Letters to the Editor
State must tighten belt, not spend more money
Borrowing money to pour into the economy is a terrible mistake.
The war on terrorism will last for many years to come. Hawai'i will be especially vulnerable because of its dependency on air travel and tourism. We cannot hope to spring back from this downturn anytime soon to repay our borrowed money. The state debt will continue to be a drag on our economy for years after the rest of the Mainland economy recovers.
It is better for state government to do some belt-tightening for now and seriously begin to become business-friendly and explore other forms of revenue. In a business-friendly environment, those who are displaced from their current jobs can move on to create their own business niche. In the long term, a greater number of thriving small businesses will be better for a stable economy and Hawai'i's overall future.
Louis Michael Ching
Let's offer airlines fuel for lower fares
Several weeks ago I was complaining to my brother in the Bay Area about my frustration with Hawai'i's special legislative session, etc. Two days later, he e-mailed me this:
"Food for thought, don't know who you would go to with this, but here goes. I know of a few states that have their own fuel refinery, especially in a small populated state as yours. I suggest that your state and refinery officials initiate 'Fuel for Fares Program.' Have the state offer low-interest loans to airlines for jet fuel. In exchange, Hawai'i wants six months of $200-$300 roundtrip airfares. The only condition is that airplanes are 75 percent full of passengers using $200-$300 airfares. Who knows, if the state can drop its tax on jet fuel and the Feds do so as well, Hawai'i may well give the airlines free fuel for a year in exchange for $200 roundtrip airfares. ... "
John A. Held
When it comes time for gift-giving, give local
The holidays are getting closer. The concept "buy Hawai'i" is more important than ever in these tough economic times.
Let's keep our money in the Islands as much as possible. It'll come back to us and our community.
Send Hawai'i-grown coffee, mac nuts, the ever-favorite local-made apparel, art by local artists. For your local friends, family and business associates, give a night out, buy restaurant and club gift certificates.
Let's not send our money to faceless entities beyond our shores.
Jack Law
Beleaguered businessman
Return hurricane fund money to policyholders
Each day come new ideas for the use of the Hawai'i Hurricane Relief Fund, which belongs to part of the state's residents, not all of them. How can the Legislature plan to take these funds from the legitimate owners?
All of the records are available to return these overpaid fees to the rightful policyholders and fee payers. The prompt return of these funds would be the greatest tax break of all. The money would pour quickly into the local economy and assist as well many employees laid off in the current situation.
Tell your area members of the Legislature you want these funds rebated to rightful owners of the funds.
Maryanne Selander
Mililani
New CIA 'covert action' will be frightening
I find it very disturbing that the president has directed the CIA to "undertake its most sweeping and lethal covert action since the founding of the agency in 1947" ("CIA given go-ahead for unprecedented covert action," Oct. 21, Honolulu Advertiser).
"The gloves are off," one senior official said. "The president has given the green light to do whatever is necessary (to destroy Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida network). Lethal operations that were unthinkable pre-Sept. 11 are now under way."
This is frightening. The CIA has a long history of covert operations around the world that have resulted in millions of deaths, "disappearances," torture victims, refugees, homeless orphans and destroyed villages — not to mention the overthrow of elected governments, the installation of brutal dictators and the complete demise of democracy in such areas for decades at a time.
If you think this is an exaggeration, I urge you to look into the following CIA operations, which are just a few of the many I could name: Iran, 1953; Guatemala, 1954; Zaire/Congo, 1960; Dominican Republic, early 1960s; Indonesia, 1965; Greece, 1967; Chile, 1973; Angola, 1975; El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, throughout the 1980s; Afghanistan, throughout the 1980s.
The devastation and suffering caused by these and many other CIA operations were enormous. To think that the current CIA "covert action" is going to be the "most sweeping and lethal" in its history is horrifying.
Joanne Heisel
Comments against U.S. were ill-advised
Haunani-Kay Trask was quoted at the Oct. 18 antiwar forum at UH as speaking against the United States. I feel Haunani picked the wrong time to speak as she did.
Does she represent all Hawaiians or just a few? For myself, I think we have it pretty good in the U.S. Where else could she stand up and say such things?
I would like to see her stand up and tell all of the innocent people who were killed that awful day that "they asked for it."
Timing is everything. This is a time we should all be standing together and trust our government to do the right thing.
J. Martinez
Kane'ohe
State dropped the ball in dengue fever fight
Just after the first four cases of dengue fever were reported on Maui, I called the state Department of Health and begged the doctor I was referred to to get the state to go all-out in stopping the outbreak before it could spread. I told her that I had had dengue in 1975 in Tahiti and it was awful. I told her that if this breaks out and becomes epidemic, it will devastate the tourist industry.
She was sympathetic and understood the seriousness of the disease, but said the state was going to let Maui County handle the problem, because the Health Department didn't want to upset the tourist industry. Maybe if the state had acted upon the first report with a full-on attack, it could have been contained. I hope it can still be stopped, but it seems to be too late to do that now.
Individuals should do whatever it takes to keep from contracting dengue fever. Trust me: You don't want to get this.
