Posted on: Friday, December 13, 2002

Letters to the Editor

Strikes at hospitals

We owe big thanks to 'bonus nurses'

After reading Frances Ohira's letter of thanks to all their supporters, I felt it was important to comment on my two-day stay at The Queen's Medical Center last Friday.

The picket lines did not bother me on arrival; the strikers all seemed in control and full of smiles. I wasn't concerned about my level of care because in the past, it was often other workers as well as RNs who gave excellent care.

But I must say that I felt that everyone should be bowing to these "relief nurses" who have come to do your jobs while you are in negotiations. These nurses have left husbands, children, and parents during the holiday season. They work 12-hour days and the transport time added to that leaves them no time to enjoy this beautiful island.

They may be making more money than average, but shouldn't they? Would you leave your loved ones in December to go to the East Coast for relief work for nurses on strike? Absolutely every one of those nurses were great, just like I'm sure each of the Queen's nurses are.

Please take it to heart, to show them the aloha spirit, the friendliness and thankfulness that you and we owe them so that all human beings are nursed well while you are taking care of your business.

Find a better name for them. "Bonus nurses" would be good!

Relief workers think only about paychecks

Many Hawai'i nurses can't afford to strike, but we're doing so because we believe changes need to be made. However, the imported Mainland replacement nurses, specifically hired to undermine local nurses, are contemptible because they only want money.

These imported replacements make as much as three times what Hawai'i nurses make, and do they even care why we're striking?

Some patients have to sit longer in their own filth, or go a couple of days without a bath, while nurses are forced to concentrate their attention on saving higher acuity patients, a concept that is not understood by the businessmen who run these hospitals.

These businessmen have to learn that a patient is not a number, and a diagnosis does not guarantee a specific outcome. Hawai'i nurses care about improving patient care and working conditions because this is our home, and our friends and families may one day require these services.

The things these Mainland replacement nurses care about are their huge paychecks and their free vacation, and when they leave Hawai'i all tanned and relaxed, do you really believe that they'll give what they've left behind a second thought?

Quality patient care is primary concern

This letter is addressed to the community and our patients. It is very important that you know the registered nurses are not on strike for the money. A very good wage increase was offered, but there are even more important issues at stake. Those being safe patient care, retention of nurses and professionalism.

Nurses are striking because of too much mandatory overtime and injuries on the job because of poor staffing. And because of poor staffing, our patients are denied the care they need. Quality patient care is already at risk and the registered nurses are no longer willing to put up with the abuse in their units. Nurses have tried to bring these important issues to the administration but the response is that the hospital is adequately staffed and your work is just "busy" work.

It is very upsetting that the hospitals are bringing in replacement nurses. We are often told that the hospital is upon bad times because of Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements and that there are no monies to pay for projects or increase staff. Where does the money come from to bring them here and to pay their high wages?

The registered nurses are striking to assure the provision of safe, quality nursing care. Please support the registered nurses — for they are doing this for you and the nursing profession.

Faculty shouldn't dictate anti-military position

In regard to the Navy ROTC controversy at the University of Hawai'i, I see that the anti-military faction of the university has not all died off. Thirty years ago I demonstrated against the anti-Vietnam demonstrations led by some of these faculty members.

Those who are still alive and still members of the faculty cannot see that it's not their call to dictate their anti-military will on students. I served proudly for 20 years on active duty in the military. I have served under several UH ROTC graduates who have proven themselves to be excellent leaders and people. Not only did they make contributions to our military and our government, but they made contributions to the communities and people wherever they were assigned.

I have seen several of them go on to become leaders in the civilian community after their military service. Some have gone into politics and are successful in their current positions. I am not surprised at faculty members hiding behind a smoke screen of "academic" reasons for not wanting the Navy ROTC on campus for their own anti-military stance. Times have changed, people, let the students decide.

Industry doesn't do much for state economy

While I appreciate the Advertiser's Dec. 5 editorial describing our fight on Moloka'i to keep out the cruise ships, the assumption that these ships would do anything for our economy is an illusion, according to Alaskans we have interviewed.

First off, the people eat and sleep on the ship. They don't even want to buy lunch ashore. Second of all, the kinds of people who cough up $500 for a one-week cruise are not big spenders. They might buy some T-shirts and trinkets.

Worse, we have discovered that the tour directors on the ships only send their people to attractions that have offered them kickbacks. And, it turns out, a parasitic community of retailers follows the cruise ships around and sets up bizarre shops offering "Swiss" watches and other "duty free" goods that displace local businesses.

