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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, August 22, 2001

Letters to the Editor

Being successful insurer should be rewarded

I think it's absurd that Sen. Ron Menor is asking HMSA to cough up its surplus by reducing premiums. HMSA should be rewarded, not punished, for running a successful medical insurance business.

While healthy HMSA members may have contributed to lower operating costs for the insurer, things always can get worse. Especially in light of the recent closing of the University of Hawaii School of Public Health, there's less preventative resources out there for the public.

Matthew Lum


Project bad for area, prospective residents

The Advertiser is dead wrong in asserting that the Punahou Vista housing project "appears a perfect fit" for the Makiki area. Anyone who has driven through the intersection at Wilder Avenue and Punahou Street during rush hour knows that the traffic already is horrendous and that the Punahou Vista would make traffic and parking in the area much worse.

The YWCA is acting in a flagrantly irresponsible manner by colluding with the developer to have low-income housing built on this parcel. The children who would live there would be exposed to dangerous traffic, noise and pollution. Is this to be the YWCA's legacy?

If any subsidized housing is to be built on that corner, it should be a low-rise for the elderly. At least seniors can negotiate the crosswalks more safely than young children can. Ideally, however, the land should be bought by the city and turned into a park for nearby children who have only the streets to play on.

Greg Shepherd
Citizens Against Irresponsible Development


Holiday a reminder of Hawai'i's captivity

In regard to Admission Day, the holiday commemorating Hawai'i's admission to the union in 1959 as the 50th state, there is evidence that would suggest that Hawai'i's statehood is nothing more than a hoax that did not offer independence as an option on the ballot. This affects not just Hawaiians, but Americans everywhere.

In July, a complaint by the Hawaiian kingdom was filed with the United Nations Security Council concerning, besides the issue of the legitimacy of Hawai'i's statehood, the prolonged occupation of the Hawaiian Islands since the Spanish-American War of 1898 and the failure by the United States to establish a system of administering the laws of the Hawaiian kingdom, which constitutes a fundamental breach of sovereignty and treaty issues between Hawai'i and the United States and international laws.

In accordance with the United Nations Charter, member nations that had colonial possessions were required to report yearly to the secretary general the status of their colonies in relation to self-determination. The United States reported since 1945 the Hawaiian Islands as a colony although it knew that Hawai'i was a fully functioning and recognized independent nation since 1842. This fraudulent attempt to mask American occupation of the Hawaiian kingdom is what forged the creation of the puppet state of Hawai'i in 1959.

As a 51-year-old Polynesian American, I am shamed by the horrific U.S. military overthrow of the legitimate Hawaiian government in 1893, by the dubious exploits of the pro-American puppet government of the Hawaiian Republic between 1893 and 1898, by the alleged "annexation" of Hawai'i in 1898 without consent by the majority the native Hawaiian population and by the yearly reminder of Hawai'i's statehood, which should be a reminder of its captivity.

The United States has been a crusader and champion of independence everywhere but in Hawai'i. The issue of Hawai'i needs to be corrected so it doesn't continue to stain the cloth of America's national honor. Do what is right and acknowledge Hawai'i's independence.

William Pulu


What is school system teaching children?

For the past seven years, I have asked Department of Education teachers, principals, superintendents and Board of Education members to see a printout of the DOE curriculum for grades K-6 in the content areas of language arts, mathematics, science and social studies/geography. I have been stonewalled at every turn.

I think the last suggestion was for me to go look at some obscure DOE Web site.(Note: Many families of public school children do not have a computer or an internet connection.)William Bennett, former U.S. secretary of education, writes in his latest book that parents should be afraid, very afraid, when their child's school or school district cannot produce a printout of what they will be teaching your child at each grade level.

Recently, several teachers have told me there really is no K-6 DOE curriculum; they say the teachers make it up as they go along.

Larry Loganbill
Moloa'a Bay


'Smart growth' in eye of the beholder

Your lead article in the Aug. 5 Focus section was "Smart growth or suburban sprawl?" by Karl Kim, a University of Hawaii professor of urban planning. Reading it, I was impressed with Kim's uncanny ability to define so well exactly what all the people of Honolulu want and need for their urban future.

Then I remembered that the "suburban sprawl" he decries was "planned" by him and other visionaries of an earlier time. They saw the future clearly back then. Now it seems their sight was blurred. Or, perhaps, they were blind.

