Molokai Ranch is only
trying to help island

Poor Molokai Ranch! As Molokai collapses into a welfare economy, Molokai Ranch is trying everything possible to create jobs. The ranch came up with a novel idea: Instead of just another resort, it would create an eco-camping adventure, the Great Molokai Ranch Trail.

Despite having obtained every possible permit for this creative use of private property, however, it is continually badgered by developer DeGray Vanderbilt (View Point, June 20) and his Pono group, which has access to "free" (taxpayer-supported) legal services.

This selfish group, which has never done anything positive for Molokai, will never be satisfied until the ranch turns over everything to its own development plans.

Rosemary Figueroa

Like Nixon, Marcos needs
full presidential burial

In reply to your April 16 article, "Philippines still unable to lay Marcos era to rest," it is beyond comprehension why the writer stated "the body of the former dictator continues to cause trouble."

How can the body of our beloved former president, Ferdinand E. Marcos, cause any trouble since he died eight years ago?

The problem in the Philippines is not about the Marcos body but the leadership of our country. I am getting more ashamed as a Filipino citizen because our leaders are not doing their jobs concerning Marcos' body.

The late Richard Nixon was president of this beautiful country. To some Americans, he was a disgrace because of Watergate, but to some he was one of the best presidents because of his foreign policy.

When he passed away, Nixon was given a presidential burial. This is exactly what we have been expecting for the late President Marcos.

Jose "Joe" J. Lazo

HVCB leader should be
an island-born resident

Recently, the five finalists for the presidency of the Hawaii Visitors and Conventions Bureau were announced, and guess what? Not one, repeat, not one is an "island-born person."

Gee, where did we go wrong, and why is the selection committee afraid of "island candidates"? Who says that mainland-born people are better educated, mannered or qualified?

Is it because we, as citizens, are also less willing to challenge the political machine of Ben Cayetano? Every time, repeat, every time there is a major appointment in our state, politics must enter into the picture.

Our state is sick, and a selection of any of the five named as finalists won't change the situation, period. This is a very, very sad time for one and all of us in the tourism business.

James Akina

McLibel lawsuit serves up
scary advertising precedent

The "McLibel" case reported in your June 19 issue cast a scary stone into advertising waters. While finding that the environmental-activist defendants were guilty of libeling McDonald's, the judge in the case "upheld" the claim that McDonald's ads are "directed at children with a view to (their) pressuring or pestering their parents to take them to McDonald's." Duh.

Be careful, advertisers, it's time for a little self-policing. Be sure that the commercials you run on those Saturday-morning kid shows make it clear that the candy, soda, tacos, cereal, toys, games and sneakers they promote are to be paid for by the kids themselves, and that the young viewers not pester their parents to buy them.

Not policing yourselves may lead to government regulation, and you've learned what that can do.

Sooner or later, somebody on Capitol Hill will introduce a bill that prohibits "unwelcome" advertising because most people in this country don't like to be bothered by sales pitches.

Jim Winpenny

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Same-sex archive

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