FOOTBALL

COACH JUNE JONES HAS BROUGHT SUCCESS TO UH

The magnitude of the accomplishment of the 2007 University of Hawai'i football team cannot be fully appreciated unless one considers the meager amount of money that coach June Jones had to work with.

The Honolulu Advertiser article, "Hawai'i's football program funds meager" (Nov. 27), compared the money UH generated, versus the top teams in the country. Last year, Georgia, UH's next opponent, received more than $60 million, versus Hawai'i's meager $7.5 million.

Now that the Warriors are 12-0 and the only undefeated Division 1-A team, this great accomplishment can be looked at in another light. Not only did the UH receive much less money last year, but has for many years.

But June Jones has done much with limited funding, and has wrought a miracle in Hawai'i — one of winning games and changing lives.

Coach Jones has given players a second chance in life to achieve success. So it is not about money, but about the heart that has brought the UH Warrior football team success thus far — a national No. 10 ranking and a BCS bid to the Sugar Bowl.

Congratulations to coach Jones and the Warriors. Only one more game to go. Go Warriors! Go Colt! Go Hawai'i!

MAHALO

HONOLULU CITY LIGHTS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE

Just before Christmas, I had the chance to take my 6-year-old niece to City Lights at Honolulu Hale.

What a great time for both of us! I hope everyone else who hasn't made it down there does so before the end of the month when the lights come down.

Many thanks to the city employees who helped make this year's version of City Lights the best ever, and especially to whoever built the "Lanakila" train that shoots smoke out of its smokestack every three minutes!

WORLD WAR II

U.S. MUST GIVE BENEFITS TO FILIPINO VETERANS

In a Dec. 26 letter ("Filipino vets should get benefits from P.I."), Craig Meyers asks if Filipino veterans' benefits shouldn't be coming from the Philippines instead of the U.S.

The answer is "no." They should come from the U.S. Following the Spanish American War, the Philippines did not receive their independence from the U.S. until after World War II.

The treatment of Filipino veterans is another example of poor treatment of veterans in general going all the way back to George Washington's time, when returning Revolutionary War veterans found their farms confiscated for lack of tax payments.

ILLEGAL AERIALS

'EWA BEACH FIREWORKS A NIGHTLY INTERRUPTION

I didn't even bother reading the "Fireworks tips" from the Honolulu Fire Department that were printed recently in The Honolulu Advertiser.

Hawai'i's fireworks laws and related instructions aren't worth the ink used and paper they're printed on.

If you live in 'Ewa Beach, you know that fireworks, including heavy-duty aerials, go off nightly all year. The frequency of these illegal fireworks significantly increases at Halloween. There were more than 50 separate aerial fireworks on a recent Saturday night.

They are set off with no respect for the rest of the neighbors. Often, these illegal aerials are set off after midnight.

Calling the police is futile. Unless you actually witness the perpetrator lighting the fireworks, then forget about it. Of course, the illegal aerial can be set off blocks away and still adversely affect the quality of life in your home.

Based on the frequency of the blatant illegal use of fireworks in 'Ewa Beach, be prepared for the worst New Year's Eve ever.

FIREWORKS BOOMING NIGHTLY IN KALIHI

Judging by the amount of illegal fireworks being exploded in my area of Kalihi, it's going to be a very noisy and smoky New Year's.

For the past few weeks, during the day and night (worse at night) there has been the constant booming of fireworks. Not to mention illegal aerials.

From the loudness, we can guess that people are not setting off the usual small stuff, but larger illegal stuff.

It's time to make sure the air-conditioner filters are clean, water hoses ready and the dog has tranquilizers.

The news has not reported any arrests by the police of the sale of illegal fireworks.

IT IS TIME TO BAN ALL FIREWORKS IN HAWAI'I

There should be a ban on all fireworks in Hawai'i.

Why do people in Hawai'i like to burn their money away anyway? It's a waste of money.

How are the illegal fireworks getting in?

Come on, Legislature, act now and place a total ban on all fireworks.

MAHALO

FORT SHAFTER PALM TREE A REFRESHING SIGHT

To the person(s) responsible for the beautifully lit blue palm tree near Fort Shafter: The sight of the tree refreshes me each morning as I drive by, and relaxes me as I drive home each evening.

Thank you very much for all your hard work, it's appreciated!

AUTOGRAPH SESSION

FANS DESERVE MORE SUPPORT FROM UH

I was in line at 7 a.m. at Manoa for the University of Hawai'i Warriors' autograph session.

Noon came, and I did not stand a chance. It was a run-for-your-autograph stampede. Older and unable to run, I was left behind by hundreds of uncontrolled, able-bodied men, women, kids.

Within minutes, there were lines in all sections of the field, and exceptional rule-changing by the staff working the crowd.

Didn't they expect a huge crowd? What planning went into this one-hour event?

And where were the coaches? This was the last time the team and coaches would be together and the only time left for people to get autographs.

One hour of aloha for the Hawai'i fans to get autographs or was it a part the media blitz to publicize the Sugar Bowl?

We have waited a long time for another dream team like the Fabulous Five. We deserve more support from UH.

PAGE ONE

TOYS FOR TOTS STORY A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

On Dec. 20, The Honolulu Advertiser proved the power for news media to do incredible good for our community.

In reporting on the shortage of toys at Toys for Tots and rallying Hawai'i behind a problem that people had been unaware of, you have demonstrated a huge potential for philanthropic endeavors.

The story on the front page became the critical catalyst that brought out the generosity of countless individuals. There are few organizations here with the widespread influence of The Honolulu Advertiser, and I'm thrilled to see it being used for the betterment of Hawai'i.

I hope that the success you've experienced in helping Toys for Tots will continue throughout the year and perhaps inspire a new daily article.

Imagine the good you could do for Hawai'i if on every day's front page you had a small blurb that highlighted a local charity, a community event (such as a beach cleanup) or even recognizing an "everyday hero."

This would be monumental, and I can't think of anyone who wouldn't love your paper for doing it.

In an era of reporting that dramatically inflates people's perceptions of the horrors and bad news surrounding them, it is a breath of fresh air to see that The Advertiser is helping everyone see the benevolence of the people in their community.

Make a difference. Donate to The Advertiser Christmas Fund.