Letters to the Editor
High gas prices cost us $219 million yearly
I believe public outrage was piqued again when I read Frank Cho's recent article "Gas still costly in Hawai'i, despite drop on Mainland."
In 1997 and 1998, as chairwoman of the House Committee on Energy and the Environment, I held a series of public hearings on the high price of gasoline in Hawai'i. I don't believe we ever got any good answers. But, late in 1998, the state filed an antitrust lawsuit against the oil companies operating in Hawai'i, charging them with conspiring to keep the price of gasoline unreasonably high.
Still, the prices won't come down. According to The Advertiser report, this difference is more than it's ever been.
After being part of our recent special legislative session in which Hawai'i's economy was our primary focus, I am shocked that the gasoline companies can continue to funnel so much money out of Hawai'i.
Hawai'i drivers consume about a million gallons of gasoline a day. If you multiply 60 cents by one million, you'll find that Hawai'i consumers are paying an extra $600,000 a day to the oil companies for gasoline.
Over the course of a year, that would be about $219 million. I believe that if our people had $219 million more a year to spend, the economic impact of these "hard times" would be lessened.
I hope to introduce legislation next session that will propose some solutions that could bring down the price of gas to our people. I hope my colleagues will give it their close consideration.
Rep. Terry Nui Yoshinaga
D-22nd (Mo'ili'ili, McCully, Pawa'a)
Mazie Hirono lacks 'style of leadership'
I felt compelled to write this letter in response to Lee Cataluna's great column of Nov. 11 regarding Mazie Hirono and her decision to run for mayor of Honolulu rather than embarrass herself by running for the governor's office next year.
Although each preceding lieutenant governor had "stepped up" to the top state office previously, we all know that this has been due to the "good old boy" Democratic political machine and its relationship with most of Hawai'i's biggest unions.
Actual talent and ability to put forth any form of intelligent political agenda or plan has always been unnecessary if you were in the right spot at the right time, as we have seen with George Ariyoshi, John Waihe'e and Ben Cayetano.
I assume that Hirono ascertained that this free ride had come to an end and decided to go for a less powerful position, or perhaps she is just doing what she is being told to do by the powerbrokers who see a much better chance of electing Democrat Jeremy Harris and defeating the Lingle/Carroll Republican types in order to perpetuate their long-standing dominance if she is out of the way.
I am disgusted with the inference that her "style of leadership" was perceived to have more utility at the city level as opposed to the state level. She has no discernable "style of leadership" and was just one of a string of pawns that Hawai'i has had to suffer through because the voters are so lazy and uninvolved with the issues these days that you could possibly get Lassie elected if she were a Democrat and catered to the unions.
Wake up, Hawai'i — the right to vote should be cherished and respected. Do your homework and cast an informed vote.
Michael J. Reilly
Kane'ohe
Professor's views on women archaic
UH religion Professor Cromwell Crawford comes close to sounding like a home-grown Taliban member.
In his attempt to explain, in a Nov. 11 article, why some women in Hawai'i have converted to Islam post-Sept. 11 ("More in Hawai'i turn to Islam"), he recycles one of the most sentimental stereotypes of the Victorian "cult of true womanhood." Cromwell argues that female interest in Islam is because women are more emotional, more ethical, "moved more readily and deeply than men."
And worse, he attributes female religiosity to biological determinism: "Women give birth, and so they are in touch with the life process ... by virtue of their biology." This is the kind of reasoning the mullahs use to "protect" Afghan women by enshrouding them in the suffocating burqa.
How alarming that a university professor contributes to this kind of crude gender thinking. Feminist theory shows the political implications of assigning such gender roles. If women are nurturing and private "by nature," they must be "protected" from the aggression and competition of public life. This leaves little room for the enhancement of female citizenship as an equal in public life — roles Afghan women are telling the world they are eager to assume.
Whatever the complexities of understanding Islam poses for the West, one thing is clear: The two enemies of Afghan women are fundamentalism and exclusion. Go to the Web site of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan: www.RAWA.org/. Its home page says: "If you are freedom-loving and anti-fundamentalist, you are with RAWA."
Nancie Caraway
OHA reorganization essential to progress
On Sept. 25, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board voted to reorganize, electing Clayton Hee as chairman and myself as vice chairwoman. Criticism of that decision includes changing horses in the midstream and disrupting the flow of things here at OHA.
The reorganization occurred because OHA is in a crisis due to the Hawai'i Supreme Court decision to overturn Act 304, which helped to clarify the 20 percent of revenues trust entitlement due OHA from the use of ceded lands. With the clarifying sections struck down, the court has no statutory guidance regarding the calculation of trust payments and turns to the Legislature with the need for new law.
Essentially, the court has crippled the income stream of OHA and tossed the trust entitlement definition issues to the Legislature. It is imperative that a strong leadership will work with the Legislature on behalf of OHA to guide the board and our policies.
