Letters to the Editor

Let's cooperate to make school vouchers work

I'm sure special-interest groups all have strong opinions as to whether school vouchers are useful. The true, simple question is, will a school voucher system improve the quality of the education our children receive?

Public school systems in general have had more than ample time to improve and to validate improvements with appropriate testing. On the Mainland and here in Hawai'i, test results, even when they are "dumbed down," have been dismal and growing worse rather than improving. Considering the large amounts of public money that finance shoddy education, this is intolerable.

Private and religious schools in a voucher system will compete for your business. Their product will be the education of your children. In any business, lousy business people will be forced out of competition; i.e., if the results of the private or religious school are unsatisfactory, they will not get your business. This is simple logic.

Let's all try to cooperate and make the voucher system work the way it is designed to. Our children simply must get better educations to survive in the 21st century.

William Mulholland
Wai'anae

Repeal the Passenger Services, Jones acts

A simple repeal of the Jones Act and the Passenger Services Act by Congress would result in competition in shipping and dozens more cruise ships to ply Hawaiian waters, making more frequent and longer port calls here.

But our congressional representatives are so bound to those few who support them financially that they refuse to act in good conscience and support repeal of these acts.

The result of their failure is excess shipping expenses that cost each and every family in Hawai'i thousands of dollars each year, and a cruise line industry that is inhibited by the narrow-minded thinking of our aging representatives in the Senate and House.

There are dozens of cruise ship lines that would like the opportunity to sail our waters and hundreds of thousands of people who would enjoy sailing from different U.S. ports to Hawai'i and returning to the Mainland. But they are restricted from doing so by Congress if it means sailing aboard foreign-flag vessels. And our representatives from Hawai'i are leaders in that restriction.

So now, to circumvent criticism of their failure, we hear word of the resurrection of a badly flawed, incredibly expensive and already failed idea: the forming of an American-flag cruise ship line to serve Hawai'i. This is a bad idea. It can only operate by costing each and every American taxpayer.

John P. Ackert
Kailua-Kona, Big Island

Noise pollution plagues our neighborhoods

I couldn't agree more with the July 10 letter by Scott Glasgow of Kane'ohe. Noise pollution is a huge problem in our suburban neighborhoods.

I live in Manoa and, while my neighborhood prides itself on its greenery and supposed serenity, it is actually quite impossible to get away from the disruptive roar of motorized garden machines here.

Just to illustrate how bad it can be: I was showing some visiting friends the native plants up on Manoa Cliffs Trail, high above the valley, and even up there in the middle of the wilderness we could still hear the drone of leaf blowers at full volume wafting up from the houses below.

Is there simply no escape? I can only beg my fellow islanders to please ease off a little: Lower the throttle, tolerate a few scattered leaves (it's natural), try raking, tell your gardeners to keep the sound down. Do whatever it takes.

Eric Rosenfeld

Public restrooms were sadly lacking

On July 4, our family went to Kaka'ako Park to enjoy the beautiful fireworks display from Magic Island. We were very disappointed with the upkeep of two restrooms for the following reasons:

• No toilet paper.
• No doors.
• No sanitary container.

Why can't the restrooms be replenished prior to an event?

On the other hand, Kaka'ako Park was very clean.

I ask, as a citizen, how can we improve the upkeep of the public restrooms?

Nancy Gakiya

Bikers shouldn't be forced organ donors

I am really delighted that Ann Williamson, as she writes in her July 8 letter, got the organ transplant she needed. Several dear, long-time friends of mine needed organs that did not come in time. They are sorely missed, and never far from my thoughts and prayers.

As a licensed motorcyclist of 33 years, however, I was disturbed by her suggestion that it be illegal to ride a motorcycle without an organ donor card. This attitude that motorcyclists are somehow expendable people who choose to take unreasonable risks is mean-spirited and very dangerous.

Every day, O'ahu drivers in cars and trucks "bully" motorcyclists and bicyclists as if driving is a video game — not a matter of life and death. Pedestrians also come in for the same "game of chicken" with aggressive motorists.

My well-maintained bike saves energy, parking, traffic space and clean air for everyone. My serious safety gear (helmet, gloves, boots, armor) and extra rider classes show that I value human life highly. Please don't devalue my life and the emotional well-being of my 'ohana by thinking of me as "spare parts."

Motorcycling is a great character builder that has much in common with martial arts and aviation. These activities all teach self-reliance, respect and confidence, and also train the attention and reflexes. Experienced riders are more attentive (and courteous) drivers when we use our cars and trucks, too.

Please show aloha out there. The life you save could be mine.

April Weiss

Longshore workers deserve every penny

I read with interest the July 4 "State hostage" letter about longshore workers. The writer, with 25 years of education, became a dentist and scientist, and complains that longshore workers, with less formal education, receive high salaries for low-skilled labor.

He should consider the job of operating a $6 million crane, ship winch, tractor. Linemen ensure a ship is securely tied to its proper berth, and the lines, gangways and ramps are safely attached.

Longshore workers earned their degrees with sweat, seven days a week, 60- to 70-hour rotating shifts, day or night, rain or shine. A failing grade was a smashed hand, broken back or loss of life.

To imply longshore workers are undeserving is "sour grapes." Longshore work is long, hard and dirty, yet honest labor: a job few want and fewer can do. Each longshore worker earns every penny of his paycheck.

I know because I did that job for 42 years.

Cupid A. Pokaka'a

A breath of fresh air served with dinner

I support the new smoking ban in Honolulu's restaurants, which went into effect July 1. This new law required all restaurants to be smoke-free.

I feel that this is a good thing because in many of our restaurants, little children were being exposed to secondhand smoke.

Sitting in the nonsmoking section made little difference because both smoking and nonsmoking sections were located in the same room with the same vent.

Joy T. Ishibashi