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January 03, 2008
APPALLED!
I was appalled to read your "news" coverage of the arrival of the Superferry, and the reporter's amused attitude towards the Hui Malama students who expressed themselves (Coconut Wireless, Dec. 20, 2007). As a proud parent of a Hui Malama student, I will say we do not support or encourage any of our children to express themselves using profanity or anger toward others. We are saddened to see this display in any of our children. But on the other hand, these are pre-teen kids who have been displaced, overlooked, and generally had the middle finger put in their faces.
An expression of frustration and anger is to be expected, and I would also be saddened if they were not frustrated and angry. These are children who study every day about their environment and are being led to live environmentally conscientious lives. So when individuals or entities act without a [conscience], they are angered and, I believe, rightly so.
We teach our children to act with dignity and self-respect, but self-respect also comes with standing up for what you believe in. As a child, "indignation" might be a hard thing to express politely. But watch out; these children will soon be adults with the knowledge and ability to bring about change. They will remember this slap in their faces.
-Melissa Stammberger, parent of a Hawaiian Outdoor Education program student, via email
WHALES!
(Editor's note: the following letter is in reference to James Mordovancey's Dec. 20, 2007 story "Tall Ships and Cachalots: What it was like to be a whaler on Maui:")
Why is it written that, "few whales were here?" Whales have always been; sperm whale teeth were worn by ali'i. Historians have said that the whalers were here NOT to work, but to rest, and one Lahaina historian said that the Humpbacks were just "too plain skinny" to be bothered with here in Hawai'i. So, what is the real story?
-K. Velasquez, via Mauitime.com
The Editor responds: Check out Mordovancey's Mar. 1, 2007 story "Humpbacks in History," which details how the large humpback migrations to Maui waters are a relatively recent phenomena.
NO LONGER BUSTED!
Mahalo to Anthony [Pignataro] and Jared [Libby] for a great story on my experience with the new excessive speeding law ("Busted!" Dec. 6, 2007). I meant to write sooner but I've been busy speeding around the island and reading my hate mail.
I am pleased to see that the story stirred up some dialogue as that is all I wanted, for everyone to be aware of what was happening. Not everyone is tuned into Hawai'i state laws. Personally, I read the San Francisco Chronicle.
I've been back to see Judge Pollak and I am happy to report that my case is dismissed and she is an enthusiastic reader of Maui Time. The Public Defender likes you, too.
-Laura "I Can't Drive 45" Kaplan, via email
INTEGRITY? WHAT'S THAT?
As a taxi driver, I have never been for or against the Superferry "The Year in Review,"Dec. 27, 2007), though I think obeying the law, as written, shows more integrity than, say, changing the law to suit yourself. Maybe I could get the governor to write a special law for me, too.
Recently an Avis agent at the Kahului Airport said that she had counted 2,000 rental cars in their lot before the season started. Just four to five days later, after the beginning of Christmas week, she was done to 40. Forty cars, vans, etc., out of 2000. That means that 1,960 car drove off the Avis lot in about five days. This was just Avis. This doesn't count Advantage, Alamo, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrifty… Not to mention the "used car" rental agencies all over Maui.
That means that thousands of rental cars hit our streets and highways in a very short time. Should we worry about the traffic impact of the Superferry? I don't. Still, the legally mandated Environmental Impact Statement would have been interesting. Hoo hum!
-Steven Joshua Blue, Wailuku
Maui Time welcomes letters commenting on our coverage, but only if they're complimentary. If you still wish to complain about something, please have the decency to use plenty of bad punctuation and grammar—that makes it easier for us to make fun of you when we respond. We also reserve the right to edit your letters. Send your letters to the editor via e-mail (letters@mauitime.com), regular mail (Letters to the Editor, Maui Time Weekly, 33 N. Market St., Ste. 201, Wailuku, HI 96793-1742) or fax (808-244-0446). All correspondence must include your full name, hometown and phone number.
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