After the World Trade Center attacks, OHA will be facing a Legislature with considerably fewer funds, and we must try to extract some of those funds for the constitutionally mandated purpose of aiding Hawaiians. OHA needs leadership that is not afraid to step up to the plate and battle for those funds.
The "Rice" decision invalidated the "Hawaiians only" voter base of OHA. Strike one! The state court's ruling invalidates the basis for trust income. Strike two! The "third strike and you're out" would be a damaging ruling in the anticipated challenge to the constitutionality of entitlements for Native Hawaiians. If Hawaiians are to avoid strike three, it is imperative that OHA move quickly and decisively on sovereignty at the national level. A federal office is needed as well as lobbying and educational efforts at both the federal and state levels. None of this was being accomplished, and the clock is ticking.
Rowena M.N. Akana
Power line opinion doesn't represent all
What makes Carolyn Walther think her views, in her Nov. 9 letter, represent Palolo on HECO's power lines?
I talk to my neighbors and friends, and I know she and the Palolo Neighborhood Board don't reflect the views of all Palolo residents.
The bottom line is, if it is proven that the line has to be built, then the choices are simple: Place the line on Wa'ahila Ridge away from homes or place the line in the streets of Palolo right outside our driveways.
Many of us support the power line as it's proposed: replacing existing poles on Wa'ahila Ridge away from homes. As elected officials, Neighborhood Board members should seek a cross section of opinions before they speak for all of their constituents.
Allyson Ahakuelo
Foreign languages in national interest
Why is it that the U.S. education system views foreign language as nice, but not necessary? As has become apparent recently, the FBI put out urgent appeals for citizens fluent in Arabic and Farsi.
We should not wait for some national emergency before dealing with our foreign language deficiency in our education system, particularly in the uncommonly taught languages of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
In Hawai'i, many of the immigrant children lose or never develop the ability to read and write in their native language by the time they reach adolescence. If we treat the language they know as resources rather than obstacles to overcome, we can support our national needs when they arise.
Toshio Chinen
Pearl City
'Bachelot Street' article was well read
On Sept. 7, Wade Shirkey wrote a "Hawaiian Style" article about me entitled " 'Mayor' of Bachelot Street has his own fan club."
His article must have been read by many Advertiser readers. The people who pass Bachelot Street — my Hilo High classmates, my DAV comrades, Nu'uanu Congregational Church fellow worshippers, tour members who were on my tours to Japan and others — have told me about Shirkey's article.
Thank you very much for the article. It has also made drivers more responsive to my "25 mph" mahalo sign.
Albert Yoshio Matsumoto
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Smoking ban debate is still heated
Smoking tourists will still go out to eat
Smoking in restaurants should be banned. I strongly disagree with those who are against the ban. I don't think it will hurt the tourist industry.
If tourists can handle being on a plane for six to seven hours without a smoke, then they can definitely handle being in a restaurant for about two hours without smoking. If they like the food, then they will still go to that restaurant and eat. I don't think the ban will stop them from going.
There are many reasons why we should ban smoking — health concerns are the main points. Many people die from smoking, including from secondhand smoke.
Jocelyn Bercasio
Senior, 'Aiea High School, Peer Education
Which restaurants do, don't ban smoking?
Some time during each week the newspapers run a box showing gas prices or mortgage rates or whateva.
Might be nice to see a list (not an ad) of all the restaurants on O'ahu in two columns: those that allow smoking and those that don't. Maybe do it for 10 weeks or so and find out who changes their colors.
This might be better than a petition or waiting to get new blood to replace Romy Cachola, John DeSoto, Rene Mansho, Andy Mirikitani and Jon Yoshimura on the City Council.
Don Neill
Kailua
Boycott restaurants that allow smoking
If the citizens of Hawai'i really want a smoking ban in Honolulu, we really don't need the City Council or the mayor. All we have to do is boycott the restaurants that allow smoking.
When restaurants ban smoking, they can put up a sign on their door that says "This Is a No-Smoking Restaurant."
Richard A. Adams
If you don't like smoke, eat somewhere else
Why is it that some people feel the need to pass a law forcing business owners to ban smoking in their own establishments? Last time I checked, we lived in America.
If one does not want to have smoke ruin one's dining experience, then one should not dine at that particular restaurant. Why is that so hard to understand?
The City Council has no right to tell an owner what to do as long as it is not illegal. Tobacco is legal. If you don't want to breathe secondhand smoke, work at or patronize another place. Maybe that's too simple a solution for the liberal mind-set.
Keep America free, and let business owners make their own rules.
Danny McMonigle
Kane'ohe
It's our 'patriotic duty' to foul environment
John F. McGrady, "tongue planted firmly in cheek," suggests that to make smoking tourists feel at home in Hawai'i, we should leave more "remnant butts on the beach, scenic lookouts," etc.
We already do this, as well as in parks, on street corners and every other conceivable bit of open space. Why, we even provide clouds of toxic fumes at the entrance to public buildings, and in most of our outdoor eateries.
What more can we do? Let's get with it, people. It's our patriotic duty!
A. Paul Shockley
