Letters to the Editor
Here's the formula for better economy
I'm writing to challenge our beloved elected officials to do something that actually makes sense: fix our economy. I know why Hawai'i's economy hurts: There are no jobs.
Finding a job here is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. There are none because it's too expensive to do business in Hawai'i. We need to lower that cost. Then, give tax breaks to those businesses that hire local employees.
But in order to keep our sense of culture, the state should be able to regulate where these businesses should open up shop. We have plenty of open lots they can use.
Now, we need to lower the cost of living. It's ridiculous that rent for a one-bedroom apartment is over $500 a month. The state should have these Realtors and property owners lower their rent, and in return, the state should offer a tax break for them.
See, the idea is to sacrifice. We need to sacrifice to gain. And if our elected officials actually do that, our economy will grow to its full potential. Local people will be able to live comfortably, tourists will come back to the Islands and the state will make money. And that's the whole idea, isn't it?
Evans Aki
We need answers about high gas prices
Like many other local people, I'm wondering why the gas prices here are so high, almost double the national average, when this state is severely suffering right now in its tourist-driven economy.
I hope to stir up some recognition about this nationwide so that we over here can get some attention and some answers as to why these prices are so high because like most consumers out here, we're getting a little upset over our state legislators letting this slide by the wayside. This has been going on for some time now, not just recently.
When you're paying close to an average of over $2 a gallon in a struggling economy, it becomes an even greater issue. I'll send this note far and wide, from ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, NBC, and to every local and national newspaper I can locate to get this story out to get these questions answered for myself and my fellow consumers here in Hawai'i. We need some answers and we need some help.
Chris Andresen
Small-business people behind our prosperity
I enjoyed the Jerry Burris commentary on Sunday, Oct. 28, "Fertile input from the grassroots." First he hit the nail on the head in describing the hearing-room attitudes and demeanors as the Legislature kind of tolerated the pleas and supplications of the special interests assembled for the begging day.
Then he pointed out that a different picture emerges from the Letters to the Editor section, which is filled with lots of fresh ideas for helping us all. What he doesn't mention is that all of our prosperity comes from the grassroots. And that the small-business people, engaged to the maximum, endeavoring to serve their customers, are the bedrock of that prosperity.
The people testifying at the Legislature were mostly paid lobbyists, government employees, those unemployed or retired. Most small-business owners can't get away to devote hours to legislative testimony. Besides, they are intent on getting results on a voluntary basis, not begging for a government-fueled bailout. Those great ideas come mostly from these small businesses, using their own energy, know-how and borrowing power to supply the productivity that keeps us all going.
To accomplish that, they must tolerate onerous regulations, unreasonable taxation and other government interference. They are our goose. So our Legislature went looking, as usual, for the golden eggs by getting testimony from barnyard droppings.
No eggs there, golden or otherwise. Never are, never will be. Go figure.
Richard O. Rowland
President, Grassroot Institute of Hawai' Inc.
Yoshimura flip-flopped on Portlock gate issue
Regarding the story on the Portlock gate: Unfortunately your story on this topic once again did not present the facts. It quotes City Councilman Jon Yoshimura that he is against locked gates on public lanes. Yet, it is this very councilman who came up with the proposal of having a gate that would lock automatically at night and unlock in the mornings.
This was made in a one-hour meeting in his office with my wife and me about two years ago. We thought it was a good solution, as it would assure us security at night, yet provide access over our private property to surfers. We didn't think people would surf at night.
I am also puzzled that the newspaper has never divulged that the city originally offered 3 cents per square foot for this oceanfront land. This was now reduced to about one cent. That's land theft. I have mentioned this price to various reporters of your newspaper, but it never makes the story. Is it because it would embarrass City Hall?
All we want is fairness and security. All the politicians want is votes. And all the noisemakers want is someone else's private land for their own use without any compensation, with the landowner having all the liability: the drug users, the broken glass and the vandalism. That's mob-rule. In Hawai'i, all this is possible.
I am in favor of all the lanes being open. That would reduce the traffic in ours, which now is like a funnel. It's only fair. It's the right thing to do. In the meantime, don't forget, it's still a private lane.
Bert Dohmen-Ramirez
Honolulu must find new sanitary landfill
The overflowing Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill needs immediate attention and remedy.
The name of the landfill is a misnomer because it is not in Waimanalo on the Windward side, nor is it "sanitary" anymore. It is situated in Kahe Valley along the Leeward Coast on the main highway to the Wai'anae area amid the ever-growing communities of Nanakuli, Kahe Point Homes, Ko Olina, Honokai Hale, Makakilo and Kapolei.
The tons of waste that are dumped daily into the landfill are a mixture of raw, rotting garbage, ashes from H-Power and, worst of all, the unmentionable solid waste sludge hauled from the sewage treatment plants. Light trash, dust, ashes, by-products (gases and fumes) and the unbearable stench are blown into the air, causing asthma and other related illnesses, human misery and property degradation. This has been going on for the past 12 years.
