Letters to the Editor
Outrage at ACLU 'suppression' amusing
I was amused by the impassioned letters you published that attacked the ACLU board's initial failure to invite Justice Clarence Thomas to its 2003 First Amendment Conference. Many of the writers were outraged that his views were being "suppressed" and his First Amendment rights were being "violated."
One writer was magnanimous enough to suggest that if all 12 board members who voted against the recommended invitation resigned, it would make a modest beginning in restoring his or her good opinion of the organization.
None of these irate writers seemed familiar with the view that the First Amendment was never a real issue here because it is designated to protect citizens from government suppression.
Rick Loras
BOE members are risking their positions
Memo to the Board of Education:
When a majority of the Kansas State Board of Education initiated the inclusion of creationism into their science class curriculum, the voters tossed them out of office posthaste and the newly elected board reinstated science in science classes. And this abrupt election turn-around happened in the heart of our nation's Bible Belt.
Since the minority percentage of Christian, fundamentalist, biblical literalists is considerably smaller here in Hawai'i, it would seem that this issue makes tenuous the tenure of our present BOE incumbents.
Don Bremer
Kea'au
Evolution testable; not so creationism
I am not surprised that our elected Board of Education is toying with the idea of including "creationism theory" in our science curriculum. I am appalled, however, at the possibility of this nonsense being promulgated to our students.
Evolution, the systematic change in living organisms, is a fact. It can be demonstrated in any number of laboratory experiments, and is supported by the fossil record.
Creationism is not a theory but a religious dogma, common in many religions, but varying in scope and content among denominations. Creationism has no basis in fact, cannot be tested or demonstrated in any laboratory setting and is therefore outside the scope of science.
Since the question of "Where did I come from?" is a predominant theme in human development, many cultures have their own creation stories. The biblical creation story is the predominant dogma of about 20 percent of the world. Hindu, Brahman and Buddhist creation stories also help to give meaning to our existence. The Polynesian creation story, the Kumu Lipo, is a beautiful rendition held sacred by a small minority of the global population. All of these have value and add to our personal understanding.
In the United States, we are all free to practice the religion and beliefs of our choice. Religion can help us answer questions that are non-testable and lie beyond the scope of any science. However, those answers only apply to ourselves, and cannot be foisted on others in the public arena.
Steve Stephenson
Kea'au High School Science Department
Volcano, Big Island
'Aloha for all' must address grievances
In lieu of Hawai'i's history, Kenneth Conklin's "aloha for all" ideology is nothing but a parody of words. What Conklin may not realize is that for his "aloha for all" ideology to work, it must be equally reciprocated by all.
Unfortunately, historically this has never been the case. The kanaka maoli gave aloha to foreign businessmen and missionaries. What they got in return was disease, destruction of their culture and the overthrow of their kingdom. This pattern is nothing new, as it has happened to many aboriginals throughout the world.
Conklin's "aloha for all" alternative would have been more appropriate at that time; unfortunately, the prevalent mindset then was on the great land grab and not on reciprocation of aloha. These "historical grievances" so insensitively trivialized by Conklin need to be addressed and resolved so there can truly be "aloha for all."
Matt Fallau
Hilo
Bishop letter shows Hawaiian preference
The conclusions drawn by Jack H. Scaff Jr. in his June 19 letter twist the intent of Bernice Pauahi Bishop's will to suit his own revisionist purpose.
Charles Reed Bishop, Bernice's husband, was a leading "architect" of her will.
In 1901, 17 years after her will was recorded, Charles Bishop wrote to Samuel M. Damon (a trustee of Bishop Estate at the time) and stated, " ... the preferences to Hawaiians of pure or part aboriginal blood apply only to education of orphans and others in indigent circumstance; but it was intended and expected that the Hawaiians having aboriginal blood would have preferences, provided that those of suitable age, health, character and intellect should apply in number sufficient to make up a good school."
The new strategic plan being implemented by the new governance team at Kamehameha is committed to the education of a greater percentage of Hawaiian youth. We all know, however, that Kamehameha will never be able to educate every Hawaiian young person.
Pauahi knew full well that other schools (Punahou, for example, founded 46 years before Kamehameha) were educating the children of missionary families. She committed her estate to the education of her native Hawaiian people in order that they would be able to compete with these very same offspring of missionary families.
Kamehameha Schools is not racially exclusionary; if one were to observe the Kamehameha student body, one would see a group of youngsters whose racial extractions are a polyglot of every conceivable racial combination on this Earth.
Rod Ferreira
Kamehameha Schools, 1952
Waimea, Big Island
U.S. doesn't abandon missing Americans
A July 16 editorial is surprising in view of the military constituency in Hawai'i. Does it really come as a shock that the U.S. government places a high priority on standing behind those who serve our nation?
