No way should we pay
so much to HVCB head

As a hard-working taxpayer, I am disturbed by your July 12 editorial on the pay of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau president. The editorial concluded that, if the first choice for the presidency turned down the $300,000-plus pay package, we should be prepared to pay the next guy more.

Since the HVCB is funded mostly with taxpayer money, that means its president is a manager of public funds. That makes him more like a public official than a business executive. So why should he be paid more than three times as much as the governor of our state? I can't believe his job is three times as tough as the governor's job.

I was told that the president's salary may be paid by HVCB membership dues. But why should HVCB members pay for the private club memberships or private school tuitions for its next president? Shouldn't they be taking better care of their own employees instead?

Jasmin Iwasaki
Waipahu

It was great meeting
Stewart again and again

On the occasion of the death of Jimmy Stewart, I recall when the great actor introduced himself to me four times in the same day. Back in 1969, while stationed at Bien Hoa in Vietnam as the executive officer to the wing commander, my duties included protocol for all distinguished visitors.

After Stewart and his wife arrived on base, I met him for the first time. Then I raced ahead to the next stop to prepare for his arrival. Each time, as I held the door open for him, he repeated in his familiar drawl, "Hi, I'm Jimmy Stewart," and shook my hand.

After the fourth time I thought to myself, he must think all Chinese DO look alike. I will treasure that memory forever.

Vernon Wong
Waipahu

Stadium needs a manager
with more positive attitude

So mega-events like the Rolling Stones concert and Pro Bowl really can be held within 10 days of each other. Since our stadium manager can't handle tight schedules, let's get one with a "can-do attitude."

Give our current manager 11 days to pack his stuff, and make room for a real stadium manager who can do things.

Bernard Keane

Don't punish Bart Kane
for being a risk-taker

Charles Memminger makes a valid point in his July 25 column, "Status quo is nothing to brag about." Innovation and risk are needed to turn our economy around. Let us not forget, however, that inherent in risk is the potential for failure. Are we willing to accept the outcome?

Hawaii's biggest risk-taker of recent times has been vilified in every quarter of our community. State librarian Bart Kane was chastised by his subordinates, his government and the general public. For what? For taking a risk whose outcome he hoped would help keep our library system functioning well through difficult economic times and severe budget cuts.

The Baker & Taylor contract did not work out as planned. The result should have been criticized, not the gesture or the man.

We can't be fair-weather friends or fickle constituents. If the risk-taker who fails is going to be disparaged, threatened with loss of job and put on probation, isn't it the public who is promoting the status quo?

Robert Chanin
Kailua

---

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.