with property owners to identify common objectives that can be achieved through TOD.

Ms. Evans' bald statement about TOD having a dubious history also lacks merit. There are many examples where the confluences of the transit station and station area development have resulted in substantial benefits to the landowner as well as to the municipality.

Even her quote of the Cervero study was taken out of context. The study pointed out that failure of developments around transit stations was due to non-application of TOD principles (access, design, walkability, mixed use). The Waipahu TOD plans emphasize these exact TOD principles.

Stop taking the public for a ride with misinformation about TOD. Our goal is to work collaboratively and cooperatively with the community to identify commonly held objectives and to work toward their implementation. TOD works best as a public/private partnership and should be pursued in context with market reality.