To rectify this awful mess, the City & County is now proposing to expand the landfill by 60 acres and to continue dumping more garbage for another 17 years. This solution is unthinkable. Officials who have never lived or worked near a landfill will have the power to authorize this ill-conceived landfill expansion. If the expansion is passed, they will be condemning the very people who elected them to a "living hell" for another 17 years. Have the city officials earnestly looked for a more feasible site in the past 12 years?
To all the lawmakers of this island, the deadline for the approval of the landfill expansion is fast approaching. Please set aside your political interests because this matter concerns the public's health and welfare. Listen to the thousands who oppose the landfill expansion and begin looking for a new site.
Amy Tanaka
Nanakuli
Surf book captured spirit; reviewer didn't
I really must respond to the book review of "Surf's Up For Kimo," written by Kerry Germaine and reviewed by Jolie Jean Cotton in the Nov. 3 issue.
I consider this to be the absolute best book, for adults or for children, about surfing ever written.
This book manages to capture the spirit of surfing, something that has been attempted time and time again. The drawings are beautiful, each one worthy of framing.
The reviewer only showed her lack of knowledge of the art of surfing by her negative words. This I wouldn't mind, as your newspaper seems to totally miss the fact that surfing in all of its forms is the largest, most popular sport in Hawai'i.
The reviewer finds it impossible that Kimo could ride a wave all the way to shore on the first wave he attempts. I'm sorry, but this happens regularly. In fact, just recently, I watched a friend's 6-year-old ride his first, and the next five waves, all the way into the shore.
This is not unusual, as anyone who has ever taught surfing will attest.
Karen Gallagher
Hale'iwa
Don't forget schools to service children
Is Schuler also going to build the necessary schools that will be needed to service the children in Makakilo?
We've already seen the elementary school boundaries chopped up to send some children down the hill; will more schools be necessary in Makakilo because of the full classes at Campbell and Kapolei?
Did someone say "Makakilo High School"?
Bob Gillchrest
Pearl City
Let's develop Hawai'i's energy resources first
The recent economic downturn and two recent announcements demonstrate that it is critically important to develop renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies locally before we try to export them to the Asia-Pacific region.
- Hawai'ian Electric Industries has lost millions of dollars on power projects in the Philippines and China.
- A "Buy Hawai'i" campaign was launched. DBEDT estimates that $500 spent locally could generate $2,000 in revenues and income. Hawai'i is still dependent on imported fossil fuels for more than 90 percent of its energy requirements, at a cost of more than $1 billion per year. We need to kick this habit.
The state should set an example by mandating a reduction in energy use in state facilities and use renewable energy for much of the remaining energy demand.
This would significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels in state facilities. Such a mandate by the governor would reduce the state's utility bills in the near term and benefit the state in many ways.
Local companies could provide most of the equipment and services. And accelerated development of indigenous renewable-energy technologies (e.g., solar water heating, wind energy and seawater air conditioning) would generate additional local economic development opportunities.
David Rezachek
Letter's intention was helping Legislature
The upper headline above my Nov. 12 letter ("Think Tank is needed to restore economy") was unfortunate. It was definitely not my intention to "Bypass the Legislature" but to support and augment its efforts by regularly providing a competent source of ideas to its members.
Also, in saying that bureaucrats need not apply, I referred specifically to the self-serving type.
Ed Cesar
Kahalu'u
Is memorial warranted?
I may be wrong, but ... what is the historical significance of the sinking of the Ehime Maru to deserve a memorial at a public park?
R. Sina
Kaua'i
Price of Paradise: smelling like ashtray
I have worked in the Waikiki hotel and restaurant industry for over 15 years. I don't smoke, but every night I come home from work with bloodshot eyes and a sore throat and smell like a dirty ashtray.
Along with thousands of other hospitality workers, I have endured this for the sake of making a living in paradise. Just when my co-workers and I thought there was relief in sight, we hear that it's been defeated by the quest for the almighty dollar from the all-too-important tourist.
But would a ban on smoking really affect business?
Some opponents of the proposed smoking ban are afraid that a smoke-free environment will deter tourists, especially Japanese visitors. Having years of experience from working at establishments that cater to visitors from all locations, I have noticed that there has been a dramatic decline of smokers, especially Japanese visitors.
Unfortunately, many people assume that all Japanese tourists are smokers. When Japanese guests are unable to be seated in the smoking section, most are gracious and don't mind dining in the nonsmoking section. What is disturbing is how many times nonsmoking Japanese are forced into the smoking section. Frequently they are not even asked if they prefer nonsmoking because it is just assumed that they smoke.
Have these City Council politicians actually done research on the subject by talking to and visiting the establishments that will be affected? Do they realize that voting against the ban sends a message out to the hospitality industry employees? That message being that our health is not important compared to monetary profit, assuming that there would even be a loss of business.
We live and work in paradise. I guess the price of that will be risking our health to the exposure of secondhand smoke.
Kenton Yee
