Letters to the Editor
West O'ahu campus doesn't make sense
Although only on the job for a few months, Evan Dobelle has already forwarded a plan for the University of Hawai'i that is both illogical and unrealistic, namely the construction and development of the West O'ahu campus.
According to a recent ranking by U.S. News & World Report, UH-Manoa is firmly planted in the tier of mediocre universities. This should come as no surprise to anyone local. Faculty desertion and aging and inadequate instructional resources are the norm at Manoa.
Given these sad conditions and the limited monies available, it makes little sense to allocate resources to developing an entirely new campus (complete with a new football stadium, yet).
Mr. Dobelle, wouldn't it be more prudent to improve educational quality at the Manoa campus first rather than spend precious funds on building an entirely new campus? At least we would have one good campus rather than two mediocre ones.
Unfortunately, with the recent terrorist attacks, there will be increased rumblings for state-funded construction as a job-creating mechanism. Still, this is no reason to continue with Dobelle's plan.
Todd Shelly
Name release was wrong
I was very surprised The Advertiser would release the name of the 14-year-old boy accused in the rape and killing of the young girl. Kona papers have not released the name, protecting the identity of the juvenile. The crime is horrific; however, the child should be protected.
Jean Bevanmarquez
Kealakekua
'People's parade' showed patriotism
Thank you for printing the Sept. 30 article on the Waikiki "Stand Up for America" march. I felt proud to be an American.
I agree that the march was primarily a "people's parade" and consider this to be solid evidence to refute the columnist from Washington state who wrote that Hawai'i residents are unpatriotic.
Anyone who witnessed this parade would have left the march feeling secure that we are going to defeat Osama bin Laden and his band of terrorists. Instead of destroying our country, he has only made us stronger.
Terry Davis
Cease operation, build monument
The Navy has undertaken the project to move the Ehime Maru to shallower waters to recover the bodies of nine Japanese nationals. A few miles to the west lies the sunken USS Arizona entombed with the bodies of thousands of gallant, young American sailors, enshrined and laid to rest in peace in shallower, recoverable waters.
Cease all further attempts to move the Ehime Maru. Instead, erect a memorial on Kuhio Beach to honor the innocent victims of a tragic event.
Yoshio Kakazu
Wahiawa
Cmdr. Waddle should be with naval forces
As we prepare to go on the offense against the terrorists, with fleets of naval warships, it angers me that highly qualified people like Scott Waddle will not be there.
The uninformed public outcry over the Ehime Maru incident turned into a fiasco when the Navy let go a highly qualified commander. Where are you going to get people like him, admirals? You're not.
As for the do-gooders out there, it was an unfortunate accident, which the United States has at the last count spent $60 million on an attempt to raise a ship that defies to be moved. Have any one of you figured out that maybe the ship does not want to rise up from where it is? Do you think that a greater power than you has intervened?
Good luck, Commander, as you venture into the civilian world.
Suzanne Dykeman
Education cuts harm poor areas the most
Recent editorial concerns regarding education budget cuts and teacher shortages failed to include their effects on disadvantaged-area schools. It should be known that students in these schools would suffer the greatest.
Approximately 30 percent of these kids currently end up in special education classes. Not because they have a learning disability but because they lack the skills and motivation to do grade-level work. Further, more than 25 percent currently finish high school without earning a diploma.
Schools in choice areas aren't affected by teacher shortages because they get their teachers from these difficult-to-staff schools.
Those who can effect change should be reminded that the greatest majority of those on welfare, in poor health, involved in crime, in jail, etc., are those who are the least educated. They should also be reminded that if the state did a better job of educating its children, they would be able to significantly reduce the cost of support programs.
Bill Prescott
Wai'anae
