Letters to the Editor

Increasing number of TROs is alarming

The increase in the number of parents and students seeking temporary restraining orders (TROs) from the courts for gossip, rumors and "stink-eye" among school students is alarming.

While I am well aware that conflict among school students can become deadly, it appears that a number of the cases that are being brought to court can be resolved at the school level if the disputes are identified early before they get out of hand.

At the youth level, peer mediators (student volunteers who are trained in mediating student-to-student disputes) have been successful in making a positive contribution in resolving these types of conflicts.

As the schools, parents, students and the courts look for alternatives to TROs, it is my hope that the schools' own peer-mediation programs will be looked upon as one of the resources available on campus.

Cynthia T. Alm
Mediator

New highway lights should be kept on

After observing state roadside personnel working diligently for months adding new light fixtures between Pearl City and Wahiawa on the H-2, I wonder, why are these lights not being used?

I'm asking this because for the few days while the lights were up and running, they added a whole new dimension while driving. We were able to observe new features that we were never able to appreciate, and the lights made better drivers of everyone and made driving that much safer.

On May 23, there was a major traffic accident between Mililani and Wahiawa. If those lights were on, could that accident have been avoided? Is there a fault in the wiring, the lights or the system itself?

I work on the midnight shift as a police officer and have about a 20-minute drive to work. Seeing the lights illuminating the highway was appreciated. It was a good use of our tax dollars and I appreciate the DOT's hard work toward a safer highway. Can we expect the return of the highway lights, or did someone forget to pay the bill?

Mark Barefoot
Wahiawa

Credit Keith Amemiya for tournament success

In his recent fine article, Dennis Anderson gave well-deserved kudos to the many individuals and organizations that helped make the state high school tournaments a success.

Dennis mentioned that Keith Amemiya, the executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, had worked around the clock to make these projects a reality. His office, which is the headquarters in organizing all schools, public and independent from all Islands, is the responsible body in planning and bringing to fruition state tournaments throughout the school year.

Congratulations to Keith, his very capable staff and the various sports coordinators for a job well done under extremely trying conditions. To all of the above go the appreciation of the participants, the community and the people in the sports fraternity of education.

Clay Benham

U.S. needs balanced approach to energy

With hyperbole worthy of a Pyongyang pronouncement, Howard Wiig, in his May 22 letter, decries Vice President Cheney's statements on the limits of energy conservation.

Wiig somehow manages to link Dick Cheney to slavery, world wars, genocide and Atilla the Hun. Wiig and others of a left-wing persuasion who dismiss the administration's energy policy out-of-hand, including your columnist Mike Leidemann, who has expressed similar views, should take a deep breath and read the energy plan, especially the 50-plus parts that deal with conservation and renewable energy sources. They should put aside the fact that our president is Republican, and conservative to boot, and try to be objective.

It should be clear that conservation and alternative energy sources will not, by themselves, solve our energy problems. What is needed is a balanced plan on the order of that proposed by the administration.

Tom Freitas

Beautification critic should live elsewhere

Knud Lindgard's May 24 letter trashing the planned "beautification project" in Kailua is another example of a loud and vocal minority who prefer pavement over trees, and cars over people.

If his idea of beauty is "free-flowing traffic," then I suggest he move and buy a house along the freeway.

Stephen T. Molnar
Kailua