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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, January 7, 2002

Letters to the Editor

Who's going to benefit from airline merger?

The fact that we might become a single interisland airline market would be devastating for Hawai'i's commuters, tourists and cargo shippers. The schedules will be decreased, and flight availability will be reduced. Employees will suffer because of staff reductions.

Monopolies are the antithesis of democracy. Business thrives off competition — everyone benefits.

This merger is not in the best interest of Hawai'i's economy, citizens, visitors or the airlines' employees.

Hawaiian Airlines has been growing for the past five years and has one of the strongest cash reserves in the industry, plus a completely new fleet of airplanes, a very dedicated employee base and strong load factors.

Ask yourself: Who does the merger really benefit? Who hired Greg Brenneman and why? Who's going to be left out?

Deborah Bocken


Merger of airlines is not 'good' at all

Gov. Cayetano and Sen. Inouye call the airline merger "good."

Absolutely, good for the owners and major shareholders of both interisland carriers. Never mind the public, which will inevitably pay higher fares for a lower level of service and, most of all, no consumer choice.

What other airline would come here, especially after Sept. 11? If Hawaiian and Aloha, after more than 50 years of operation, couldn't make it, it is highly doubtful others could.

What would a strike do with only one airline in the state? We are all familiar with an ocean shipping strike. The state would be at the mercy of the airline.

Auwe for the Hawaiian Air employees who, for over a decade, have given up wage and benefit concessions while the company struggled and pulled itself successfully out of bankruptcy. Now a lot of them will lose their jobs, as the airlines try to merge seniority lists, while the current CEOs of each airline get paid $4 million to leave.

Why Aloha does not take advantage of all the federal monies available, as America West has done, clearly shows the intent of this new airline: It's called monopoly.

Stephen Leong


Pastor Ralph Moore indeed one to watch

I want to commend you for choosing Pastor Ralph Moore as one to watch in 2002.

As a member of Hope Chapel Kane'ohe Bay the past seven years, I have had the privilege to enter the "No spin zone" and really take an honest look at life and my purpose for being here.

You were right when you said that he likes to take things apart. I have found great joy in knowing that I can face the truth (not just what I want to be true) and to know that I am loved.

Linda Watson
Kane'ohe


LeMahieu has only himself to blame

With all due respect, the first line of Kevin Dayton's report of former Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu's continuing to whine about the "investigating committee that helped end [his] tenure" (Dec. 20) is a bit off the mark.

LeMahieu self-destructed in a spectacular act of stupidity without any outside help. Indeed, Sen. Colleen Hanabusa and her investigating committee are to be commended for lifting the edge of the carpet and shining the lamp of truth onto the ugly mess this fellow left behind, the opportunities he squandered.

Like Slick Willie, pre-eminent member of the Cry Baby Boom Elite who perfectly mirrors most of his sorry demographic cohort, LeMahieu is quick with a blizzard of glib excuses, but glacial in any willingness whatsoever to take personal responsibility for his actions. And, like our former president, LeMahieu doesn't seem to understand what "over" means even now, long after the epitaph has been engraved.

Despite this minor criticism of your story, the gist of the story is in itself a marvelous gift to those who care at all about what happens to innocent children from whom the DOE has stolen educational opportunity for so long: "Hanabusa ... said she expects lawmakers will agree to reauthorize the committee."

In my opinion, committee co-chairman Rep. Scott Saiki is right on the mark in suggesting the committee has "only scratched the surface."

Sen. Hanabusa, Rep. Saiki, members of committee: Press on. Your task is noble. Godspeed.

Thomas E. Stuart
Kailua, Kona, Big Island


Traffic camera system is flawed

The traffic camera system has more negatives than positives:

• Cameras will not stop reckless or dangerous drivers from causing accidents but can only send a three-day-delayed speeding or red-light-running ticket.

• Drivers can go from no speeding tickets to multiple tickets over a three-day period and not know it before they receive their first traffic ticket in the mail.

• The camera system does not take into consideration traffic situations that may require the driver to speed up to avoid an accident — which an officer on the scene would witness.

• Cameras can easily be set up in locations where drivers may not realize they are in a decreased-speed zone and end up going over the threshold.

Whatever the original intent of this program, this is not the best way to enforce speed limits and avoid the conclusion that the intention was to enhance state coffers.

Dan Elmore
Kapolei


Many others also don't have need to worship

Regarding Craig Watanabe's Jan. 3 letter: Mitch Kahle is not alone in his pursuits; there are many of us who don't have a need to worship nor solicit advice from invisible friends.

And we would be happy to "live and let live," but the fact of the matter is that many religions consider it a fundamental duty, a mission, to bring people into their religion.

It continues to amaze me how much some religious people — often the self-appointed guardians of morality — will abuse those who refuse to acquiesce to religious beliefs and practices.

Kelly Aune


Restaurants, lounges tied up by smokers

Bill Tobin, in his Dec. 27 letter regarding a smoking ban in restaurants, overlooks one of the most important aspects of the issue: Serving more people is how restaurants and employees make more money.

First, of course, must be our concern for the health of employees.

