Who's hapa?
Plenty of people in Hawaii claim a rainbow of racial heritages. We call it being hapa.Washington decision makers are now considering adding a new category to census forms that would allow Americans of mixed-race birth to acknowledge their diversity. In addition, the Star-Bulletin published a story last week announcing a census task force's recommendation that Hawaiians remain categorized as Pacific Islanders and not Native Americans.
What do you think? Should the 2000 census include a cagetory for mixed-race Americans? And how should Hawaiians be categorized?
Write us a letter and tell us what you think. The Star-Bulletin will print a selection of letters in an upcoming issue. Be sure to include a daytime phone number.
Send your letters to:
Letters to the Editor
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
P.O. Box 3080
Honolulu, HI. 96802
Right on, Charles Meminger! Most of my recent experiences on United Airlines have been similar to Memminger's. One that stands out in my mind was on a flight from Maui to Los Angeles several years ago. Columnist captured
true spirit of 'friendly skies'It was shortly after the employees had "purchased" the airline and the ad campaign at the time was, "We don't just work here." All of the flight attendants were wearing buttons with that message.
Everybody except for the first flight attendant, or whatever they call the cabin's head honcho. She had "adjusted" her button to read, "We just work here." Thanks for a great column!
Bonnie Friedman
Makawao, Maui
Regarding the Con Con election, although I read both newspapers daily and watched the news on TV, I was unaware that blank votes counted one way or another. In fact, during my 33 years of voting in Hawaii and on the mainland, I have never heard of blank or spoiled votes counting for anything. It certainly is important
how the votes are countedAlthough I was astounded by the state Supreme Court ruling that blank and spoiled votes counted as "no" votes, that was nothing compared to my reaction to a statement published in your July 11 issue.
Herb Takahashi, attorney for the AFL-CIO, was quoted as saying, "I don't feel there's a fundamental constitutional right to be informed on how the votes will be calculated."
I don't know Mr. Takahashi, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt. He must have been misquoted. No person with an ounce of common sense could make such a stupid public statement.
If this quote is true, however, and the AFL-CIO wants to maintain any credibility in this state, it should quickly disavow this statement and this person.
Donald F. Adams
(Via the Internet)
I am very disappointed that Bank of Hawaii, C. Brewer & Co., Hawaiian Electric, Outrigger Hotel and Theo H. Davies & Co. have found it necessary to sue the state to block enactment of the reciprocal beneficiaries law. Employers shouldn't sue
to negate new benefits lawThe law has flaws and loopholes but fundamentally the intent is good. It extends equal rights to those of us who can't be "married" in the traditional sense.
I suggest we spend a reasonable amount of money to call the Legislature into a special session to correct the law as opposed to spending exorbitant amounts of money on a lawsuit.
Why the fight? Why the lawsuit? How about just responsibly fixing a poorly drafted law? Let's not "throw the baby out with the bath water."
Dr. Robert S. Jenkins
Kailua
Charging a user fee to enter Diamond Head Crater is a good idea. The spectacular views from the rim of the crater are one of the reasons I keep coming back to Oahu. The trail isn't dangerous but clearly needs work. Tourists won't mind paying
to walk up Diamond HeadMany state parks in California charge nominal user fees. The upgraded facilities that the fees pay for may actually increase visits by tourists, who are accustomed to paying for the privilege to experience one-of-a-kind places in the United States.
Andy Mattson
Cupertino, Calif.
(Via the Internet)
Same-sex archive
Want to write a letter to the editor? Let all Star-Bulletin readers know what you think. Please keep your letter to about 200 words. You can send it by e-mail to letters@starbulletin.com or you can fill in the online form for a faster response. Or print it and mail it to: Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802. Or fax it to: 523-8509. Always be sure to include your daytime phone number.