Letters to the Editor
Honolulu security missed two knives
I read Jim Dannenberg's Nov. 25 commentary on flight safety "fixes" with some pained amusement.
On Nov. 12, a few hours after the American Airlines jet went down in New York, I left Honolulu bound for a conference on terrorism in New York City. At the security checkpoint, I went through the metal detector, and was "wanded" for concealed items. My carry-on and purse were scanned for metal, then hand-searched.
At the gate, I again was subjected to a body search, as well as a search of my carry-on pieces.
The next day, at my hotel in New York, I was looking in the outside pocket of my purse for a pen when I pulled out two steak knives, both with five-inch blades. I immediately recalled that before I'd left Honolulu, I'd attended a potluck dinner and had brought the knives to cut bagels that I'd brought. I'd stuck the knives in my purse so as not to walk out with two knives in my hand, but had then forgotten that they were there.
I had not been trying to conceal these potential weapons. On the contrary, I was attending a conference on terrorism. I would have been mortified if the knives had been discovered. But I was also mortified that they were not discovered.
I had gone through what the Honolulu Airport security chief referred to as some of the best security in the nation. I don't know that federalizing the service will solve the problem, but I can say for sure that there is still a problem.
Michele Brooks
Kailua
HECO doesn't profit when fuel prices fall
R. Cochrane's Nov. 21 letter on HECO's energy cost adjustment illustrates the continuing need to explain how this mechanism works.
The energy cost adjustment ensures that utility customers pay only the fuel cost actually incurred by the utility. HECO makes no profit on the fuel it purchases. When fuel prices go down, those decreases are automatically passed on to the customer.
From August to November, the fuel cost included in a typical O'ahu residential bill decreased by over 15 percent. MECO on Maui uses more diesel fuel, which hasn't dropped as much in price as some other fuels. But when it does, the savings will go directly to the utility customer.
That wouldn't happen without the energy cost adjustment in electric bills.
Bill Bonnet
Felix decree fiasco: Follow the money
Mahalo to Laura Brown and her Nov. 24 letter. She reminded me that the more we dig, the more we will find that this Felix Consent Decree is a bottomless pit foisted on the citizens of this state by a legal system gone berserk.
Simply put, follow the money. Ask yourselves who is getting rich as a result of the decree.
The state auditor's office completed reports that outline poor accountability, waste and mismanagement.
It is a shame that we are in this mess in the first place. Had the Department of Education worked initially to comply with the court order, we would not be where we are today. However, ever since the federal court took over, it spiralled out of control into the fiasco it is now, with no end in sight.
We don't need more care coordinators and case managers; we need more quality service providers.
Dave Endo
Waipahu
Post-Sept. 11 efforts weren't well thought out
I have been observing the state of Hawai'i's reaction to the events following Sept 11. Our governor took off for Japan with three other people. He told the press there that people should plan vacations because Hawai'i is safe.
First of all, there is a cultural gap of which he is obviously not aware. The Japanese generally feel it's in bad taste to celebrate when there is a major disaster. I think the Sept. 11 events and the fact that we are actively at war qualify.
My other question is, how can he tell a country that had actually attacked Hawai'i that we are safe here? The big conclusion was one of their bigwigs saying, "I love Hawai'i." He was diplomatic saying this, but there was nothing said about "Go. Enjoy Hawai'i." Was this a success?
Then our governor went to New York. What could he possibly do there? Here in our own state, businesses are going down like dominos. I cannot help but think his traveling money would have been better spent here, not to mention some leadership in this crisis.
Visitors will come here when they feel it's OK for them. Until then, who's taking care of our own? Did I hear someone say diversify?
B. Williams
Income tax holiday
In order to stimulate the state economy, state legislators should institute a two-week income tax holiday for the first two weeks of December.
This works in a small country such as Norway and could do wonders here, too.
Hakon Bjerke
Mentality distinguishes the people of Hawai'i
I was rather intrigued with the Nov. 24 letter by Kau'i Sang, "You are who you are because of blood."
As an ex-Islander who now resides in Florida, I am well aware of the multi-ethnic population of Hawai'i. If it is the blood that makes you what you are, what are you if you are equal parts Portuguese, Hawaiian and Chinese and you were born and raised in Hawai'i? Or, if you are equal parts Japanese, Spanish and Filipino and born and raised in Hawai'i?
If you only take one part of you, you are nothing because one-third cannot survive by itself. It must be a whole. So what makes these two entities more alike than they are different? The answer is their mentality. They both think alike. This is what makes Hawai'i Hawai'i. Island people tend to think alike but differently from Mainland people.
We are all creatures of our environment, and only our mentality makes us more alike than we are different.
Robert Rodrigues
Melbourne, Fla.
Ehime Maru saga has gone on too long
Am I the only one who is getting a bit tired and, yes, disgusted with the Ehime Maru saga?
We are very sorry this happened (and have said so many, many times) but we have spent $60 million on trying to recover nine bodies, and now I see where two of the families have retained lawyers and will be suing us.
