ISLAND LIFE IMAGE A BEAUTY TO BEHOLD

Sometimes something is so beautiful it deserves a compliment. Such is Andrew Shimabuku’s wonderful photograph of two polo players on the front of Saturday’s (June 2) Island Life section.

I am not a big fan of polo, but I know a good photo when I see one. Be sure to submit this superb image to every contest and journalism award event you can find. And thank you for covering such fringe activities in our Islands. You never know when something beautiful will appear!

KAHUKU HOSPITAL

LEGISLATORS DESERVE THANKS FOR SAVING SITE

When we all received our "termination" letter with a sad disclosure of Kahuku Hospital's closing date, the employees were devastated. The community of North Shore was stunned. We all felt hopeless, with our nearest emergency medical one hour away.

The Kahuku Hospital employees and families painted some signs "Save Kahuku Hospital" and quickly circulated petitions in the community.

We went to stores, football games, knocked on doors and showed up everywhere. We had a rally sign-waving event at the hospital entrance and had a great turn out. The news reporters and legislators took notice.

Our leaders — City Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz, Sen. Clayton Hee, Rep. Michael Magaoay, Gov. Linda Lingle and all their people — came to our rescue.

They came to our many, many meetings. They gave us information and suggestions and showed a real concern for saving Kahuku.

Now our hospital has been saved, under new state operation, and our services will remain open and perhaps have some real upgrades.

Mahalo to our Hawai'i government and hard workers.

SEAT BELTS

HPD CAMPAIGN MEANT TO SAVE, NOT SCARE YOU

In response to Mr. Jerry Neil III's letter titled "Click it or ticket campaign goes too far."

This campaign by the HPD is a wonderful way to save lives. Many road-related accident deaths could have been prevented if people were just using their seat belts.

Without the HPD fully enforcing this campaign, people wouldn't take it seriously, and not give the seat belt another thought.

This campaign isn't to threaten or intimidate you, but it's there so when you get in an accident, you would have another chance to complain about another HPD campaign you think is absolutely bogus.

NATIVE HAWAIIANS

KAU INOA WOULD BRING BALANCE TO HAWAI'I

Far from being divisive and pitting "Hawaiians against everybody else" as L.W. Carpenter claims (Letters, June 3), the establishment of a Native Hawaiian representative entity, in which the current Kau Inoa registration is a vital first step, would instead restore balance and pono to Hawai'i Nei, whose indigenous people have been subjected to generations of injustice and inequality in their own homeland.

One need only to look at the hundreds of existing Indian and Native Alaskan government bodies throughout the United States to see that native governments can and do co-exist harmoniously alongside local, state and federal structures.

It is unfortunate that Carpenter has chosen to echo the fear-mongering rhetoric of those who seek to deprive Hawai'i's native people of the programs and assets established to help us improve the social imbalances that continue to afflict our people.

The establishment of an official body to speak on behalf of Hawaiians regarding the control and use of these assets would be an important step forward toward the reconciliation called for by Congress in its acknowledgement of the U.S. government's historic wrongdoings against the Hawaiian people.

We believe, and credible opinion research has confirmed, that most of Hawai'i's citizens — both native and non-Hawaiian — support this reconciliation process because it perpetuates the values of the Hawaiian culture that we all share.

TURTLE BAY

EXPANSION SHOULDN'T SACRIFICE ENVIRONMENT

My family and I have stayed many times at the Turtle Bay Resort over the years. The North Shore is a unique and special place, and any significant new development should be very carefully reviewed for environmental sustainability.

Nicola Jones' Web page states that the Kuilima Resort is not trying to turn the North Shore into Waikiki. Of course not, and this statement is misleading in its inapplicability.

The Kuilima should be held to very rigorous environmental standards for any new development.

Since I haven't received any evidence of that, I will have to consider my discomfort with the expansion in considering any future bookings at the Turtle Bay Resort.

JEREMY HARRIS

FORMER MAYOR IS GETTING UNFAIR CRITICISM

I've seen many letters from Rosita Sipirok-Siregar and respect her opinion. But I beg to differ with her letter of June 8 where she says former Mayor Jeremy Harris didn't do a good job.

To be accurate, water main breaks are the responsibility of the Board of Water Supply.

As for wastewater improvements, budget documents available on the city's Web site show he spent $600 million in 10 years and had another $300 million in the planning/design stage when he left City Hall. He put all the money the budget would allow into upgrades.

We must remember that Harris governed during 10 difficult years when we had dropping tax revenues that forced the cutting of spending and staffing. This administration has had three years of soaring tax revenues.

The mayor can put more money into maintenance because there is more money available. Simple economics.

It's just sad to see people take shots at Harris when his job was difficult. Remember he gave us:

Central O'ahu Regional Park, Waip'io Soccer Complex, Kapi'olani and Waialua Bandstands, Kuhio Beach/Kalakaua Promenade, Sunset on the Beach, canoe halau, skateboard parks and Hanauma Bay Marine Education Center.