Share this story

• Protect their ‘ohana too • Lingle faces the Burns dilemma • Weak sentence • Not fast or easy, but gorgeous • Think Westside, not Puhi

Protect their ‘ohana too

Please sign HB 444 into law. Civil unions for same-sex couples are fair and equitable and do not trample nor infringe on the rights of others.

This is not about religious tradition or ceremony. The institution of marriage will not suffer from your signing HB 444 into law.

Government support for individual rights is paramount to a free and democratic society.

I have a brother who is gay. He, a social worker, and his partner, a physical therapist in the National Guard, have been together for over 10 years and are raising two adopted children in a loving and stable home.

They have faced many instances of discrimination and bigotry due to their commitment to each other and their choice to raise a son and daughter together.

Signing HB 444 into law allows their ‘ohana to enjoy many of the same benefits and privileges that my wife, daughter and I enjoy.

Government should not discriminate against the rights of individuals to share love, commitment and family. Please protect their ‘ohana as you would mine.

James Trujillo, Kapa‘a

Lingle faces the Burns dilemma

I’m glad the Hawai‘i press noted the similarities between Gov. Lingle’s current quandary over HB444 and Gov. Burn’s quandary regarding the infamous abortion act of 1972. 

Let’s look at how badly the Burns decision turned out.

Against deeply held religious/moral beliefs, Burns decided not to veto abortion. Abortion became legal in Hawai‘i. This year there will be more than 5,000 legal abortions. Since 1972, 190,000 Hawai‘i babies have been killed. And Hawai‘i triggered the avalanche of legalized abortion throughout the U.S.    

Thus far in America, over 50 million unborn babies have died. Legalized genocide of unprecedented proportions. And other countries have followed the U.S.  

That is the legacy of Gov. Burns’ cowardly no-veto decision. What will be Gov. Lingle’s legacy?

Kenneth Meinken, Kailua

Weak sentence

Well it is refreshing to know that if you get busted with a pound of crystal meth you will only go to jail for one year.

Let’s not forget the list of other charges this individual has racked up. This sentence sends a clear message to others “if you get caught the sentence will be minor.”

It seems like you get into more trouble for talking on your cell phone while driving these days or god forbid you have a few plants in your yard.

I would be too embarrassed as a judge to hand down a sentence for one year to someone that possessed a pound of crystal meth.

I hope that if I am ever caught selling crystal meth that I get the same judge. Gotta love the Kaua‘i justice system!

Henrey Lasiter, Princeville

Not fast or easy, but gorgeous

Although A.E. Housman’s most famous poem “Loveliest of Trees” refers to the cherry, I suspect that, as an Englishman from past times, he never beheld the semi-tropical Jacaranda in bloom.

Years ago there were mature specimens here, two in Lihu‘e that I remember, since cut down for who-knows-what reasons, but now there are only immature trees in a few places, like the Wilcox Hospital parking lots, and around the Princeville Library.

They are not fast, nor very easy, as they have to be pruned correctly to avoid tangled messes, but absolutely and stunningly gorgeous and glorious when raised properly. I have many small seedlings to give away to those willing to put effort into them. Call 823-8747.

Martin Mills, Kapa‘a

Think Westside, not Puhi

An ideal site for the new Safeway store would have been on the Westside of the island.

Maybe in ‘Ele‘ele on the corner of Halewili Road and Kaumuali‘i Highway. It’s a safe area because there is no school in the area for children to cross the street and hang around. It is slow developed area with less traffic and it would be an easy access and exit on Halewili Road for eastbound and westbound traffic.

The Westside people wouldn’t have to drive far and contribute to the heavy traffic that the Eastside has. Likewise with the South Shore people, they too won’t contribute to the traffic on the Eastside.

Maybe whoever owns the property on the corner of Halewili Road and Kaumuali‘i Highway should give it a thought if there is ever a third Safeway store or a mall in the future plan.

Howard Tolbe, ‘Ele‘ele