On the same page of your newspaper as this latest article are the stories of our citizens who have lost their jobs and others who will be losing their welfare benefits. Our schools also need fixing — I believe this money would have been better spent on the living — or is it too late to sue the Japanese government for the bodies on the Arizona and Utah that are still at the bottom of the ocean, not because of an accident but because of a deliberate act of war by another country? We could sure use the money at this time.
And please, no memorials on our island. They should be placed in the hometown of those fine young missing people.
Norma J. Nicholl
Motorcycles' noise shouldn't be tolerated
For over 30 years I flew some of the biggest jetliners between Hawai'i and the Mainland. In order to keep the noise away from Waikiki, I was required to fly precise arrival and departure routes.
Now retired, vacationing here and staying at the 'Ilikai, I'm kept awake at night by peace-shattering, echoing, crescendo-producing, de-mufflered noise assault machines, a.k.a. motorcycles, as they roar along Ala Moana Boulevard past this hotel. Why is this contradiction tolerated?
Mr. Mayor, Mr. Police Chief, are you listening?
Dwight Small
Why can't the NCAA decide on eligibility?
What is the problem with the NCAA that it hasn't reached a decision on the eligibility of the foreign players on the UH men's basketball team?
I can't help but think that if we were Duke or some other basketball powerhouse, the decision would have been made weeks ago.
Furthermore, what are Hugh Yoshida and other UH officials doing to get the NCAA to make this decision before the season is over?
Sonya Richter-Smith
A meal to be thankful for at Hard Rock Cafe
The Hard Rock Cafe management and staff and a herd of volunteers served two wonderful meal settings at their restaurant on Thanksgiving.
The first of the two settings was for the seniors among us. And the place was packed with seniors enjoying turkey, stuffing, wonderful potatoes and veggies and topped with a variety of drinks and then delicious pumpkin pie.
After the seniors, another setting was put together for some of Hawai'i's homeless. Same food and service, and it was delightful. You could not go away from the table hungry.
I was lucky enough to participate and wish to thank the Hard Rock Cafe manager and his staff and volunteers for the meal. You guys provided us with a delightful respite from the daily routines, and your music brought back memories to many of us. You are all to be commended for your caring and service to the Hawai'i community. You are part of the aloha lei of people who spread caring.
Mahalo and a blessing on each of you and your families.
Arnold Van Fossen
View of Megan's Law misguided
Our American system of justice is built on two very simple principles. First, before someone is punished, he should have the opportunity to be heard. This is known as due process. Second, the punishment should fit the crime.
Unfortunately, discussion of these principles is missing from the recent articles and editorial in The Honolulu Advertiser about the Megan's Law decision by the Hawai'i Supreme Court.
The Advertiser's coverage implied that the Supreme Court found no merit to the law. The Advertiser quoted Prosecuting Attorney Peter Carlisle as saying that the Hawai'i court is a "runaway" court that refuses to follow the U.S. Supreme Court and gives defendants more rights than are required under the federal Constitution. Finally, The Advertiser criticized the court for not providing more guidance about how to rewrite the law.
These remarks miss the point and are misleading.
In fact, the Hawai'i Supreme Court approved of many aspects of Hawai'i's version of Megan's Law. The court held that registration of sex offenders was proper under the Constitution. The court held that the state has a compelling interest in protecting its citizens from the threat posed by sex offenders. The court further held that under proper circumstances, it is appropriate to provide notification to the public of the status of sex offenders. In other words, the court found the core concepts of the Hawai'i Megan's Law to be proper.
But what the Hawai'i court found improper was the fact that the law violated the fundamental principle of due process. Unfortunately, Hawai'i's version of Megan's Law is a "one size fits all" scheme that did not distinguish between the worst child rapist murderer and a man who drunkenly touched the buttocks of a 17-year-old girl and received a sentence of one year of probation, two days of jail and a $300 fine. Under Hawai'i's law, both were treated the same. Both would have to be registered and have their names published as sex offenders for the rest of their lives.
Unlike numerous other versions of Megan's Law that have passed constitutional review and been found proper, Hawai'i's law did not provide any opportunity for an offender, however minor the infraction and however rehabilitated, to be heard on whether publication of his name was appropriate, or whether he represented a danger to society. In this recent case, that offender wanted an opportunity to be heard on whether he should be treated and punished exactly the same as all other persons labeled as sex offenders under the statute.
The law and its indiscriminate application violates the other basic principle of our system of justice — make the punishment fit the crime.
The Hawai'i court is not a "runaway" court giving defendants rights they are not entitled to. Rather, the Hawai'i law was out of step with the laws of numerous other states that have passed versions of Megan's Law that comply with the fundamental right of due process.
Finally, The Advertiser criticized the court for not providing more guidelines to rewrite the law. This criticism is misplaced. It is not the job of the Hawai'i Supreme Court to write the laws. That is the job of the Legislature. This is especially true when there are many other states that have come up with appropriate schemes that provide due process to offenders.
Despite the misplaced criticisms, this case should remind us all that the fundamental principle of due process is alive and well in Hawai'i, and that everyone is equal under the eyes of the law.
David M. Louie
President, Hawai'i State Bar Association
