Letters to the Editor

'Entertainment center' good for travelers, state

I've traveled a number of times since September and must commend state officials for the job they've done to adopt new measures to address safety and security concerns. The airport experience has changed significantly, but travelers and employees alike seem to have adapted well.

Here's an idea to make visits to the airport more enjoyable.

New procedures require passengers to arrive at the airport earlier and prohibit people without tickets to pass the security checkpoint. The airport should be reconfigured to move checkpoints closer to gates, allowing travelers and their friends and family to patronize the shops and restaurants available only to ticketed passengers.

It works in Japan, where Osaka's Kansai Airport offers a wide selection of restaurants and shops for travelers and non-travelers alike, making a three-hour wait an enjoyable experience.

Here in Honolulu, it may require an investment of planning time and construction dollars, but it would be money well-spent. Our state profits from airport concession revenue. New security procedures have reduced the number of potential customers. Developing an "entertainment center" would be good for travelers and would fortify a vital source of revenue for the state.

Jon Yoshimura
City Council member

Kids from traditional families not all 'normal'

Regarding Rich Logan's Dec. 11 letter, "Be critical of studies on same-sex parenting": There are many children who are raised in "traditional families" who turn out maladjusted or even homosexual. Surely there are studies out there that prove this. Surely some of those have fatal research flaws.

This is not to mention the number of children who are being raised by a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered parent who is hiding in a traditional marriage. But Logan is turning a blind eye and deaf ear to that piece of news.

Laurie Cicotello
Lana'i City

Give coach an extension

I'm surprised that we have yet to secure June Jones to a coaching-contract extension. I hope the University of Hawai'i gets it right by signing him for the long haul.

Call me anxious, but as a Warrior fan, I'd rather hear that he's here to stay than all the "news" and rumors. Two winning seasons out of three is not enough. Come on, how about 10 more years?

Derek Funayama
Kapolei

Commission's actions politically motivated

Mayor Jeremy Harris is just the latest victim of the politically motivated smear campaigns that are being waged by the Campaign Spending Commission. I believe it is undemocratic that the commission has been trying people in the press and destroying their reputations.

I think it's time for the commission to either be disbanded or be brought under control. We must put an end to the use of the office for political purposes and must no longer allow the commissioners to be used for political purposes by those who have an axe to grind or want to hurt one of their opponents.

This kind of kangaroo-court is not what you would expect in a democracy. If they can do this to Harris today, they can do this to Cayetano tomorrow and to Linda Lingle the next day. They can do it to anybody they feel like doing it to, depending on the political motivations of the person who is running the so-called commission.

Mary Malia

Hawai'i rose to meet particularly big challenge

When the 2001 Aloha United Way campaign began, its goal of raising $13.6 million seemed like a healthy challenge. Then the events of Sept. 11 changed things dramatically. The focus turned to helping the victims of this terrible attack, and it seemed clear that raising money to help those in need here at home would be much more difficult than in years past.

Our community rose to meet this challenge. Hawai'i's residents, workers and businesses responded with an outpouring of support. The 2001 AUW campaign was a success, thanks to the generosity and aloha of Hawai'i's people and to the hard work and dedication of the AUW staff and volunteers, especially this year's campaign chairman, Gary Slovin, and his campaign team. Slovin and his team led the charge, never doubting the caring spirit of our community.

With the continued support and spirit of our community and the hard work of hundreds of volunteers, AUW will continue to make a real, measurable difference in the lives of many Hawai'i families.

H. Mitchell D'Olier
Victoria Ward Limited

Prevent monopoly by setting up fund

I sure hope the regulators who pass final judgment on the Aloha-Hawaiian Air merger force the two companies to contribute money to a fund set up to ensure the solvency of an eventual competitor for the interisland routes.

I'm reminded of deals struck in San Francisco and Honolulu where potential monopolies were softened by concessions and contingencies that permitted and encouraged fair competition.

Ron Fell
Waimea, Big Island

Let marketplace draw better business models

The merger between Aloha and Hawaiian will surely mean less, not more, for the consumer. Travel and shipping costs will be decided in the board room, not the marketplace.

If Aloha or Hawaiian can't make money in a market that needs their services, I say let them fold and have the market draw in more capable businesses with a better model (like fares that reflect demand differences at peak times).

As a union man, I don't like to see workers' lives disrupted. But businesses must make sound decisions that are profitable.

O Butch Groves
Wahi'awa

State should worry about consumers

It seems the merger of Hawai'i's two interisland carriers is not the best solution, in the long run, for Hawai'i's travelers. Initially, it may benefit both airlines. But with one company monopolizing the interisland travel business, airfares will be driven up to a point where Hawai'i residents are going to suffer.

If the state government really wanted to help, it should have figured out a way to help the two companies by giving them equal playing grounds, but keep the competition in place. Now with no competition, the consumer is forced to bite the bullet again. Even with a two-year price hold by the new Aloha Holdings, it is pretty evident that airfares will skyrocket in the end.

If the state is going to step in, it needs to think long-term and help to protect the consumer, not just big business.

J.Y. Matsuo

Employees will suffer as management profits

If history is an indicator, in the tradition of Hawaiian Airlines, rank-and-file employees will have to give back to the company as management increases pay and benefits for its own folks.

William J. King