Letters to the Editor

Inflexible position holding us hostage

It is shameful that politics and bureaucratic fears of endangering future budget allocations are depriving the people of central O'ahu of a usable library.

As reported in the June 9 Advertiser, state Librarian Virginia Lowell has rejected outside help in building the now-nonexistent book collection at the new Kapolei Library, and has even refused to make available the list of core books to private donors who are willing to follow the official acquisition guidelines.

Lowell's inflexible position is holding a section of our community hostage to a broken political educational system, to the detriment of the people of Kapolei who desperately want and need — and are willing to contribute to — a functioning library.

Auwe!

Mimi Baker

Books make library

Tell the Kapolei librarian that a library without books is not a library; it is an empty room.

Louise F. Brewer

Democratic values got us where we are

Every year following the Democratic Party of Hawai'i convention, Republican sideliners write profusely telling your readers to change parties and party values.

Last week heralded the new onslaught of attacks because Rep. Patsy Mink referred to a basic truth about local politics: Hawai'i's past, present and future lie with Democratic values.

Attacks on consumer advocacy and oversight of the prepaid healthcare system are examples of the lack of "people first" thinking of the Republican Party and its annointed prime candidate for governor. Her second position upon filing her candidacy papers was "What gasoline problem?" Let's eliminate the state taxes and let the gasoline companies get their profits — oh, and never mind the problem of eliminating the government's tax base for maintaining and developing our transportation and road system.

Health and the economy are two areas of our Hawai'i that are under attack by the Republicans. Both issues relate to Republican support of absurd profits.

Meanwhile, Democrats have promoted and passed legislation promoting responsible business and economic development where society and people over profits is the value.

And, of course, where are the Republicans and Linda Lingle on our state's legacy of civil rights?

We need to continue the educational effort about how we are moving as a state toward being freer with justice and equality and with a more responsible economic development value.

William E. Woods

Medical board surely does need authority

Thank you for your balanced editorial on the need to give "teeth" to the Board of Medical Examiners. It has long been frustrating to many doctors that the board can grant licenses but then the power to suspend, revoke or modify in any review goes to a non-physician group.

I have served as a volunteer reviewer on several cases, but that cannot take the place of vesting the board with full authority over monitoring doctors.Ê

Maybe then the myth that doctors just want to "protect our own" will die — we just haven't had the power to do anything about the bad apples.

Mark Dillen Stitham, M.D.
Kailua

Kamehameha great military strategist

Thanks to William Cole for writing the June 10 article about the USS Kamehameha. Power is in a name, and this vessel is named after great leader of the Hawaiian people.

Kamehameha was also a great military strategist credited with the placement of a warship's main gun turret facing forward instead of to port and starboard. This is documented. His canon, named Lopaka, was used during his conquest to unite the Hawaiian Islands.

Kamehameha's innovative legacy lives through every naval warship of each country worldwide (including the U.S.) that has a gun or missile turret on the bow facing forward. An example is the USS Missouri's main turrets forward and aft of the ship.

Thomas T. Shirai Jr.
Waialua

Pigeons in Waikiki are not the problem

Killing the Waikiki pigeons because humans have made them unhealthy is not a solution.

One of the biggest threats to human health is humans and their waste. We, not pigeons, pollute Waikiki with garbage from junk food outlets, uneaten food, plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic utensils, plastic air beds, soiled diapers, cigarette butts, barbecue fuel.

A program to kill malnourished pigeons is not the answer. A program to eliminate excessive human waste will benefit park workers, tourists, locals and pigeons.

Lois Raynor