Now we are presented with "smart growth," the answer to the problems caused by the earlier solution. Or, perhaps better said, the problem was caused by thousands of individuals making decisions in pursuit of their own happiness instead of the desires of Kim and company.

If the current plan is smart growth, let's call the earlier one "dumb growth." Then we can prepare, 20 to 25 years from now, to rename this one "stupid growth."

Richard O. Rowland
President, Grassroot Institute of Hawai'i Inc.


Decision can be made without traveling abroad

Regarding the city officials' trip to Europe: The last time the City Council spent the taxpayers money, they stayed with the status quo. A lot of money was spent and, still, the City Council did not understand or could not comprehend what they went to see. To quote one Councilmember, "I didn't know all the issues, so I voted no."

I think this time they should stay home and study the real issues so they can make the right decision.(Hint: The solution is not more freeways or electric cars for everybody.)

Frank Pestana


Depletion of fossil fuels frequently overlooked

Global warming has become the subject of a heated debate following the Aug. 12 publication of "Death by warming" by Leo Falcam, president of Micronesia, and the related letters that followed.

In an Aug. 15 letter to the editor, Cliff Coleman proposed a controversial simulation by watching the relative stability of the water level in a glass or pitcher — as the floating ice in it melts. On Aug. 17 and Aug. 18, two responses by Peter Nelson and Jack Hobbs were printed pointing out that Cliff's model did not include the effect of the melting of ice that is over land.

While the rise in sea level of only a few feet can have disastrous results for Pacific Islanders and others in areas that are very close to sea level, the images of the fantasy film "Waterworld" should not be considered a scientific representation of the potential worst-case scenario of global warming.

International concern is focused on the United States' refusal to agree to the terms of the Kyoto Protocol, which attempts to limit carbon dioxide emissions. This gas is produced in great quantities as the by-product of the combustion of all fuels except hydrogen.

Most scientists are worried about the changes in existing weather patterns due to the "greenhouse effect" of increasing levels of carbon dioxide, methane and other gases that increasingly trap solar energy in our atmosphere. They shudder when they think of the monster storms generated in the last decade.

While some areas have encountered record flooding, many other places including Hawai'i, have experienced unusually long droughts.

The economic impact of global warming becomes a complex issue that frequently overlooks the parallel issue of the depletion of natural resources — particularly non-renewable fossil fuels.

Looking further into the future, temperature increases may become much more dramatic as the polar ice caps continue to retreat.

This can be observed by continuing the experiment proposed by Coleman. Move the pitcher outside into the sunlight on a warm day. Put a thermometer in the water and observe the temperature jump up as the ice melts away.

Wally Bachman
Science adviser C.A.R.E. (Citizens Advocating Responsible Education)


Children need to know to stop, look, listen

I, along with thousands of others, appreciate and applaud the efforts of the volunteers who assist our children in crossing busy intersections on their way to and from school. I am also grateful of the drivers who appreciate and respect these volunteers' efforts, which helps to eliminate or reduce the chances of any mishaps between a vehicle and a child.

I am concerned, however, that these volunteers are unwittingly and unintentionally passing on the wrong message to our schoolchildren. I have noticed that these volunteers, armed with hand-held "stop" signs and shielded by orange vests, often will venture into the crosswalk with children in tow even when vehicles are approaching. It is as if they expect recognition of their authority and of the sanctuary of the crosswalk and, therefore, have no doubts that the vehicle will stop to allow their safe crossing.

I advocate a more defensive posture and attitude. There should be a "stop, look and listen" approach to entering the crosswalk, and such entrance should be made only after the coast is clear. The hand-held "stop" sign and the orange vest should be considered as a secondary line of defense rather than symbols of authority to mandate that vehicles stop. I don't want children to feel that they can venture into the street as long as they are in the crosswalk, expecting all cars must and will stop. They may someday be mistaken.

M. Kim


Lack of story on ceremony upsetting

Mahalo for the article, "Marines salute 19 of the greatest generation" on Aug. 18. The coverage was great, but The Honolulu Advertiser missed the best local story.

On Aug. 15 at Hickam Air Force Base, the remains of 13 Marine "Makin Raiders" who died in World War II, departed Hawai'i for Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The ceremony was outstanding, with the honorable Sen. Daniel Inouye as the main speaker. Yet why was there no local news coverage? Do you care about locals?

I really was upset to see such a lame accounting on the event. Shame on you.

James Ward