Letters to the Editor
Harassment report didn't reflect majority
Lee Cataluna hit the nail on the head in her Dec. 16 column "Clear policy on harassment in schools should be enough." The Department of Education needs to make it very clear to everyone in or connected with public schools that every student should feel safe at school no matter what. Period.
That is the approach of the "non-majority" members of the committee and also the approach of the DOE members of the committee. The problem was with the so-called "majority" members who insisted on focusing exclusively on harassment based on homosexuality. When they couldn't get their way, they decided to publish what they incorrectly called a majority report without disclosing to the other committee members that they were doing so. We weren't shown the report or even asked to approve it.
However, now that they have turned in their report, they should be dismissed from the committee so the rest of us can work with the DOE to make sure all students are protected.
James Hochberg
DOE Rule 19 committee member
Dump truck's 'flag' captured patriotism
I'm not much of a joiner of causes. After 9/11, when the flags started going up, flying from antennas, bumper stickers of "Proud to be an American" and countless repetitions of the Star Spangled Banner on TV, I just tuned out.
Most of the symbols were store-bought — quick ways of expressing patriotism or just going along with the crowd.
But recently, as I was going toward Waipahu on the freeway, ahead was an old dump truck, maybe 20 years old, covered with the grime of age, some rust on the fenders. On its back-board facing the drivers behind it was a crude, hand-painted flag with about 12 red and white stripes, and in the upper left corner, a blue plastic square dabbed with white stars, maybe 20 all-told.
But to me it was a symbol of the sincerest love of country, crude as it was. With irregular stripes and splotchy stars, it showed an energy and passion to express to the world, come hell or high water, a pride that could only come from the heart.
Truck driver, wherever you are, I salute you, the rustic, beautiful flag that is your handiwork, and the country it represents — our country.
David Ashworth
Kapolei
We should remember pair from Kamehameha
With the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor now at a close, it warrants remembering the passing of two young Kamehameha alumni on Dec. 8, 1941, on the remote and tiny coral atoll of Howland Island in the equatorial Pacific.
The two young men were killed by enemy fire from Japanese airplanes.
"Richard and Joe had to be buried on Howland Island," said Walter Burke of 'Aiea, one of the survivors, in a May 5, 1981, Honolulu Advertiser article. "The bomber came over every day. We dug foxholes and stayed under cover. ... It wasn't until Jan. 28, 1941, that the USS Helm, a destroyer, picked us up."
Richard Whaley and Joe Keli'ihahanui were participating in a little-known government "colonization" project to occupy deserted islands in the Pacific, thus establishing U.S. jurisdiction. Between 1935 and 1942, over 135 young men, the majority of whom were Kamehameha alumni, would serve as "colonists," living in teams of four for months at a time.
The bodies of Whaley and Keli'ihahanui were removed and reburied at Schofield Cemetery in the 1950s. A small reunion of some of the survivors gathered in 1981 to pay tribute to the young men. Said Eugene Burke at the time, "They are with us in spirit. They fill our hearts with pride. They gave their lives for us."
Along with the many others who lost their lives in the opening days of World War II, let us pay tribute to Richard Whaley and Joe Keli'ihahanui, who paid the ultimate sacrifice 60 years ago, on a barren coral atoll 1,000 miles away from their home.
Noelle M.K.Y. Kahanu
Give Island drivers more time to decide
Having lived and driven on the Mainland, I've noticed that many of the traffic signals on O'ahu (especially in downtown Honolulu) are not adjusted properly.
While traveling at the posted speed limit and approaching an intersection, it is common to experience a traffic signal change from yellow to red in only three seconds. This leaves a motorist faced with making a decision to either slam on the brakes, hoping another motorist behind doesn't rear-end him, or accelerate while trying to beat a three-second signal.
It would be much safer if traffic signals changed from yellow to red more slowly, allowing a motorist enough time to make and execute a safe decision before passing through an intersection. Doing nothing about this problem decreases safety at intersections while providing the owners of the new snapshot traffic cameras a bonanza.
And why not also adjust signals for synchronization to ease traffic congestion?
C. Pluta
Let us not forget Peter Boy Kema
During this Christmas season, I would like to acknowledge a person I have never met except from reading stories: Peter Boy Kema. During this holiday season, I ask that we remember this child and not forget the past in which he lived — according to reports, an abusive childhood.
He has never been found, and to this day his parents stand by their story that he was given to an "Aunty Makuakane."
