Letters to the Editor

Creation, evolution should both be taught

Until the 1925 so-called "Scopes Monkey Trial," most public schools taught the divine creation theory. Students in those days studied the facts of science and were told that evidence indicates there is a Creator who designed the universe and that only minor changes were possible within the boundaries of basic created "kinds" of plants and animals.

The evolutionists lost that famous case, and it remained illegal to teach evolution in many states until the 1960s. However, in that famous trial, atheist lawyer Clarence Darrow said, "It is bigotry to only teach one view of origins. Students should be taught both the creation and the evolution theories."

In the 35 years following the trial, however, the theory of evolution was taught more and more in textbooks (in spite of laws banning it), while the creation theory was taught less and less. Today, many textbook authors present only the evolution theory as a fact of science, implying no other theories need even be considered. Some teachers mistakenly believe that they are not even allowed to mention the creation theory in the classroom. Today we have the "Scopes Trial" in reverse, yet it is still bigotry to teach only one view of origin.

Melvin Partido Sr.
Pearl City

'Intelligent design' should be taught

The Board of Education and the newspaper are no doubt being inundated by the outraged cries of people for whom Darwinism is a sacred faith. I urge both the BOE (and your reporters) to distinguish "creationism" from an unrelated movement called "intelligent design."

"Creationism" meshes the Bible with science, and hence is seen as a "religious" theory, something few people want in the science classroom. "Intelligent design," on the other hand, is advocated by reputable scientists who are not necessarily Christians and who do not appeal to the Bible. Nor do they name the "intelligence," the existence of which they have been driven by their scientific work to affirm. It is "intelligent design" that ought to be discussed in our public schools as an alternative to Darwinism.

These scientists fully recognize that chance plus physical laws are sufficient to account for much biological development (including even some species, contrary to the BOE's Denise Matsumoto). But they assert that these two factors alone cannot account for the radical increase of genetic information that is required for the appearance of vastly different life forms.

They use the word "information" advisedly, since no other word adequately describes the "chemical alphabet," the logic and the intentionality that they have discovered in the complexities of DNA. They reject the ostrich-like attitude of doctrinaire Darwinists like Richard Dawkins who (in "The Blind Watchmaker") amazingly defines biology as "the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose."

It is time to give our youth permission to objectively investigate that "appearance" without being accused of dragging religion into the classroom.

Donald W. Baron

Makiki housing project should be welcomed

As many Makiki residents did on a recent Thursday evening, I attended my neighborhood board meeting. A letter to the editor in The Advertiser this past week outlined a new building project on the corner of Punahou Street and Wilder Avenue, and I wanted to get more information regarding it.

Greg Shepherd, who had sent the letter, spoke first, with valid concerns regarding traffic congestion, density issues and protected trees on the property. He was followed by a gentleman involved with the project who explained that it was not a low-income elderly housing project as thought, but a low-income family housing project. This news elicited groans from the crowd.

He went on to outline the results of a traffic survey (negligible amounts of additional cars) and to explain that the non-diseased trees on the property would not be removed.

The tone of the meeting quickly degraded to questions such as: How many people can they have in one apartment? How many children are they allowed to have? What will the income level of the families be?

I was appalled and disappointed that my neighbors fail to see the good in this project. While I too have concerns regarding overcrowding, loss of space and overbuilding in Makiki, I nonetheless have to welcome a project of this nature to our neighborhood. I only hope that eventually my neighbors will be able to do the same.

Kimberly Click

HSTA should accept offer, then file suit

A July 26 article mentioned that Davis Yogi, state chief negotiator admitted he overlooked the crucial language in the contract that specifies the bonus be paid "each year."

The l3,000 public school teachers, through their HSTA, should agree to Gov. Cayetano's offer to separate the disputed issue of one- or two-year bonuses from the rest of the contract. The HSTA should then take legal action against the state administration and the Department of Education.

Included in the suit as individuals should be Yogi and Cayetano for acting in bad faith for failing to fulfill the contractual written agreement that specifies the bonus be paid "each year." Our children's education benefits should not be harmed by their actions.

Wilbert W. W. Wong
Kane'ohe

Teacher development is just all state talk

Regarding the ongoing filibuster by the state toward signing the HSTA contract: During the initial negotiations, the state claimed it wanted a contract that would put better-qualified teachers in the classroom.

Of course, this meant that there must have been discussions about an incentive for teachers who pursue advanced professional development degrees (i.e., master's or professional diplomas). Yet amazingly, the state never bothered to have the DOE prepare a list of those teachers who would be eligible for such an incentive.