Second comes the fact that a smoking ban would level the playing field and not give any one business an unfair advantage over others. Since the majority of diners do not smoke, it makes good business sense to appeal to the larger number.

And many restaurant managers will tell you that they don't want people to sit around and smoke after they finish dining. It ties up a table that could be making money for the restaurant. The more times you "turn over" a table, the more money you make.

I realize that in a few, very expensive restaurants that is not a concern since they are so pricey as to make enough off one sitting to be in the black. But most restaurants and wait help with whom I am familiar want those who are finished eating to leave so they might serve others, doubling the income for the business and the tips for the wait help.

It's the same in bars and lounges. You don't want them to sit around and smoke after they've stopped drinking. They are just tying up a table that could be making money for all concerned.

Carmen U'ilani Haugen


Gas suit settlement will mean price hike

When the state of Hawai'i wins the price-fixing lawsuit against the gas companies, it's "party" time. Both Democratic and Republican legislators and the governor will use this "free money" on their pet projects. The gas companies will declare that they are losing money and are now forced to raise the price of gas.

Welcome to $3 a gallon.

Before you say that the state will stop this, why should it? It gets 4 percent of everything. Which do you think the governor would rather have: 4 percent of $1.50 or 4 percent of $3?

I just want to be first to say I told you so.

Peter Sato


The true meaning of Dobelle's notices

What we got here, gentlemen, is simply a problem of communication:

Lingua Dobelle: "One-year notice."

Lingua Everyman: "Pink slips."

Dobelle: I was hired as a "change agent."

Everyman: Is that similar to a "hatchet man"?

Dobelle: Notice recipients "have no reason to be concerned."

Everyman: Merry Christmas to you, too.

Dobelle: All they have to do is "reach for excellence."

Everyman: Is someone going to define "excellence"?

Dobelle: "Gives me the flexibility to restructure and realign personnel."

Everyman: You received the power to fire and to eliminate jobs unilaterally.

Dobelle: "Restructuring didn't result in the loss of jobs."

Everyman: Could that be because people became discouraged, worried about their future and left "voluntarily"?

Richard Y. Will


Airport security tests must be overhauled

This latest incident at Honolulu International Airport is one of the stupidest things I have heard of. They (whoever they are) attributed the security lapse to a test image that is presented on the screen.

Anyone with a law enforcement background knows that when you conduct a "sting" operation, you have several officers around the site, set up recording devices (video cameras) and closely monitor the action that results in a violation.

In other words, whenever a controlled security test is being made, there should be a number of people stationed around the test site monitoring what action is taken when a security breach happens. If the agent is able to breach the security station, then the site should be shut down, and all personnel at the station relieved immediately and a new crew installed — without delay.

There should be no delay other than relieving the security post and installing a new one. All other stations should continue uninterrupted. There should be little commotion at the site, and if it's done right, no one would know what even happened.

The suspect crew should be taken immediately to a location where they are debriefed by the security team assigned to the test. Immediate disciplinary action should be taken, if necessary, following the investigation.

This business of letting a suspect get all the way into the terminal with a weapon and possibly onto a plane, then a screener notifying a supervisor, has got to stop.

Charles S.J. Davis
Kailua


Don't look to UH-Manoa for political leadership

Bob Dye's Dec. 30 suggestion of UH-Manoa as a source of political leadership ("Academia should lend hand to government") will assuredly not be added to my collection of his customary erudite observations.

UH-Manoa tenured faculty politics, lowering of the bar for meaningful levels of academic achievement and bowing to activist group pressures/demands hardly substantiate Dye's proposed source of government expertise.

As King Fredrick the Great of Prussia aptly observed: "The surest way to destroy a state is to have it governed by professors."

John K. Kingsley
Wahi'awa


What's judge's record?

I wonder if former judge Richard Lee, advertising in your paper and on his Web site for votes to be a councilman as "honest" Richard, would care to tell us publicly about his actual record while on the bench, why he left and why he was not reappointed as a judge.

Elbridge W. Smith
Attorney


Lead alert a warning against fluoridation

The Advertiser's Dec. 30 article "Waimea alerted to lead in water" should be a warning to politicians considering the addition of industrial-grade fluoride to the public drinking water.

The Environmental Protection Agency sets the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for lead at 15 parts per billion with a goal of zero, since zero is the only level at which no known adverse health effects occur. Industrial-grade fluoride used for water fluoridation contains lead, arsenic and other hazardous-waste contaminants. Though the concentration of lead is relatively low, any amount is undesirable because lead is a cumulative poison.

Fluoride, also a cumulative poison, is more toxic than lead and only slightly less toxic than arsenic, yet the MCL for fluoride set by the EPA is an incredible 4,000 parts per billion. Compare this to the MCL for arsenic, which is 10 parts per billion with a goal of zero. Does this make sense?

And, would it make any sense whatsoever to add this witch's brew to drinking water?

The Department of Health is blatantly misinforming the public and our elected officials. Contact your political representatives. Insist that they vote "No" on any bill calling for fluoridation of our water.

Alan D. Price