Letters
AH, MEMORIES!
Buttons Charlie, what a guy. [“Pau Hana,” MNKO Vol. 12 No. 3] I also liked High School Harry. He was married 13 times and once to his high school teacher. There was one more guy who owned the Hole in the Wall spaghetti joint. I can not recall his name. Mahalo, West Maui Ted
LOCATION IS EVERYTHING
My wife and I recently purchased a condo on Maui and as part of the process, the developer provided us with a subscription to your wonderful magazine. We are finding it very informative and look forward to spending more time on Maui when our condo is complete.
In the magazine you mention places of interest, attractions, restaurants, etc., and often give their location. However, “mainlanders” not yet familiar with Maui have a difficult time knowing where these places are. I would like to suggest that once a quarter, have one page of your magazine dedicated to a Maui map noting names of towns, parks, beaches, highways, etc. This would help to familiarize us with your beautiful island.
Greg, San Diego
With maps of Maui available on-island and online, we think it’s best to save our pages for stories you won’t find anywhere else. But you will find maps this issue in Paul Wood’s fine piece on Na Wai ‘Eha, the four waters that flow from the West Maui Mountains into the Central Valley—or that did, before they were diverted off the map.—Ed.
REO’ FUNNY
“Liddo Bitta Tita” [MNKO Vol. 12 No. 2] was so funny but soooo real. You took me back to times I had forgotten. Everything you described was a part of someone’s home—aunty, uncle, grandma, neighbor.
. . . Tita, thanks for the memories.
Received on our website from
Darlene Johnson
ANUDDER MUDDER TONGUE
I just picked up my first issue and read your “Liddo Bitta Tita.” Although I was born and raised and still live in Minnesota, what you wrote reminded me of the place I grew up in, “Nordeast” Minneapolis. I am of Polish heritage and the heavy Polish pronunciations I heard while growing up came back to me when I first read and then listened to your character’s voice on the magazine’s website.
We may be from two different cultures and from two different places on this globe, but you reminded me just how similar we all are. I look forward to reading more of what you have to share through this character Tita. All my best to you in everything you do.
Thom Rigger
BLESS YOU
Your magazine is as close to a slice of Maui heaven as one can get in print. My wife and I love this special place (we even named our daughter Maui) and your diverse, well written, and beautifully photographed articles do the island justice. The article on Haleakala [“Managing the Mountain,” MNKO Vol. 12 No. 2] is balanced and topical. Your magazine’s coverage reminds me why I believe the residents of Maui are a very blessed people with a responsibility to care for this gem in the sea. Keep up the good work.
David Deveau, Nova Scotia, Canada
IT’S ON OUR BACK BURNER
Being frequent visitors, we love your magazine. I would like to ask a favor. You describe so many of your great restaurants in each issue. Would it be possible to have a chef share a recipe in each issue?
Nick Bilardello, Soquel, CA
We’re glad you like what we’re doing. While at present we don’t print recipes in every issue, we can direct you to a few web-exclusive ones we have online. Visit us at nokaoimagazine.com, and search our archives for “Do Try This” and “Toast to Your Health This Holiday Season” (both in the Nov/Dec 2007 issue), and “Cook Like a Pro” (May/June 2007 issue).—Food Ed.
A MATTER OF PRINCIPAL
I just wanted to thank you for acknowledging Rene Yamafuji as one of the 10 most intriguing people [MNKO Vol. 12 No. 3]. It is so refreshing to see a public school that is looking outside of the box, and finding creative ways to engage, stimulate, and inspire students. Public-school funding and parent involvement are in desperately short supply, and at times, as a parent, it feels like private school is the only option in order to ensure a well-rounded education. Many of my friends who are teachers in the public schools lament about “teaching to the test”—referring to meeting the testing standards of the No Child Left Behind program. They are left with little opportunity or resources to allow for creativity in the classroom.
Kudos to Ms. Yamafuji. She and her faculty are an inspiration to the community—not just within their district, but islandwide.
Vanessa Ghantous, Makawao
Maui N¯o Ka ‘Oi magazine welcomes your letters. Mail to Editor, 90 Central Avenue, Wailuku, HI 96793; email to editor@mauimagazine.net; or log on to mauimagazine.net. Letters must be signed and may be edited for space and clarity.
