You hold the keys to unlocking Hawaii’s government secrets

By Don Ray

Heck, they were never meant to be secrets – it just happened.

It happened, I’m guessing, because folks didn’t take the time or make the time to knock on government’s door and ask for stuff.

It’s possible, of course, that nobody took the citizens by the hand and escorted them inside.

Now’s a good time to start. Roll up your sleeves, bookmark Hawaii Sunshine Chronicles and check back each day for tools, tips, techniques and strategies.

You can begin this journey by using government records to investigate someone you know very well – investigate yourself. Here’s how to do it:

Commenters call for legal action (and cleaner copy)

Some said, “Be careful what you wish for.”

I thought of that cautionary quote when so many readers answered my call for comments. There sure were a lot of them.

I wish I knew who the person coined that phrase. It couldn’t have been an English teacher. She would have said it in a more grammatically correct form.

“Be careful for what you wish!” or maybe, “Use caution with regard to the things about which you desire.”

Ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put.

An open letter to President Barack Obama

Dear Mr. President,

Congratulations on your new job.

I just have a few questions for you. First, what’s the deal with all of the parties on Tuesday? I have no way of measuring it, but they probably reduced the turnout for my 60th birthday party that evening.

For the record, I planned my party years before you planned yours. You can check the records at the bowling alley my friends rented for the private bowling “ball”. Also, I should make it very clear that you don’t own January 20th. I’ve been celebrating it since before you were born. Harry S. Truman was the first fellow to throw parties on my birthday. You weren’t even born yet, so you have no claim to it.