Let this be a warning to those considering a Ph.D. or national certification. As soon as the state deems that too many teachers qualify for the pay differential, the money and the differential will disappear.

The state talks a lot about teacher professional development, but sadly it is just talk.

Scot Drown
Waipahu

Hawaiian monk seals are more prevalent

Regarding your recent article on the 'ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua (Hawaiian monk seal) born on Kaho'olawe: Your article states that 15 monk seals were sighted at Kealaikahiki since December 2000. In fact, there have been over 25 separate sightings of seals since that date. However, at this time, we can confirm the presence of only four individual adult seals and one pup.

As for the recent birth being the first recorded on Kaho'olawe, it is worth noting that in 1996, Les Kuloloio of the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana observed a seal expelling an afterbirth at Kealaikahiki, suggesting a recent birth. The observation was reported to the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission, and the specifics are included in our population-monitoring database.

The protection of monk seals on the beaches is provided by the protection of their habitat by minimizing disturbance. As the marine resources manager and landowner, the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission will continue to work cooperatively with both the state Division of Aquatic Resources and the National Marine Fisheries Service to protect these endemic marine mammals and their habitat within the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve.

Mahalo to ParsonsUXB (the Navy's clean-up contractor) for assisting with the on-going monitoring and protection of 'ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua on Kaho'olawe.

Samantha Whitcraft
Ocean resources manager, Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission
Isabella A. Abbott
Commissioner, Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission

'The Graduate,' starring Violet Baricuatro, 75

On May 23, I experienced the thrill of my life: my graduation. It was incredible.

Violet Baricuatro, a reat-grandmother of three, has something else to be proud of.

"Violet Baricuatro, what are you doing here? You, an old lady (75 years old), wearing a cap and gown? How foolish can you get?"

I prayed, oh Lord, help me through this, please.

Suddenly a microphone was hooked onto my dress.

"What's going on Jana?"

"Mother, you're on TV?"

I cringed. Oh Lord, help me through this, please.

Then it was time to march into the hall, and I felt like a kid again. Singing the "Star Spangled Banner" made me proud to be an American. "Hawai'i Pono'i" made me proud to be a Hawaiian. Receiving my diploma made me proud of myself.

As I sat there, I thought: "Violet, you did it all: been through a war, married, raised five children, grandmother of five, great-grandmother of three, widow (17 years), have a lovely home, God in my life, and you've made your family so proud of their mother."

What a wonderful feeling. I feel great.

Violet Baricuatro

Learn from Kaua'i's disasters

It was a good editorial on July 23, "Underground utilities are worth fighting for," written for a good cause. However, you did not address one of the most compelling reasons for undergrounding utilities. Perhaps it is because you are writing primarily for O'ahu readers.

Here on Kaua'i, we have repeatedly seen the effects of utility companies' recalcitrance. When Hurricane 'Iwa passed through in 1982, it took with it a goodly percentage of the island's power poles. At that time, many of our residents thought it was a good opportunity to replace ugly and vulnerable overhead transmission lines with a subterranean system. Our local electric company, however, argued that this would cost too much, and this argument won the day.

So what then? Ten years and many more transmission lines later, along came 'Iniki, an exponentially more powerful storm that caused exponentially more damage. One of the most common sights of the days immediately following was the lines of power poles that the storm had sheered off without even stopping to catch its breath. Some poles had not even been cut down: They simply shattered from the stress. Think about this.

Probably most of you know how tough the average power pole is. Imagine what it takes to topple one of these, let alone rip one to pieces. Imagine also the cost and logistics of replacing even one of them. Multiply it by the number of poles that 'Iniki leveled. Add the expense of flying in and housing workers from other parts of the country because, for all their valiant efforts, local crews simply could not cope. Then factor in the economic consequences of weeks without electricity: of spoiled food, lost computer data, contaminated medicines, useless schools and so on.

How much of this might have been avoided if utilities had been put underground in 1982?

During the post-'Iniki rebuilding, people asked this very question and received much the same answer from the power powers. In addition, we heard that undergrounding might not have prevented — indeed, might even have worsened — the damage. Now once again we are seeing more and bigger overhead transmission lines on Kaua'i.

A famous aphorism holds that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. History tells us that hurricanes occasionally visit Hawai'i, and recent history tells us what they do to utility poles.

Keep fighting for underground utilities. This is more than an aesthetic problem; it concerns safety. What if the next hurricane hits O'ahu as hard as 'Iniki hit us? You have 10 times our population, 10 times our clout, potentially 10 times our difficulties. Learn from our history so that you do not have to repeat it.

Heu'ionalani Wyeth
Anahola, Kaua'i