The Joint Task Force—Full Accounting (JTF-FA) mission includes far more than "searching for the remains of servicemen killed in the Vietnam War." Its purpose is to account as fully as possible for those who served during the Vietnam War, including men last known alive but not yet returned. The unanswered questions that surround America's POWs and MIAs from the Vietnam War are legend, and that is without the hype and misinformation that far too often abound.
On reading the editorial, one would conclude that the accounting effort is futile, that little more can be done to obtain answers and that the potential risk is too great. Have you even considered the impact on today's all-volunteer military of failing to stand behind them if they become missing or are captured? Have you weighed the facts concerning Vietnam's ability, on its own, to account for scores of missing Americans?
The principles involved are what make America great: We as a nation don't abandon those who serve our country. We have set the standard, and we now see nations around the world pressing for answers on their own missing servicemen, from Russia to Croatia, Kuwait to Bosnia, Israel to Pakistan and beyond.
Ann Mills Griffiths
Executive director, JTF-FA and MIA sister
Family housing project could be a fiasco
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the Punahou Vista 54-unit family housing project proposed for the Fernhurst site. I cannot think of a worse place for family housing.
The Punahou Vista would include 48 two-bedroom apartments, which will mean that there will be at least 50, and potentially more than 100, children living in the building. The Punahou/Wilder intersection has historically been one of the most dangerous intersections on the island and thus presents a danger to those children who will have very little or no space to play on the grounds. Parks and public schools are not in the immediate area, and the closest ones involve crossing busy streets.
As a social worker, I feel that family housing at that busy intersection is truly a disservice to parents and children. Are our government officials concerned with just providing low-income housing or providing truly appropriate housing?
Honolulu has recently been named the most densely populated city in the United States, and it just doesn't make sense to add an eight-story, 54-family-unit housing to one of the densest neighborhoods of the densest city.
Kathy Holden
Outrigger renovation provides opportunity
May I make some suggestions that came to my mind as I read about Outrigger's plans?
Extend Lewers Street to run along the diamondhead side of the two Ohana Reef Towers. Connect this new extension with Helumoa. Close off and abandon Lewers Street that runs along the 'ewa side of the two Reef Towers. This will provide an unobstructed area to plan for the outdoor stage and the pedestrian promenade.
Widen Lewers Street from Kalakaua Avenue to the Ohana Reef Tower and make it a two-way street up to that point.
Include lots of parking spaces in Phase One, especially for delivery vehicles.
These suggestions may prove to be infeasible because I have not made an actual on-site study.
The two overpasses on Beach Walk Street and the one on Helumoa are excellent proposals.
Rijo Hori
City Council isn't out of control
The City Council, as an institution, is not broken. In fact, it is working quite effectively in meeting the needs of the county despite the personal problems of some members and the incorrect perception that we are going "hog wild" with spending taxpayer money.
Some critics, like Lowell Kalapa, are too quick to assume that we are easy on Mayor Jeremy Harris. This is absolutely false since we acted on several fiscally sound measures in direct opposition to the city administrators. For example, the council:
• Rejected a proposal to purchase and convert the Luana Hills property into a municipal golf course. The council instead voted to acquire a conservation easement around the property resulting in a budgeted cost savings of $2 million.
• Voted down the administration's proposal to acquire the Queen's Court building on Nimitz Highway. This proposal would have cost the city over $11 million in estimated construction costs, lost revenues from lease rents and lost real property taxes.
• Deferred the acquisition of Waimea Valley Falls Park to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which may save the city a budgeted $5.2 million.
Council members are willing to work with the mayor as equal partners and not just blind followers, as some critics think. Disagreements among council members and with the administration are unavoidable at times, but that does not necessarily make the council confrontational or prone to gridlock.
There are other cost-saving measures the council is considering, including action by an earlier council in 1989 to protect the Golf Course 5 and 6 parcels across from Sandy Beach. The Hawai'i Supreme Court has ruled that the city is liable for certain damages. Although damages have yet to be determined, this action may ultimately cost the city tens of millions of dollars. I therefore propose the following options to resolve this case:
1.) A land swap of city-owned property.
2.) A cash settlement, with proceeds to be raised by either floating bonds or raising real property taxes.
3.) A combination of the above.
My personal preference is for the city to swap land. I encourage my colleagues to seriously consider these alternatives during settlement negotiations. If we fail to settle before trial, a decision on the issue of damages will be determined by the courts.
In essence, the above examples clearly indicate that the council as a whole has been able to work together and with the Harris administration to find solutions on a wide range of controversial issues.
We all have different personalities, different priorities and different opinions, but the council has still been able to find common ground for the collective good of the public despite the missteps of some members.
Romy Cachola
Councilman, Council District VII
