Letters to the Editor
Editorial missed several key points
Your July 31 editorial defending the governor's scrutiny of Linda Lingle's "A New Beginning" agenda misses the point. The problem is not that the plan was analyzed, the problem is the circumstances under which the analysis was done.
Nowhere in your editorial do you address the issue of public monies being spent to investigate a private campaign platform.
This is a campaign proposal and not proposed legislation. Tasking publicly paid state employees with the review effort is asking them to become campaigners, not critics. And haven't we seen public officials recently sent to jail for similar efforts made on the public time clock?
Cayetano's, and the Advertiser's, retort that the analysis is the state's duty rings hollow when one remembers the silence that followed Andy Anderson's proposal for a "fuel authority" and a "Pineapple Lottery." Is Cayetano less dutiful when it is a Democratic proposal that is on the table? It seems so.
Lynne G. Meyer
Your editorials are often ill-conceived, but the July 31 essay favoring state reviews of campaign statements is outrageous. Why not go all the way down that path and set up a state office to review and approve the qualifications of candidates?
Better yet, follow the lead of Cuba, China and the former Soviet Union in allowing only state-approved candidates for public office.
Although I often appreciate Gov. Cayetano's outspoken style, in this case he was way out of line. Especially so as he was speaking from the governor's office.
Let the state analysts focus upon the proposals of the governor, legislature and state agencies and hope they will do a competent job of it. There are many partisan and nonpartisan organizations more than willing to review and comment upon candidate statements. Keep the government out of it.
John Thorne
The editorial, "State should review all campaign plans," fails to take into account several points. Gov. Cayetano and his staff of appointed department heads should not be using time paid by tax dollars for rebutting any candidates plans.
To think that Cayetano and those who would want to be reappointed to their state jobs would make an unbiased analysis of a Republican candidate's plan would be to say that there is nothing at stake should the Democrats lose the election.
Where is Cayetano's analysis of Andy Anderson's plan to create a Hawai'i Gasoline Authority whereby the state would become a competitor to the major oil companies?
My guess is that any proposal put forth by any Democratic candidate would receive tremendous support by the governor; yet any Republican ideas, no matter how well thought out and legitimate, will never be acceptable.
By the way, where are the Democrat candidates' plans published?
Garry P. Smith
'Ewa Beach
Mamala Bay Parkway could ease congestion
The Second City on the 'Ewa plan is becoming a reality. Thousands of homes have already been constructed and thousands more are on the way. A decade from now there will be a massive population living west of Pearl Harbor.
Already the drive from 'Ewa to Honolulu during rush hour is a difficult proposition. Ten years from now it will become intolerable.
Unfortunately our civic leaders seem to lack any vision of how to deal with the problem.
The proposed bus transit system will be wholly inadequate for the situation. A proposed ferry from 'Ewa Beach to Honolulu will not carry enough passengers to make a difference.
It's time to start thinking in creative ways to solve this impending traffic disaster.
A Mamala Bay Parkway running from 'Ewa Beach to Kaka'ako would solve the problem.
This landscaped divided highway could run along a causeway from Fort Weaver Road and through a tunnel to connect with the Reef Runway Peninsula.
This alignment would avoid Navy property, and the tunnel would allow shipping access to Pearl Harbor. The Reef Runway Peninsula might have to be widened slightly to accommodate a new highway running along its makai edge.
From there, another causeway and tunnel would connect to Sand Island. Another tunnel under the entrance to Honolulu Harbor would connect the highway to South Street in Kaka'ako.
The causeways could be constructed wide to include parklands, beaches and boat ramps for recreational use and perhaps even a marina.
A Mamala Bay Parkway might seem like a crazy idea, but it would significantly ease traffic on the H-1 Freeway, provide miles of new beachfront recreational areas, cut driving time from 'Ewa Beach to Kaka'ako to under 15 minutes and dramatically increase property values from the 'Ewa plain and the Leeward coast.
Richard Castillo
Money dilemma puts focus on priorities
It is ironic how the same Hawaiian Humane Society that spares no expense and risk of human life to retrieve a foreign dog from an abandoned tanker in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, namely Hokget (aka Forgea), for a mere $48,000 now falls short financially to be burdened by noise complaints from the human citizens that are its namesake.
From the $1.6 million city contract, $80,000 is 5 percent. Nonprofit organization, my foot. That money would have been better spent on an Arthur Andersen audit.
Patrick Buckley
'Ewa Beach
Local baseball team exemplified aloha spirit
Mahalo to the Hawai'i Stingray baseball team that recently returned from Cooperstown, N.Y. This team represented Hawai'i in the seventh week of the American Youth Hall of Fame Baseball Tournament at Cooperstown Dreams Park.
