Letters to the Editor

Genocidal mentality reflected in letters

The critical responses by several letter writers to Alani Apio’s Feb. 25 commentary "1,000 little cuts to genocide" clearly reflect the genocidal mentality couched in "humanitarian" concerns underlying the Rice, Barrett and Carroll lawsuits.

The letter writers refuse to acknowledge the tragic history of the United States — a nation built on extermination of native peoples and the theft of their ancestral lands, primarily accomplished through "legal" means.

The letter writers insist that all Hawai‘i citizens struggle equally to make a living. All socioeconomic indicators, however, establish that native Hawaiians suffer indignities that no other group in Hawai‘i suffers in equal measure. These conditions are not self-induced; they are the product of the loss of the Hawaiian nation, their lands and culture. In other words, genocide.

Native Hawaiians and non-native allies must oppose the genocidal impulses shared by Barrett and Carroll supporters and actively work to maintain programs that benefit native Hawaiians until self-determination is achieved. It’s not an obsession with blood; it’s about justice for Hawaiians.

Carrie Ann Shirota

Legislature should hear gambling proposal

I am neither for nor against gambling.

But I believe Sun International’s job proposal to invest $800 million and to generate 5,000 to 6,000 jobs should receive a fair hearing in both the state Senate and House of Representatives.

Their commitment to contribute $30 million to $40 million to a college scholarship fund for students from Hawai‘i would provide opportunities to those who are financially unable to further their education.

In addition, the creation of 5,000 to 6,000 new jobs could benefit not only those who live on O‘ahu, but the entire state.

I urge our legislators to not, summarily, reject Sun’s proposal because of personal biases, but to carefully deliberate the pros and cons of the issue.

John Davis
Mountain View, Big Island

Gambling is out there, so let’s get share of it

This is in response to Feb. 1 letter by Alfred Bloom of Kailua, who states that a pro-gambling ad teaches our children that gambling is a quick fix to our problems.

First of all, wake up and look around you. There has been gambling in Hawai‘i for a long, long time. The only difference is that the state has not seen a penny of it. Yes, there will be addictions and problems of theft and what-not, but what do we have now?

If the state could generate money from gambling to help fund education for our children, I say it’s a lot better than having our children receiving poor education because the state cannot afford to upgrade our education system.

I would like to see my child stay in Hawai‘i rather than have to go to the Mainland because she cannot afford to live here. The money generated from gambling will boost the economy and give our children a chance to have a decent living here.

Michelle Nakama
Kane‘ohe

Governor’s position on consent age clarified

I would like to correct the March 2 letter to the editor by Nohealani Burgess that misstates Gov. Cayetano’s position on raising the age of consent in Hawai‘i.

The governor does not oppose raising the age of consent from 14 to 16. If an adult has sex with a 16-year-old, the governor believes it should be a violation of the law whether or not the adult knew the minor’s age.

What concerns him are attempts to institute a mandatory penalty regardless of the circumstances. Gov. Cayetano feels that a judge should be allowed to determine the severity of punishment based on the facts of the case.

Kim Murakawa
Press Secretary, Office of the Governor

Long-term-care plan is needed for Hawai‘i

Hawai‘i needs to move on developing a long-term-care insurance program to help all of us who can’t afford the high premiums of private insurance but are willing to pay our fair share.

I can no longer handle my aged mother, who has onset of Alzheimer’s disease. I am reaching the age when long-term care will become a personal problem and I have no children to help me. Volunteer help for the elderly is already stretched to the limit.

A. Ralph Keller

OHA campaign isn’t ‘PR,’ but strategy

Regarding your March 1 editorial entitled "OHA PR campaign a momentous decision": The 8-0 decision of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees to adopt a strategic framework for action (not a PR campaign) is indeed a "momentous decision."

However, your editorial has characterized this strategy as principally an expensive PR campaign and "blurred lobbying" in OHA’s self-interest. You have missed the point. The cost of the strategy has not yet been determined by the trustees. What has been decided is the primary focus of the strategy.

This strategy is not about OHA. It is about our people. Ultimately, the three-pronged strategy of education, legislation and litigation must work toward rebuilding broad-based support for a Hawaiian agenda.

These are extraordinary times that require extraordinary effort. We will need to have the courage to lead in concert and full partnership with the people and the many organizations and agencies that service and represent Hawaiians. The effort will necessarily take us beyond the Hawaiian community and beyond Hawai‘i’s shores, where there are ‘ohana and many others who will take up our cause if we ask for their køkua.

Your editorial acknowledges that there is a "dire threat to Hawaiian entitlements," and that includes all Hawaiian trusts, beneficiaries and community. Let us hope you will support OHA’s efforts to take a proactive stance in addressing that threat and other positive steps for the future of Hawaiians and all Hawai‘i nei.

Haunani Apoliona
Chairwoman, OHA Board of Trustees

Hawaiian housing view is racial stereotyping

It looks like the "aloha for all" (except Hawaiians) gang is at it again. Bud Ebel’s Feb. 1 letter is classic racial stereotyping.

With his myopic view of Hawaiian affairs, Ebel resorts to the age-old tactic of divide and conquer by pitting the residents of the Kalawahine community against the world. Ebel characterized the hard-working residents as "greedy" because they chose to sell their "perfectly good home" to live in town instead of in the country.