These parasites link up with the tour directors through their corporate headquarters and arrange to have the visitors who go ashore sent directly to their shops. It's called "vertical integration" and it offers nothing to local economies.

In other words, it's all a big scam and the entire state should take a look at what these cruise ships cost us in terms of crowded docks, extra security and other strains on infrastructure versus what they actually spend here — illusions aside.

Legislature must learn fiscal responsibility

The front-page article about the state and counties needing to double their contributions to the Employee Retirement System by late 2006 sickened me. Not only will the financial futures of state and county retirees be at stake, but it will cost taxpayers an avoidable bundle.

Will the Legislature ever learn that we elected lawmakers to represent us prudently and with sound fiscal responsibility? I don't know anyone who approves of them continually spending more than they take in by taxation ...Êand then raiding the special funds like the hurricane and ERS funds.

This unsound practice must stop. We taxpayers have to spend within our means, and so should they.

Drug treatment seems more cost-effective

Lorenn Walker's Dec. 8 commentary on a new prison is absolutely correct: Locking more and more people up will not solve our crime problems.

Drug law violations and crime driven by drug addiction undeniably account for our exploding prison population. What we're doing is not working and we cannot afford the escalating fiscal and social costs of this approach. Ensuring enough easily accessible drug treatment is not only more cost-effective than prison, but would make a greater contribution to the well-being and safety of the entire community.

Allow Pauahi's legacy to be carried out

It is shameful that the Honolulu City Council has passed Resolution 02-300 (Leasehold condemnation). It is evident that leadership within the City Council has failed to carefully analyze and weigh the long-standing impact of such a decision. Opposition to this resolution would have clearly indicated that responsible members of this lawmaking body serve for the general welfare of this community.

Statistics submitted by Kamehameha Schools CEO Hamilton I. McCubbin to the Council follows: "IfÊKS is forced to sell this very important core asset, more than $3 million annually for Kamehameha Schools would be affected:

• For $3 million, KS can send 720 4-year olds to attend preschool for one year.
• For $3 million KS can provide financial aid to 809 non-Kamehameha Schools students to attend college for one year.
• For $3 million, KS can provide 2,371 full scholarships to students attending KS campuses for one year.
• And $3 million is the equivalent of one year of supplemental money for more than 4,500 students in DOE conversion schools."

It is evident that the leadership at Kamehameha has carefully considered its long-range goals, which include maintaining ownership of the Kahala Beach condominiums and adjacent properties. As the legacy of Princess Pauahi is allowed to thrive, many Native Hawaiians will be direct recipients of her endowment.

As leaders and members of this City Council, there remains a fiduciary responsibility to maintain the general welfare of this community. Isn't the community better served by allowing Pauahi's legacy to be carried out? It is evident that the innumerable benefits afforded to many outweigh those of 31 owners at the Kahala Beach condominiums. As leaders, there is also a moral mandate to maintain ethical leadership. How can government justify taking the private property of one to be handed to another? Chapter 38 of the City Charter and the mandate for lease-to-fee conversion is questionable.

As recipients of Pauahi's legacy, the endowment afforded my family an opportunity to educate me at Kamehameha as a kindergartner and on through graduation.

Allow the legacy of Princess Pauahi to thrive; do not allow government to hinder this process. I am saddened that government has failed the needs of the greater population, yet again.

Sincere thanks for support during run

I am from Salem, Ore., and I ran in the Honolulu Marathon on Dec. 8. I wanted to express my deepest thanks to the people of Honolulu who came out and cheered for all of us.

They helped turn the marathon into an unforgettable experience.

I also wanted to thank each and every one of the many volunteers who helped man the water and aid stations, both official and unofficial.

You were a great help to us all and many of us wouldn't have finished the marathon without your help.

Take leadership role in stimulating economy

The Hawai'i financial community must take a pro-active leadership role to stimulate our local economy.

They need to reach out and embrace our Asian neighbors more aggressively and effectively. The economies of Japan, Korea, Philippines and Taiwan are so intertwined with our own that we become the first American community to experience the ripple effect of their economic woes.

Why then, pray tell, do we sit back and allow ourselves to be relegated to some passive role?

Shouldn't we be rallying our local agenda at the federal and international levels?

If we are to make Hawai'i the East and West gateway, we have to posture ourselves in a stronger and more visible leadership capacity.

Come on, Mike O'Neill. Get your head straight, call in the "Rough Riders" and lead us into the last frontier.