IF the marketing guys who sold us the radio and TV spots are right, by now everybody in Hawaii is aware that ''We make waves.'' Making waves for readers
This catchy, if damp, theme had its beginnings when Star-Bulletin editors got together about a year ago to chart a course for the new year. We came up with a short list of things we wanted the newspaper to be. The first of these was an unflinching defender of the reader's right to know.
The goal is to live up to Thomas Jefferson's trust in the press in a democracy: ''Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without government,'' he wrote, ''I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.''
One product of our commitment was a special section on the Hawaii economy that triggered an economic revitalization movement. Another was publishing the ''Broken Trust'' essay, which launched a state investigation into the operations of the Bishop Estate and changed the way future trustees will be selected. Day in and day out, our editors and staff look for ways to fill the public's need for information. If that effort ruffles a few feathers, we figure that goes with the territory.
''Cheerleaders have their place, but the press box isn't it,'' writes magazine columnist Henry Norr. ''To my mind, unflinching realism better serves the cause than uncritical enthusiasm.''
Thanks, Henry. We couldn't have said it better. You make waves, man.