• Rest in peace, Clarebelle and Aloha • MMA molds good people • Come back, Superferry • Life-and-death decisions by teens Rest in peace, Clarebelle and Aloha Even as we bid reluctant aloha to Aloha Airlines, may we also take
• Rest in peace, Clarebelle and Aloha
• MMA molds good people
• Come back, Superferry
• Life-and-death decisions by teens
Rest in peace, Clarebelle and Aloha
Even as we bid reluctant aloha to Aloha Airlines, may we also take note of one of the sadder days in its history. Some 30 years ago this month — April 1988 — an Aloha flight attendant was whisked through the giant puka that opened up in the fuselage of the Aloha 737 airliner at 10,000 feet over the Alenuihaha Channel between the Big Island and Maui. Lovely Clarebelle Ho, originally of Hanalei, was identified in the Honolulu newspapers only by her haole married name. She was the 1948 Chinese beauty queen of Kaua‘i High School and the “Ke Kuhiau “yearbook said she “reminded (us) of the delicate lotus blooms of old China.” Kitty enjoyed music, horseback riding, bicycling, and travel.
May she and Aloha Airlines both rest in peace.
Gone but not forgotten.
Ray Smith, KHS ‘50
Wheaton, Il.
MMA molds good people
I am writing this letter in response to Howard Tolbe’s letter (“MMA events cause violence in youth,” Letters, March 31):
My husband is an MMA fighter and one of the contenders at the last Kauai Cage Match. I just want him to know that there are always bad eggs in every sport. You cannot blame MMA for the problems our youth face today: drugs, abuse, neglect, alcoholism, peer pressure, to name a few. My husband is an excellent father, great husband and good provider. He doesn’t drink, do drugs, smoke cigarettes nor is he abusive in any way, shape or form. He volunteers and teaches the K-Pal jiu-jitsu classes at Kapa‘a Armory and is well liked by the kids who attend class there. I think he makes a big difference in the way these kids think about being good students and people in general, and making positive choices in their lives. He encourages them to do well in school, not fight and stay away from drugs.
Vance does a good job at promoting these events in a positive way and makes it a family event, always giving back to the community.
How can you compare these matches to chicken and dog fights? The animals are there against their will, and these fighters choose to compete in a controlled and refereed enviroment.
My husband is now 3 and 0 and has remained good friends with all his past opponents. As for your comment on age, my husband, 37 this year, also fought someone in his early 20s. He is in the best shape of his life. He is proud of how hard he trains and all the discipline it takes. So please don’t be so quick to pass judgment when you don’t know anything about what you are writing.
Kristy Kahananui
Wailua
Come back, Superferry
I want to echo the words of Kimo Rosen in desiring for the Superferry to return to Hawai‘i (“Remember the Alakai?” Letters, April 3).
Think about how much cheaper it will be to travel to O‘ahu on the Superferry versus paying $300 dollars round-trip on go! or Hawaiian. I told the Honolulu Advertiser I thought it would be only a couple days after Aloha went out of business before they raised prices. Well, I was off by five days. Standby for April 8 when Hawaiian, then go! will raise prices and we will not go to O‘ahu for less than $200 round-trip. Like Kimo states, no competition. So for all of you who think the Superferry will hurt this beautiful island, wake up, ‘cause the airlines are going to hurt your wallet in any way they can.
Charles Kramer
Kekaha
Life-and-death decisions by teens
At 18 we are considered mature enough to make a decision on whether or not to smoke. At 21, we are considered mature enough to make a decision on whether or not to drink. If we are over 18, in most states, we are not allowed to have sex with those under 18 because they are not yet aware enough to understand the consequences of that action.
Why do we then allow military recruiters to talk to our youth? Can there be any decision that requires more maturity than to join an organization that will require one to take a weapon and kill another human being? Can a 17-year-old understand the consequences of dropping a bomb on a target and killing innocent civilians for political purposes? Is he/she mature enough to make a decision that could lead to his/her own death, permanent hearing loss, stress-related illness or psychological effects of possibly killing or deforming a child?
If we want to teach patriotism then encourage our kids into charitable organizations that promote America’s image abroad. Keep military recruiters away from them until they are at least mature enough to drink a beer legally. Then they could make the choice on whether fighting a war to protect corporate interests and cheap fuel is worth a GI bill or career training.
Temperance Raziel
Kapa‘a