James Bruhn
Kane'ohe
Lingle's achievement: a reinvigorated GOP
While it is sad that Linda Lingle is leaving the position as chairwoman of the Hawai'i Republican Party, she leaves behind a truly remarkable legacy of achievement and momentum.
As chairwoman, she completely invigorated a party that had suffered debilitating defeats and one that had evolved into an organization devoid of leadership and inspiration. Today, the Republican Party stands renewed, with the elections of 2000 as a testimony to one person's ability to inspire new candidates to run for elections that resulted in the most Republicans in the House of Representatives since statehood.
The crowning achievement of this 2001 Legislature was the Republican initiative to override Gov. Cayetano's veto for raising the age of consent from 14 to 16 years old (first override in history). These Republicans will also prevent the Democrat-controlled Legislature from raiding the Hawai'i Hurricane Relief Fund in the 2002 Legislature.
It all started with Linda Lingle in 1998 and will continue with her election as governor in 2002.
Garry P. Smith
'Ewa Beach
You don't reason with the terrorists
Regarding Nancy Bey Little's Sept. 16 letter ("War not the answer to this tragic event"): Little's suggestion that Bush administration policies since January 2001 prompted terrorists to plan and execute the attacks of Sept. 11 is ludicrous.
The fact that there was insufficient time between January and September to recruit and train air crews disproves her thesis. Equally ludicrous is the unspoken suggestion that we provoked Sept. 11, that it is our fault, that if we behave properly toward others, they won't need to murder us. That line of "reasoning" would be laughable if it weren't so insulting.
No doubt Little also thinks the Jews were responsible for the Holocaust. If they had not offended the Nazis, all that trouble could have been avoided. As for the current situation, it didn't start with the Bush administration; these people have been attacking us for a generation or more. It does not matter who our administration is. It does not matter what we do.
It matters who we are. We are America, therefore we are the enemy. That is the reality. Our very existence provokes them.
You don't reason with people like that; you find them and exterminate them.
Oh, and one final point: It took a bit longer than usual to figure out the result of the election, but President Bush was elected. That's another reality Little needs to get used to.
Allen W. Hoof
Mililani
Lanikai Elementary exemption critical
We need to save one of the few success stories in the Department of Education before it's too late. Lanikai Elementary School is considered one of the best public schools on the Windward side of O'ahu; it serves children in the Lanikai area from grades K through 6.
That may soon change if the DOE and the Board of Education have their way.
Lanikai Elementary is one of only two schools that are conversion charter schools. Lanikai is not a private school and should not be lumped into the New Century Charter Schools, which are private. Recent legislation has put Lanikai Elementary in the same group as all of the New Century Charter Schools. This legislation will mean Lanikai teachers, who are DOE-certified teachers, will no longer accrue DOE seniority or be able to obtain tenure. That will force teachers to leave Lanikai and may force parents to find others schools for their children to attend.
The charter school law needs to be changed back to the original charter legislation drafted so well by Sen. David Ige that maintains the status quo of Lanikai teachers as DOE public-school teachers and keeps this exemption based on Lanikai being a conversion charter school.
Mark Johnson
Kailua
Kanaka maoli won't support Akaka Bill
The Hawaiian Kingdom was founded by kanaka maoli. It is the kanaka maoli who till this day hold the aboriginal title to the national lands of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the Hawaiian archipelago.
Like the Indians of the American continent, we, the kanaka maoli, are the titleholders of these sacred lands.
Public Law 103-150 and the Akaka Bill for federal recognition are both based on the right of self-determination of the kanaka maoli.
The United States in its pursuance of the conspiracy to overthrow the government of the Hawaiian Kingdom positioned its armed forces around 'Iolani Palace as an act of war. The superior force of the United States of America was directed at Queen Lili'uokalani and her people, the kanaka maoli.
The sole purpose of the Akaka Bill is to extinguish the kanaka maoli's aboriginal title to the Hawaiian archipelago, our homeland.
The Hawaiian archipelago is not up for sale. Kanaka maoli will never support the intent of the Akaka Bill.
Richard Pomaikaiokalani Kinney
Hawaiian Political Action, Council of Hawai'i
Politicians wasting taxpayers' money
I agree fully with Larry Symons' recent letter regarding the economic downturn in which the city and state only feel the effects on their budgets and the fact that our elected officials can continually go to the money tree (our personal budgets) whenever they want to waste more money.
I for one have had it with these do-nothing, waste-everything politicians who seem to infest our government.
Bob Martin
Hawai'i Kai
