Why don’t students at UH protest?

We have heard from everyone in the media, every columnist and pundit, about the unbelievable actions of the University of Hawaii administration and athletic department. My question is, "Where are the students?" Where are the stakeholders who have the most to lose from the administrative meltdown? Do they care? Are they too busy to care, too busy to voice their opinion? Where are the protests when $220,000 here and $450,000 there are spent for more bureaucracy, and not their education?

There was a time when college students would not put up with what is being handed out by the UH administration. But sadly, times change. And sometimes the more they change the more they stay the same. I thought the Board of Regents and the Legislature learned their lesson during the Evan Dobelle era, but now I can see the ghost of Herman Frazier headed to the athletic department.

Clive Cabral
Pearl City

City, state leaders arrogant on rail

Once again, the state and city have dropped the ball by cutting corners on the complete archaeological survey for the rail. I still have six tickets for the Superferry, which would have been one of the greatest assets to locals and Hawaii. Yet due to state mismanagement and a few powerful companies, we lost everything.

Now the same dance continues with the rail. It took nine years and three contractors to close down and rebuild the sewage line on Kalaheo Avenue. The main roads we drive on every day have become war zones. We are expected to trust these same people to manage and build our rail. Heaven help us. I am not necessarily against the rail; we need something to correct our traffic woes. I am just concerned about leaving it in the hands of leaders whose arrogant presumption takes priority over prudence.

John Shiarella
Kaneohe

HART CEO regrets ‘bones’ comment

At a press conference Friday in response to a question about delay costs resulting from the recent state Supreme Court ruling on the rail transit project, I unintentionally made an inappropriate reference to bones.

I sincerely apologize for this unfortunate statement. It was not my intent to offend or disrespect anyone. Respectful treatment of iwi kupuna is of utmost importance. As we move forward with the archaeological work I want to assure everyone that the work will continue to be conducted in a manner that is culturally sensitive and in compliance with all state requirements.

Daniel Grabauskas
HART executive director and CEO

Paper wastes time on church dispute

Your front-page story, "Temple entangled in bitter battle" (Star-Advertiser, Aug. 24) is the lowest the paper has sunk since it gained monopoly status as our city’s only source of daily print news. With important state and national issues, not to mention international happenings around the Pacific Rim that impact our economy and society, it is difficult to understand why the Star-Advertiser chose to air the dirty laundry of a relatively small faith community of private citizens who are not public servants.

Do all the faith congregations in Hawaii now have to fear that our internal squabbles (and we all have them) will be printed on the front page, and our members will be characterized in a particularly negative way before the whole community — not to mention those outside of Hawaii? I urge you to elevate both the informational content and decorum of your newspaper.

Kirsten Baumgart Turner
Kailua

Church offers ways to promote peace

I was distressed to read the story about Temple Emanu-El because I realize as a minister myself that this story could happen in any religious setting. We often have high ideals to live out our moral and spiritual values in the world, yet sometimes fail to practice it at home by getting mired in internal conflict. I know Rabbi Peter Schaktman personally and professionally (his temple is next to our church) and know him to have extremely high ethical and moral standards.

The First Unitarian Church of Honolulu offers Temple Emanu-El our gentle, loving thoughts and invite members of their congregation to attend Non Violent Communication courses offered at our congregation beginning September.

We could all learn how to better communicate with one another in a healthy way to promote peace within our religious communities and in turn peace in the world.

The Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kupono Kwong
Minister, First Unitarian Church of Honolulu

Public radio worthy of support, listeners

It isn’t often that articles in the Star-Advertiser get my dander up, but the one by Art Carden recommending that government funding for PBS be eliminated soon had my dander rising ("Should Congress pull the plug on funding National Public Radio?" Star-Advertiser, Aug. 27).

Contrary to Carden’s views, PBS and HPR are neither liberal nor conservative but present both sides of the political spectrum. It is refreshing to hear a discussion between two people instead of listening to five talking heads all shouting at the same time. And I certainly disagree with his argument that only the liberal, wealthy and elitist support PBS and HPR. I am none of the above, but am a viewer, listener and supporter of both programs.

In this day of prejudicial broadcasting from the likes of Fox News on the right and MSNBC on the left, it is refreshing to have PBS and HPR to turn to. If you do not listen or watch HPR and PBS, maybe you should. I think you will find it enlightening, informative and refreshing.

Bob Dixon
Honolulu