In fact, Ebel points out, these atypical Hawaiians actually bought their new homes at bargain prices. Imagine the audacity of Hawaiians profiting from real estate?

Right on, Butch and Aulani Ayau and the rest of the Kalawahine community! Because of your dedication, sacrifices, commitment to ohana and yes, your Hawaiian ancestry, you are now able to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You are not greedy. You have chosen to remain in your homeland and raise your beautiful children. You have proven that the ‘alamihi crab-in-the-pot syndrome no longer applies to Hawaiians.

Don’t be fooled. Ebel may appear to be one of the crabs like you and me, but he’s really the one turning up the heat on the stove. I mua!

Wesley Kamakawiwo‘ole
Mililani

No more tragedies; buckle up in the car

When are we going to wake up? How many more lives of loved ones must we lose before we all choose to wear our seatbelts when in a car?

My heart breaks for the Levu family. I bet those remaining family members will be wearing seatbelts consistently from now on. Coach Jones was just plain lucky; the Levu family wasn’t.

Please, enough tragedy, already. It’s been proven over and over that properly installed infant car seats and seatbelts save lives. But they only save lives if we use them. Please keep yourself and your keiki safe. Buckle up every time.

Ann Allred
La‘ie

Honolulu firefighters deserve our respect

As the Honolulu Fire Department begins its 151st year of service to the citizens of Honolulu, we all wish the department the very best as it carries out its mission of "saving lives and protecting property."

The department has painstakingly built an enviable record of dedicated and successful service during its long existence. Refusing to rest on its deserved reputation for excellence, our firefighters under the inspired leadership of Fire Chief Attilio Leonardi, and with the full support of Mayor Jeremy Harris and the Fire Commission, have stayed ahead of the curve in all respects. The fact that the HFD had the confidence, ambition and know-how to seek and achieve the coveted accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International says it all.

Our department is the largest of 38 departments in our country that have earned accreditation. The Honolulu Fire Department is the oldest fire department west of the Rocky Mountains; it is also the best. The 1,100 men and women of the department deserve our respect and gratitude.

Laurence Vogel

State wrestling meet was well-covered

Kudos to Advertiser writer Dennis Anderson for his March 4 coverage of the State (boys) Wrestling Championships.

Beyond simply reporting who won, his article provided excitement for readers not familiar with wrestling moves and gave importance to this tough sport.

Wrestlers devote many hours to disciplined training that is harder than that for football.

This splash of recognition reflects well on The Advertiser’s efforts to cover the various sports programs in our community. All of the wrestlers and coaches deserve this overdue spotlight.

E. L. Fleming

House trying to bypass voters over same sex

It seems the Legislature still doesn’t get it. House Judiciary Chairman Eric Hamakawa and Rep. Ed Case want to circumvent the Hawai‘i marriage law.

Civil unions, domestic partnerships and same-sex marriages are from the same bundle. They all mean the same: same-sex marriages. No matter what name you give it, it’s the same thing.

It is unconscionable that the Legislature would try to overturn what 70 percent of the Hawai‘i voters said: no same-sex marriages or domestic partnerships.

Howard D. Francis

Lawbreaker should not be a lawmaker

The March 5 letter "Rep. Yonamine showed integrity after his arrest" is indicative of the warped logic of the sheepish Democratic majority here in Hawai‘i.

Rep. Nobu Yonamine had no other choice after he was "busted" for driving under the influence but to begin damage control. Did you expect him to deny the allegations of the Honolulu Police Department? He failed a field sobriety test at midnight.

By partying into the late night hours and driving drunk, he displayed a lack of integrity. His unethical conduct endangered the lives of others. Yonamine has disgraced his office and should resign. Lawbreakers should not be lawmakers.

Rick Parker

Nurse anesthetists provide quality care

A recent article implied that certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) provide substandard care when not supervised by anesthesiologists.

This misleading and inaccurate report came less than two weeks after the Health Care Financing Administration, which oversees the Medicare program, removed a federal physician supervision requirement for CRNAs and deferred to state law on the issue.

In its final, published rule, it wrote: "We are acutely aware that ensuring patient safety and high-quality patient outcomes are the principal considerations in regulating providers. There is no indication that physician supervision of a CRNA affects such outcomes."

Whether it is 8 a.m. or 3 p.m., the art and science of anesthesia and the compassion of nursing allow CRNAs to give patients the best of all worlds: quality anesthesia care provided from the heart.

Goldie Brangman, CRNA, M.Ed.
Past President, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists

West O‘ahu ignored when it comes to trash

I agree with the Feb. 23 letter from Joan C. Weisskopf of Kapolei that West O‘ahu is being ignored for highway landscaping and beautification.

I, too, have called the state Department of Transportation many, many times. I’ve complained, as many others have, of trash and lack of concern for all roadways on the West Side. The H-1 west of Waipahu is the worst.

How can you say that’s a welcoming look, especially into our "second city" of Kapolei? I’ve called our local politicians — no one cares. It seems all the monies and concern go to the other side of the island.

What a wonderful change it would be to have our H-1 all landscaped. Remember, to be appreciated first, it must look good. Let’s all keep complaining. Something should be done. It’s our turn now.

Diane Rash
Kapolei

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