Letters To The Editor

New political low

The “new low” in political campaigns that Dan Boylan wrote about will, I predict, become the “new high” in future elections. Once that line of civility and honesty was crossed, there will be no going back.

What is really sad is the billions of dollars wasted on promoting politicians and religions – just think what good that money could do if spent in the areas of health, education and welfare worldwide.

Gordon Bannner
Kalihi

Rail relics

Bravo to Gerhard Hamm (“Derailing rail” in Letters). He hit the nail on the head: that rail will never be finished. Never. But a few questions arise: When rail is stopped, will the John Whites of the Pacific Resource Partnership and related contractors and unions then harangue the politicians to make more money available to create new work to tear it down?

The other question is whether the various visitor and tourism authorities were ever consulted about what will happen when rail is stopped. What will happen to the erected columns? Will they become a tourist attraction and be marketed as “Stonehenge in Aloha-Land”? Come visit these unique structures. Their original purpose is unclear. Like the original in England from B.C. 2600, it may have been a sun worship temple or a healing center or a huge calendar, but some speculate it is a monument (to the folly) of some politicians of the early 21st century.

Cinde Fisher
Nuuanu

Pali Momi fan

Thank you for the cover story on the amazing things happening at Pali Momi hospital. While I was impressed to hear of the innovative technological advances and state-of-the art health care the hospital is providing, I was most impressed when I experienced firsthand the depth of customer service provided by everyone employed there. Late one night when my mother was rushed to emergency for a massive heart attack, my father and I found ourselves sitting in a darkened, empty waiting room for several hours. We were so impressed by the sincere kindness and concern every person exuded. Nurses and housekeeping staff checked if we needed a drink. Security officers offered us blankets, and the admitting nurse even tracked us down just to personally reassure us that she’d taken care of all the paperwork. When we finally left the hospital the following day, Dad and I were confident that Mom was under the best care available. And as we pulled out of the parking lot, a young parking attendant smiled a warm greeting and wished us a pleasant day. In this day and age when customer service is a dying art, it was a beautiful experience to see that it is not only alive and well but thriving at the Pali Momi Medical Center.

Tracy Takahashi
Makakilo

American sins

It has become apparent to me that Jerry Coffee’s column “A Lifelong Love Affair With America” shows he has difficulty with putting himself in other people’s shoes. He expresses delusions of grandeur that somehow he was the “chosen one” to have been given the digits 1776 in his Social Security number as a sign of fate he is to carry the message of love for country to the ignorant democratic masses. He enjoyed the benefits, opportunities and freedoms as an American boy, and benefited from great teachers and coaches in public service.

There is a book called history, and if Mr. Coffee were to read it, he would learn that his America committed genocide on Native American men, women and children for their land. Our America went to another country, kidnapped families and made them slaves to build our America.

Jose Luis
Waipahu

Colt’s moment

I enjoyed Ron Mizutani’s column on Colt Brennan, but it seems to me the most important moment in Colt’s young life was not mentioned – the day he announced he was returning for his senior year instead of turning pro. He was a recent Heisman Trophy finalist, was healthy and on top of his game, with people saying he would be a first-round draft pick.

Instead, he was influenced by his fans to stay. When a great opportunity comes, you have to act, because a year from now that opportunity may be long gone with the wind. Because Colt was so good and generous with his fans, we must always remember and love him for that.

Louis Smith
Honolulu

Hitching a ride

I appreciated D.L. Stewart’s column “Whatever Happened To Hitchhiking?” It reminded me of an experience I had with my husband in 2010. We had parked high up Pupukea Road to go for a hike. Unfortunately, we got very lost, and a planned five-mile hike turned into 20 or so miles of wandering about the woods, climbing muddy slopes and shooing away mangy stray dogs. We finally scaled down a very steep slope to the road below – miles from our car. We began the long walk back. Countless cars passed us by. After perhaps 25 miles of walking – and I was almost six months pregnant – we were exhausted and tried “hitching a ride.” I can’t tell you how many cars passed, with some people even scowling at us, despite us being older adults and conservatively attired. Finally, a very laid-back dude in a rusty old hatchback pulled over. We thanked him, and he replied, “No problem – I’ve been there before. Someone picked me up and I remember how thankful I felt.” When he dropped us at our car, we tried to give him gas money, but he refused, and with a tip of his hat drove away. Now that’s aloha!

A. Walton
Mililani