Posted on: Friday, December 27, 2002

Letters to the Editor

Group effort sought to re-create system

Mahalo nui to Lee Cataluna for her column in the Dec. 22 Advertiser about the significant issues raised by the nurses' strike and her observation that the nurses are determined to endure.

I agree with her that we in the community have been far too complacent. But then I ask, "Why?"

Isn't the nurses' strike symptomatic of a health care system that is broken, but we rather focus upon that "complacently" rather than on the real issue that needs to be addressed?

Do we not have a health care system that for years has grown increasingly less affordable? How many more years will we as a community feel for those who have no health care at all? Yet we come from a state that 30 years ago was on the cutting edge of health care for nearly everyone.

How much longer do we collectively ignore the fact that for a few years the public has been spending more of its personal income on other modalities in health care? Why do we continue to accept a system that in most cases takes a mechanistic approach to treatment, where physicians, nurses and patients consider themselves to be machines? Why, at the beginning of this new century, are we still willing to compartmentalize mind, body, spirit and emotions?

My intent here is to challenge the remarkable health care expertise we have developed in the past and to work with other healers and the community to re-create a system that is comprehensive, affordable and more humane to all parties and organizations.

My intent in this letter is to encourage the media to help us collectively focus upon the true need and problem. We have expended far too many resources over the past couple of decades with the notion that all we need to do is fix "this" and we will then have a person or a system that will be working.

We have demonstrated to ourselves many times over in health care, and other systems, that an initiative to a problem not properly defined often leads us down the path to disappointment and frustration. And then we ask ourselves, "Why didn't that work?"

We need the support and involvement of the media to educate us about the range of issues within the health care system, as well as the alternatives available or evolving elsewhere. Maybe then the media's role can facilitate a wider dialogue between health care experts, not primarily committed to the maintenance of the current system, but capable of working with the public to re-create a viable and comprehensive system for the future of all the people of Hawai'i.

Peter M. Bower

We owe so much to our skilled rescuers

The greatest gift my family received this year came from people we had never met before: the 911 operator, police officers, firefighters and ambulance crews of the Wai'alae-Wailupe area.

Not once, but twice this year, they saved my father's life. They arrived swiftly and the three different crews worked together so well that not a second was wasted in stabilizing Dad and getting him to The Queen's Medical Center.

These extraordinary people go to work every day without expecting medals or recognition; yet I'll bet there isn't anyone in this city who doesn't owe them a debt of gratitude for saving a friend or relative.

I hope that whenever we hear a siren behind us, we'll move out of the way promptly and say a prayer of thanks for their good work.

Linda Sakuma

Lingle should single out Republican candidate

As much as I admire Gov. Linda Lingle, I must suggest that she has made a rather bad mistake, in my opinion, by not indicating any preference for a Republican candidate for the House of Representatives who we could all follow.

Now our votes will be scattered and the one small advantage we had is gone. I appeal to her to make a statement of her choice now, so that the fight for true and honest change in our state will not be lost.

Any Democrat going back to Washington — and believe me, Ed Case is a full-blown Democrat and part of our problem — just makes it harder for us to break the terrible cycle that has brought Hawai'i to her knees and puts the change we all want and need further into the future.

Don McDiarmid Jr.
Kailua

Early release incentive ideal for drug offenders

Gov. Linda Lingle wants to bring back 1,200 inmates from Mainland prisons. A unique alternative to incarceration for inmates sentenced on Maui for drug-related crimes has been in operation for more than a year.

Maui inmates are placed on early release, via 90 days of in-custody drug treatment in Dorm 3 at The Maui Community Correctional Center. Treatment for these inmates continues while released from custody on early parole, or while furloughed into Community Drug Court supervision for up to a year with weekly visits to the Drug Court judge.

Treatment consists of daily urinalysis testing, one-on-one and group counseling, relapse prevention, cognitive restructuring, life skills training, educational and vocational training and other rehabilitative services for these men and women that are caught up in the cycle of drugs, crime and prison.

Such a reintegration program on an early release incentive is ideal for drug offenders who make up more than half of Hawai'i's 5,500 inmate population. Statewide expansion of Maui's model re-entry program will reduce prison overcrowding and reduce the recidivism rate for parole violators who represent Hawai'i's fastest growing inmate population. Drug Courts are proven to be the most successful way to treat drug offenders.

Jon Kinimaka
Friends of The Maui Drug Court

Convicted drug dealers should get death penalty

Karen Blakeman's Dec. 22 superbly informative article on crystal methamphetamine probably did not include the effect of the "ice" tragedy on regular mainstream families and employers because of its specific focus.

Many of our friends and neighbors have suffered multiple episodes of home break-ins. We have seen many employers take big financial hits from workers who are slaves to crystal meth. I have great compassion for many of these addicted victims and criminals (except Christopher Aki, the man accused of Kahealani Indreginal's murder) and their families, and I pray that Lt. Gov. "Duke" Aiona's experience as a judge in this area will create long-term effective solutions.

In the short term, the death penalty for convicted adult ice dealers, couriers and manufacturers should help melt Hawai'i's "Ice Age."