This team of 12 boys — 11- and 12-year-olds — placed third out of 64 teams. These young men, coached by Chuck Martin and Tim Dittrick, exemplified the "aloha spirit" without even knowing it. Their friendliness, exhilarating attitude, humbleness, sportsmanship — all were natural attributes that flowed from these youngsters.
As the team won its way to the semifinals, many teams from all over the United States "chose" to cheer for Hawai'i. The boys "spread" the aloha spirit further with the passing out of macadamia nut packets, chocolate macadamia nut candy packets, shell lei and Hawai'i Stingray pins.
Talk about "aloha." Our boys certainly have it. They were loved by all. Only positive comments were heard about the "Hawai'i Team."
From the bottom of my heart, mahalo to Coach Chuck Martin for the opportunity of a lifetime for these 12 boys and their parents and grandparents.
Arlene Kamoe
Chief beneficiaries must be orphans, indigents
Kamehameha Schools' officials always refer to "qualified Hawaiian students" (code words for elite or connected students with the proper DNA) as being those for whom the institution is meant.
Nothing is further from the truth. The princess' will seems to me to be pretty straightforward, and it states (the trustees are) "to devote a portion of each year's income to the support and education of orphans, and others in indigent circumstances, giving the preference to Hawaiians of pure or part aboriginal blood ..."
In other words, orphans and indigents are to be the chief beneficiaries of the school's largess, while "aboriginal blood" is only to be given preference within the context of those circumstances.
That being the case, a child of non-Hawaiian ancestry and humble circumstances is to be given preference over the offspring of say ... John Waihe'e.
Thus it seems to me that the uproar created by the admission of this poor Maui kid should be a non-issue. That is of course as long as he is indeed a poor (or orphaned) Maui kid.
Clyde Hudson
Wai'anae
School vouchers should be for all students
In regard to Linda Lingle's idea of proposing vouchers to special education students, it is a fantasy!
Has Linda explored how many private schools accept students of special needs?
If you find them, please let the parents know. For I am constantly being asked by families what private schools and extended school day programs are out there for their children.
Then comes the question of related services, how are you addressing that? And who is going to pay for that? Oops, I almost said the forbidden word. ... cost.
As far as mental health services, since June, the IEP meetings that I have sat in, it is no longer called Mental Health Services since the Department of Education took over. It is called Behavior Health Services.
Lingle needs to either change the group of people she is listening to or, better yet, why doesn't she start up a school system herself? If she wants to sit with parents and teachers from the real world of special education, I am sure that can be arranged.
Just make sure you take your Tylenol beforehand and bring your ear plugs.
At that meeting you'll be hearing how teachers are overloaded more than ever on paperwork, they cannot get the supplies that meet the children's individual needs, they lack full supportive training and parents are begging for related services to meet their children's individual needs, training, transportation problems, the need of trained and licensed personal and private service providers and the list goes on for both sides.
Let's not forget, parents did not ask that their children be born with a disability, it happened and it is a reality!
Furthermore, let me just say that children of special needs and regular education students both deserve an appropriate education and services, let's not start another civil rights violation. Vouchers should be for all children, not just a selected group.
Lest we not forget who was mayor of Maui when Felix became a reality, and did she do anything then? Why now are you so interested?
Denita Waltz
Private Consultant for Families of Special Needs
Project Sea Hunt ideal in ocean search
The Coast Guard SAR planes and helicopters could have used Project Sea Hunt to help find the lost kayaker faster. That system uses the eyes of three pigeons looking simultaneously covering 360 degrees, which is far superior to humans. Hopefully someday Project Sea Hunt will return.
Alvin Wong
Drug offenders don't make up bulk of inmates
There is much sad truth in Mike Coleman's recent column on the deplorable conditions in America's prisons. Unfortunately, Coleman begins his piece with the inaccurate claim that our prisons are full of nonviolent victims of the so-called "War on Drugs."
According to the latest statistics, more than half of state prisoners are doing time for homicide, rape or other violent crimes. Another 40 percent are recidivist career criminals who may have gotten probation on their previous offenses but ended up back behind bars.
About 11 percent of state prisoners are drug traffickers and less than 9 percent are behind bars for drug possession. Violent criminals accounted for 51 percent of the growth in state prisoners in the 1990s, while drug offenders made up a fifth of population growth.
Our prisons are full of drug-related inmates in the sense that many crimes are committed by drug-intoxicated or drug-addicted people. A survey of drug and alcohol use among state prison inmates found 69.6 percent had been regular drug users at some time in their lives and 56.5 percent had used drugs in the month before their arrest.
While the situation of these inmates may be unfortunate, they are not prisoners of the "War on Drugs."
Ray Gagner
Kailua
