Letters to the Editor
Here's your apology for nonperformance
OK, I apologize for writing the April 8 letter to the editor taking note of the nonperformance of the longshoremen I witnessed.
I apologize for the captain arriving 17 minutes early. I apologize for the ship being against the pier at 6:43 a.m. when it should not have been there until 7 a.m.
I apologize for making the 12 longshoremen, at each end, stand out in the damp morning on that pier where there was no place to sit.
I apologize to the visiting public for having to see the way a union contract can make a mockery of honest labor.
I apologize to the longshoreman's union for having to display their strength, which we all knew they had.
If I have missed anyone, I apologize to them, too.
Capt. Robert A. Levy
Master, Oceans Unlimited Tonnage
Outrigger executive on yet another panel
Bob Rees observes that the Outrigger's lobbyist sits on the Judicial Selection Commission and its CEO sits on the Hawai'i Tourism Authority (Counterpoint, April 15). But he neglected to mention that Max Sword also sat on the City Reapportionment Commission. The commission drew the new City Council district lines, thereby making it easier for Outrigger-friendly politicians to get elected.
Lobbyist Sword's participation on the Judicial Selection Commission should have raised eyebrows a long time ago. He's been as politically active as Gary Rodrigues.
Curiously, Max Sword sat in the front row during oral arguments on the Sierra Club's lawsuit against the Hawai'i Tourism Authority over its failure to prepare an environmental assessment on the impacts of increasing tourist traffic to the state. Why was Judicial Selection Commission member Sword there — other than to attempt to influence the judiciary on an issue that he has a vested interest in?
Is there any other business in this state that is so well represented on important government bodies?
David Kimo Frankel
Volcano, Big Island
Educational system priorities are skewed
Isn't it funny how the state can find millions of dollars for a van cam system it scraps a few months later and can't find money to fix the education system? It seems the priorities are a little skewed.
Where does the money the federal government gives the state for the military children go? Department of Defense schools are not allowed here by the state, but yet the money from the military isn't being spent to improve things either.
Ben and your legislator friends, do you realize that it's the children who suffer? You've had your chance at education. Can't we give our children a chance at a good education?
On behalf of my two children, I would like to thank you in advance for hindering their education. I thought Democrats were pro-education.
Stacie Stroud
Kane'ohe
H-3 tunnel honoree knew of name change
In an April 18 letter, Dalton Tanonaka charges that former Department of Transportation Highways Administrator Tetsuo Harano was not informed that the H-3 tunnel would be dedicated to the late Gov. John A. Burns. This isn't true.
A DOT official met with Mr. Harano at his home before the tunnel was renamed. Mr. Harano did not object to the renaming and said he understood. After all, there would be no H-3 tunnel today if Gov. Burns did not propose it more than 30 years ago to connect Windward O'ahu to Urban and Leeward-Central O'ahu.
The Burns family was also consulted before the tunnel was renamed. Intermediate Appeals Court Judge James Burns, son and oldest child of Burns, expressed the family's consent and appreciation.
Now, above the tunnel, you'll find the Tetsuo Harano Control Center to recognize the DOT highways chief during the time the H-3 was constructed.
Arguably no single person had a greater impact on the development of Hawai'i in the 20th century than Gov. Burns, and it was his vision to build the highway. Gov. Cayetano has the authority to rename the tunnel to honor Jack Burns, and naming it after him is a fitting tribute to his many years of unselfish, dedicated public service to the people of Hawai'i.
Jadine Urasaki
Deputy director, Department of Transportation
Witch-hunt against Harris must stop
So let me get this straight: Bob Watada, the executive director of the Campaign Spending Commission, has dropped the investigation into whether Harris' campaign illegally made a $100,000 donation to the Democratic National Committee in 2000. And his excuse is that he doesn't have the staff or resources to do the investigation.
This sounds to me as if Watada is just admitting that he has no concrete evidence and that he is trying to "save face." If Watada doesn't have any real evidence, then why does he keep coming up with new charges against Harris?
If Watada had any common sense, he would stop this witch-hunt and stop making the Campaign Spending Commission so blatantly politicized.
Evette Shamon
Who will clean up after vandals' graffiti?
Sometime over the weekend a moron accompanied by other pinheads decided to tag a giant "A.F." along the highway retaining wall around Makapu'u Point.
Aside from their pathetic little cries for attention, these vandals have managed to take a most beautiful area and give it some of the ambiance of a trash dumpster.
Main question for consideration: How long will it take the state or city government to sand-blast this off? Will it sit there for weeks or months before some private group sloshes gray paint over it out of understandable frustration?
Paul Mossman
State decision-makers, where are you hiding?
OK, someone make up their mind.
They screamed about the racing on our streets and wanted it stopped; then they screamed that they didn't like how it was being stopped; now they raise the speed limit.
They wanted lanes for two- and three-passenger vehicles. I saw lots of enforcement to keep those pesky single drivers out, but that slowed traffic. They stopped the enforcement, and now everyone drives in the lane if they want to.
I saw signs that said slower traffic stay to the right; now the left lane has become a cruising lane and passing is done on the right.
They screamed about the price of gas, took those mean old gas companies to court and settled; they never wanted to see those over-inflated prices again. But now they have to have a study and are afraid to put an immediate cap on prices. This they want to study. Not van cams, not gambling, not the right to die with dignity, no — gas prices are what they want to do a study on.
Please help me: Someone make up their mind.
Rick Kates
Kapolei
Sen. Matsuura has abused his position
No one person should ever, ever have the power that Sen. David Matsuura even thinks he has.
I sincerely hope the voters in his district get rid of him in the blink of an eye. What colossal nerve.
I hope Senate President Robert Bunda and the rest of the Senate pulls the assisted-death bill — and any other pending bills — out of his committee right now.
Better yet, pull out Matsuura.
Don Neill
Kailua