In a pathetic irony, could anyone tell me why we as a state are disgusted with drug proliferation, but legally allow drug paraphernalia to be sold at the same convenience store counter with manapua and musubi?

Barry Markowitz
Hau'ula

Officers who stay are cream of the crop

The Dec. 23 comments by former Honolulu police officer and now Florida deputy sheriff Jim Grindey predicts a continuing exodus if HPD officers do not get more money.

I'm all for higher salaries for cops but it should be noted that you will always have officers leaving, especially to federal agencies. It's part of the normal attrition rate in local law enforcement. Some go for higher pay and some for adventure.

As a former Honolulu officer, I passed the test for the Sky Marshals in the 1970s but backed out when I was told we were to be based in Chicago. The adventure was cool but the home base was not Hawai'i. You gain officers from other states, as well. We got a boatload of trained officers when Detroit had a massive layoff one year.

If they go, wish them well when they leave, and consider those who choose to stay as the "cream of the crop" — truly Honolulu's Finest.

David Heaukulani
Retired Honolulu Police Officer

Debate on 'Olelo indicative of favoritism

On Dec. 22, The Advertiser ran an article, "Candidates for Congress disagree over Iraqi war: Two leading Democratic candidates take part in a TV debate." It was disturbing to me that the article failed to note the discrimination inherent in the venue for this disagreement: "Two Democrats debate at 'Olelo."

This debate was made possible by a string of 'Olelo bylaw and policy infractions never allowed by 'Olelo for nonconnected members of the public (or Republicans, apparently). This quote from Bob Rees really sums it up: "All we're doing is taking advantage of public access television, and every candidate out there is perfectly free to do that."

He sure is "taking advantage," but the other candidates do not have the right connections to be so "perfectly free."

Let me list the most obvious areas of discrimination:

• Normally the studio is not open to the public before 9:30 a.m. and the administrative staff is not expected before 8:30 a.m. However, for this program, 'Olelo opened the facility at 8 o'clock.

• Producers/presenters are required to submit program tapes at least four business days in advance of the premiere cablecast date. This one was scheduled to be aired a half business day after submission.

From the Advertiser story: Rees, who hosts the "Counterpoint" program on 'Olelo, said he "gave up his regular time slot so that yesterday's debate could air." The time slot is not his to give up, but 'Olelo's to schedule.

The underlying story here is that 'Olelo has practiced favoritism (the other face of discrimination) by allowing this program, blatantly violating federal code as well as its own contractual obligations with the state. Since 'Olelo is supported by cable subscribers on O'ahu through a tax added to their monthly bills, 'Olelo's history of questionable management of its multimillion-dollar budget and its discrimination against those not "properly" affiliated should be of great concern.

'Olelo's mandate is to facilitate individual voices of the community, not just those of its choosing.

Wendy Arbeit

Take away band and you take away part of life

In response to the Board of Education's decision to make science a year course for 8th-graders, I'd like to ask them to reconsider. For many schools, this transition, which is to take place in 2004, will mean going to a seven-period schedule, forcing teachers to teach an extra class to keep an elective open. As a band student, we can't afford to lose music education in our school system for the following reasons:

• Music brings joy to so many students and gives them something to work hard for and be proud of.

• Unlike core subjects, such as science, music teaches discipline, teamwork, effort, respect, commitment and responsibility. These lessons and memories are something kids will take with them and treasure forever.

• Various studies have also shown that music enhances students' math and science skills. If band is what makes kids pass their classes, don't take it away.

• Students in band are so busy, we don't have time to get into trouble. Band allows trips to outer islands, around the nation and even to different countries.

• College tuition is very high these days, but with band, many can get a scholarship or a tuition waiver, which helps out a lot.

• The band has been known to carry a certain spirit that's hard to find. Imagine a football game without a band.

Keeping these things in mind, I want people to be aware of the uncertainty of the future for tomorrow's leaders. Ask some prominent people if they were in band or wished they had taken a music course and you'll be shocked with the results. Band shapes our lives and touches us in so many ways that science can never replace. Take away band and you take away a part of life.

Kelli Miura
McKinley High School sophomore

He would've been better preacher than president

Contrary to Keith Haugen's opinion in his Dec. 21 letter, I believe Jimmy Carter would've made a better preacher than president. With the exception of his predilection for running around and interfering with U.S. foreign policies, at least Carter is now suited to his true vocation: Anything but running the U.S. government. Our enemies love this guy.

Kevin Gagan
Mililani

Understanding of creation far from done

Tom Tanimura's Dec. 23 letter "Our existence is more than just random chance" is duplicitous, at best.

He acknowledges that science is unraveling the mysteries of this 13-billion-year-old universe, yet his dogma is quagmired in the 3,500-year-old rantings of sun-baked goatherders. If the so-called Son of the Creator came to "save" us, why weren't the words "Hey, boil your water first" ever uttered?

He and others of his ilk would be more honest and humble if they would admit that mankind just doesn't know yet. At least scientists are working to comprehend it all. Theists would have us believe that the understanding of creation is a done deal.

Martin Rice
Kapa'a, Kaua'i