Letters to the Editor

Restoration of forest on Lana'i commendable

Timothy Hurley's thorough and balanced report on the precarious condition of Lana'i's watershed (March 14) provides a valuable illustration of the importance of protecting our Islands' native resources.

It also reveals the bankruptcy of public policy and private development that has historically disregarded and disrespected the delicate natural environment that sustains us.

While it is regrettable that so many of our leaders, past and present, have been eager to embrace commercial imperatives at the expense of critical ecosystems, Castle & Cooke Resorts is to be commended for its efforts to restore and preserve Lana'ihale's native forest. Equally laudable is the willingness of hunters to join with environmentalists — traditional adversaries — in supporting this initiative.

Commerce and population apply increasing and ceaseless pressure against fragile and finite natural resources. The preservation of the unique natural world that defines us can only be assured — as on Lana'i — through the collaborative efforts of those who recognize the importance of finding common ground in defense of the irreplaceable.

Doug Lamerson

HSTA has no right to go out on strike

Hawai'i State Teachers' Association: How dare you call a strike?

As a union, you endorsed the present anti-education administration. Now that you have to live under its policies, you want to strike.

Sorry, but I do not support your planned disruption to the lives of innocent schoolchildren and their families.

Charles Kerr

There oughta be a law against sunbathers

I read in the March 22 Advertiser that the City Council is going to vote on a bill that will define camping in city parks. The article goes on to say, "The measure defines camping in a public park as sleeping or preparing to sleep; storing personal belongings; making a fire; digging into the ground or cooking. A permit is required to camp in city parks."

I say it's about time. It really tees me off when I see people sunbathing in the park. Don't they realize that slothfulness is a vice? Send in the cops to get those lazybones up off their butts and doing something. Life is short; there will be plenty of time for lying around when it's over.

Those homeless people and their advocates should stop complaining about this bill. Instead, they could make themselves useful. The homeless can organize themselves into citizens' patrols and diligently search all the city's parks for anyone who is engaged in the criminal activities of sleeping, preparing to sleep, storing personal belongings, lighting a cigarette or digging into the ground, and promptly report them to the police.

This way the homeless could help keep the City Council, the prosecutor's office and the police busy, which might be of great benefit to the rest of us.

Scott Israel

Expired auto safety stickers commonplace

A few days after I had renewed the safety check on my car, I was driving to work and noticed several expired safety check stickers: January and February 2000 (green on yellow). I was only mildly bothered by seeing those, but was really upset when I saw a June, August, September and a couple of December 1999 (green on orange) expired stickers.

Do the police stop cars with expired safety check stickers and issue citations? Is there a penalty for an expired safety check sticker?

If the police don't stop cars with expired safety check stickers and there is no penalty, what is the incentive to conscientiously renew on time every year?Ê

Shirlee Yoda

We must prevent further decline at UH

The pending faculty strike is more about the future of education in Hawai'i and less about money or benefits to me. After all, the pay raise is not going to make me rich; it's to help make ends meet.

The most important issue is preventing further decline in the quality of staffing and educational services at the University of Hawai'i, and this means a lot to me. I will strike, if necessary, to help my university and, in the long run, the future students of Hawai'i.

I ask you to support your state university in a time of need as best you can.

Michael A. Dunn, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, University of Hawai'i at Manoa

Prisoners could use instruction on escaping

Due to recent escapes at OCCC, perhaps the corrections people should consider having fence-climbing classes:

Instructor: Kerbert Silva (very qualified).

When: any time.

Place: Pu'uhale Road fence.

Cost: Donate to the inmates' escape fund.

Medical assistance available.

Mel Rodenhurst
Kailua