Liliuokalani School has alternate possibilities

I was a student at Liliuokalani Elementary School from 1962-69, and while I understand the desire many have to keep it open, if it’s not practical to do so and a financial drain, there’s no reason to.

That said, there’s also no reason it can’t have an even brighter future in a new capacity.

Some former schools in my city have been turned into needed housing with highly successful results. Liliuokalani, which still appears to be structurally sound, could be turned into affordable housing for seniors, who would likely take great care of the buildings and could tend to a multitude of vegetable and flower gardens throughout the grounds.

Their monthly rent could help the school district with an infusion of cash, and the property would be put to excellent use as a much-coveted place to live. I would venture to say that the queen herself would be proud of her namesake’s new life.

Squawking on awards is negative, shameful

I was embarrassed to hear Dennis Kamakahi on television squawking about the Grammy winner in the Hawaiian category. Other losers nationwide do not do this, and, yes, a popular person does win the Grammy or the Oscar when at times it should be otherwise.

If we are continuously negative about the selections in this category, it could be eliminated and no one across the county would care. Worst of all, is Kamakahi saying that if you are a Hawaiian or Hawaiian at heart in any other part of the world but Hawaii, you aren’t Hawaiian enough? Shame!

Canadian football ideal for UH players

Chad Owens, you made the right call. With a lockout in the National Football League looking imminent, he’ll be playing while other former Warriors in the NFL may not.

As a big Canadian Football League fan, I think Chad Owens’ re-upping with the Double Blue will only grow the CFL fan base in the 808. Ever since I discovered the CFL in 1982 — thanks to that year’s NFL players’ strike and ESPN — I was hooked.

The 110-by-65-yard field, 20-yard end zones, 12 players per side and three downs make it a faster game.

While it is every football player’s dream to make it to the NFL, they should keep the CFL as an option. One former Warrior who could make it up there would be Colt Brennan. With the speed of the game and his gunslinger arm, he’d do well.

Government wasting millions a day on war

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are costing us $193 million a day, not including medical expenses. How can this gigantic outpouring of money continue while cutting programs for our own people?

We need to support our own country in the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. Instead of dollars for schools to educate our children, elderly support, funds to help people find jobs, building affordable homes for the homeless, and on and on, the taxpayers’ dollars go to pay for tanks, missiles, rockets and guns to kill people in other countries. $193 million a day could help to rebuild our country fast. Don’t we deserve our own help?

Well-to-do pensioners sounding a bit selfish

I am a state retiree. I am appalled at the selfishness of my fellow state retirees as reported in the media; I am even more appalled and embarrassed by their rude and disrespectful behavior toward Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state senators, as reported in this paper ("Medicare reimbursements unjustified, governor says," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 12).

While it is important that state retirees with lower incomes be spared cuts, the rest of us who have enough to live on, to eat out occasionally, to travel from time to time, should be willing to sacrifice some of our comfort for the good of less fortunate retirees and to help prevent drastic cuts to education and health programs.

I think Abercrombie’s suggestions of taxing pensions and stopping the payment of Medicare premiums are sensible, with the caveat that low-income retirees should not be included in these cuts.