Paul Pollitt
Portland provides transportation lesson
I recently attended a meeting in Portland, Ore., and each time I am in that wonderful city, "The Rose City," I am always impressed with its transportation system.
Aside from its wonderful and frequent trolley system, the MAX Light Rail system is a perfect solution for Honolulu. Circling the downtown area around Pioneer Square, it now has been extended all the way out to the airport, and the city is now working on an extension all the way to the Columbia River.
A ride from the Lloyd Center, the Convention Center and the Rose Garden Arena to downtown and back is free. Money not spent on carfare and parking will be spent in the downtown shops. From those areas to the airport is between $1 and $2.
I talked to many riders, and everyone raves about their transit system. I know that various politicians from Hawai'i have gone off on fact-finding trips to look at a transportation solution for our ever-increasing vehicle problem. The city needs to be in an active design stage for a fixed-rail transit system, and I believe the Portland MAX Light Rail system is a perfect model for us.
Roger A. Hutchings
Put a ban on smoking and they won't come
In your Oct. 19 editorial you say, "There is some muddled thinking going on at the City Council, where a bill to ban smoking in restaurants is stalled, apparently because of a fear tourists won't come here if they can't smoke over dinner." The only muddled thinking is in the mind of the editorial writer.
The fear that smokers won't come here if they can't smoke in the restaurants is real, not imagined. You definitely do not understand how smokers think as evidenced by your statement, "Surely smokers dying for a puff can wait until they leave the restaurant." We go to a restaurant to have a pleasurable dining experience. We do not go just to eat. We can do that at home. I do not go to restaurants where I cannot smoke, nor do I visit areas on the Mainland where I cannot smoke. I do not go where I am not welcome.
In your Oct. 1 editorial, "Japan visitors wanted during new crisis," you state that Japanese tourists put bread on our tables. Over half of them smoke. You cannot have it both ways. If your editorial writer thinks Japanese smokers will not skip Hawai'i because of a restaurant smoking ban, he is incredibly naive.
We are heading into the worst recession this state has ever seen. Fuzzy thinking does not contribute to solving our problems.
Bob Speck
BOE, legislators share the blame
Was I surprised that a special legislative committee and the Board of Education would mess things up again? This seems to be the pattern of these two bodies for so many years that it must be written in their by-laws: "We shall screw all who try to change system."
So Paul LeMahieu stepped over the line and became too personal with Kaniu Kinimaka-Stocksdale. Who out there really cares?
We have a crisis on our hands over the Felix decree, caused by the last administration in power. Just when progress is being made, someone decides they don't like it. So what if Kinimaka-Stocksdale does not have a college degree? She must be doing something right or LeMahieu would not have given her the contract.
Do all you almighty legislators and Board of Education members think you can do a better job? Next time you hire someone, tell them the truth: Education in Hawai'i sucks. That is why a large majority of educators and DOE personnel, along with the legislators, send their children to private schools.
Suzanne Dykeman
What about LeMahieu as court receiver?
Last Friday, KHON's Tina Shelton was interviewing Jeff Portnoy about the Felix case debacle that led to the legislative investigation of the DOE, which in turn led to the regrettable resignation of Paul LeMahieu.
One fact that emerged was that federal Judge David Ezra's court was holding firm on its Nov. 1 deadline for full compliance. If the deadline is not met, the court will appoint a receiver/master to oversee matters until full compliance is achieved.
Now here we have, standing in the wings, a trained educator who is thoroughly familiar with all aspects of the DOE. Dare we hope that the court might appoint Dr. LeMahieu to the position?
Anna Derby Blackwell
LeMahieu departure comes at critical time
The loss of Dr. Paul LeMahieu as superintendent of the Department of Education does indeed come "at a critical time" for Hawai'i's schools.
The November deadline for substantial compliance with the Felix consent decree is a few weeks away, and we are in the middle of a transition to school-based mental health services, an administrative reorganization, a major reform in standards-based education, and the development of a statewide educational accountability system.
LeMahieu had been the visible leader and advocate of these reforms. We are fortunate that he also believed in creating a shared vision and he leaves us with a competent professional team that is committed to its implementation. Dismay and concern are appropriate reactions to these recent events, and it is also appropriate to thank Superintendent LeMahieu for his vision.
What is most important at this critical time is completing the work. An effective and efficient special education system must be put in place. Goals of standards-based education and a statewide education accountability system can and must become a reality.
Norman Sakamoto
Chair, Senate Education Committee
LeMahieu's work must be carried on
The members of the Hawai'i Business Roundtable believe the recent resignation of School Superintendent Paul LeMahieu is a great loss to our community.
A man of enormous energy and intelligence, Dr. LeMahieu brought vision, direction and hope to a floundering public school system that had been struggling to improve. We feel that it is a testament to LeMahieu's leadership that the standards-based improvement strategy that he worked so hard to put into place appears to have taken root in our schools and will hopefully grow and flourish under the able stewardship of acting School Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto.
Now more than ever, it is critical that all of us join forces to support and nurture our schools.
Nonie M. Toledo
Education Task Force Chair, Hawai'i Business Roundtable
