Letters to the Editor
Turn useless bickering into popular mandate
In response to Greg Knudsen's March 1 letter, "People have spoken": The people in Hawai'i have proven they can debate endlessly about the positive and negative aspects of the state traffic camera program. But that is about all the people can do at this point.
It is true that our government is one that governs with the consent of the people, but this occurs only to a certain extent. As citizens, we cannot merely insist that an unpopular program be outlawed immediately and demand lawmakers hear our pleas. Our participation as members of this community occurs during elections.
So Knudsen should remember that if he desires change, he should vote and urge all others to express their opinions by voting. It is through this form of political participation that we can turn useless bickering into a meaningful popular mandate.
Summer K. Keliipio
Kane'ohe
Current era an affront to Native Hawaiians
All pau yet?
Well, even though the anti-Hawaiian elements of the Cayetano era have not been able to successfully prosecute a single Bishop Estate trustee, they have managed to make OHA multiracial, change Pauahi's will, threaten to make Department of Hawaiian Home Lands multiracial, end gathering and access rights, get some trustees fired, continue to hold on to the stolen "ceded" lands, insult the Hawaiian people, continue to ignore the Apology Law and ignore violations of international laws and conventions where Hawaiian sovereignty is concerned.
What they have managed to do is get Hawaiians to begin to circle their wagons, and when they do, the real fun begins.
Steve Tayama
Cayetano should be held accountable
It would be quite interesting if Gov. Ben Cayetano and Deputy Attorney General Larry Goya would be held accountable for the waste of taxpayer dollars in the pursuit of Jeff Stone, Dickie Wong and Henry Peters.
Even more interesting would be if the Benevolent Dictator (along with his various sidekicks) were impeached for this ridiculous witch-hunt.
We can only hope that Stone, Wong and Peters pursue their countersuit to make the Cayetano administration accountable for its actions.
Ken Fridley
Investment portfolio of the ERS is sound
State and county workers and retirees as well as taxpayers were likely concerned after reading The Honolulu Advertiser's Page One article on Feb. 18 regarding the state Employees' Retirement System. The cause for that concern was a material inaccuracy regarding losses sustained by the ERS' investment portfolio.
Contrary to what was implied in the Advertiser article, the ERS investment portfolio did not lose $1.4 billion in the stock market since mid-2000. The fact of the matter is that of that $1.4 billion, more than $800 million was paid out in pension benefits to retiree members during that period.
The past few years in the securities markets have been very difficult. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the ERS investment portfolio has been negatively impacted. Thankfully, negative returns for the ERS are extremely rare. Over the last 34 years, the ERS has only experienced two years of negative returns — fiscal year 1984, when it lost just 0.56 percent, and this past fiscal year.
We would like to assure both our active and retired members as well as concerned citizens that the ERS investment portfolio is sound. Over the past five years, ending June 30, 2001, investment returns have exceeded $3.4 billion, and the average annual return during that time was 8.8 percent.
The ERS investment portfolio is well diversified. And the new asset allocation plan recently adopted by the board of trustees is targeted to generate a long-term average annual rate of return of about 8.4 percent.
Toby Martyn
Chairman, ERS board of trustees
Smokers don't have the 'right' to pollute
Smokers keep protesting a smoking ban, claiming that their "rights" are being violated.
Being permitted to smoke anywhere they feel like, have ashtrays provided for them, have their ashes and ashtrays and ground-out butts cleaned up after them, forcing nonsmokers to breathe irritating polluted air, whether they like it or not, and who, upon arriving home, find their clothes reeking of stale tobacco smoke, are not "rights."
Nonsmokers, on the other hand, do have a real right to breathe clean air — their health and lives depend on that.
It has taken a long time to recognize that, but the time has finally come. If doing without smoking while in a restaurant or bar is so distressing, it is best to quit, as I did almost 40 years ago. It didn't hurt the taste of my drinks.
Banning smoking in enclosed spaces is not something new here. Back in 1940 when the Hawai'i was still a territory, smoking in theaters, which used to be saturated with stale tobacco smoke, was banned by order of the fire marshal.
It didn't hurt theater attendance.
Ted Chernin
Staggered starts confused competition
I participated in the Great Aloha Run. I thought the timing of the run was a lot better because the chip placed on the shoe made it a lot more accurate.
I was disappointed in the staggered starts. The first runner may have been the second finisher because the second finisher may have had a better time than the first runner. So when the first two people are racing, they could still lose because maybe a runner from a different color that is running a good pace is beating them but they don't know that.
Kevin Enriques
'Aiea
Safety designs, common sense sorely lacking
So, according to the Feb. 24 article, the Department of Transportation is giving out awards for safety and common-sense solutions to traffic problems? Huh? Tell us where the safety designs and operational common sense are in:
- Freeway on-ramps that blend and conflict with or into off-ramps (Punahou and Pi'ikoi on- and off-ramps, for example).
- Freeway off-ramps that end at traffic lights so that traffic backs up onto the freeway (Makakilo, for example).
- Built-in bottlenecks (the merging lanes between 'Aiea and Pearl City — see the traffic crawl every weekday).
- Tiny emergency pull-off lanes (H-1 by Houghtailing on- and off-ramps — site of at least one death).
- Archaic, low freeway speeds that are not conducive to smooth traffic flow.
- The dangerous condition created by the "Tali-vans" (drivers panicking and stepping on their brakes to rapidly slow down).
- The "Zip Lane," which was supposed to encourage car-pooling. (Monitor the "Zip lane" for usage and see for yourself).
- Lack of "Slower Traffic Keep Right" signs (some drivers don't have the common sense to move out of the passing lane).
- Minimum-speed-limit signs (some drivers just do not belong on the freeway).
Is the state Department of Transportation supposed to improve safety and operation of our freeways, or what? DOT officials should open their ears and hear what the public has to say, not ramrod another project down our throats. Who are they working for, anyway?
L. Higa
UH's strategic planning session worthwhile
My initial reaction in attending the UH-Manoa Strategic Planning Event was skepticism. I was skeptical about asking the participants to come up with the barriers and solutions to the topics. My first thought was that it is not the job of the students to solve the university's problems.
As the afternoon progressed, my view changed. The planning exercise at the UH-Manoa Strategic Planning Event was extremely inclusive. The entire student body, university faculty and the general public were invited to participate in the event. The university administration will have the benefit of hearing what the public wants to see change, as well as getting some ideas on possible solutions to the problems that were identified.
I was involved in the landscaping committee. Many items and ideas were discussed. The main topics dealt with the overall appearance of the university and development of projects that will aid the students and university community. Within these two topics, some of the ideas discussed were bike paths, a community bike system, displaying art around the campus, developing community-run gardens and getting better signage throughout the campus.
I felt proud to be part of an event that would greatly affect the university community. I felt like my opinions and ideas would make a difference. My thoughts and statements were taken seriously. I also realized that it was the job of the students and university community to help develop solutions to the problems.
Keith Rudd
Here are some ideas on better bus service
I ride the bus daily. I find the service good but would recommend the following:
- A sign at each stop telling the route number of the bus, its destination and frequency. This would avoid the confusion among many people waiting for the bus.
- Speed up service by having people exit only at the rear.
- Provide a place for luggage on the Waikiki-airport service, as is done in many cities.
- Eliminate the Express-A bus stop at University and Dole, which is only a few steps from the terminus.
Michele Smith
Lower room prices to attract visitors
Regarding the March 3 letter "The cost of visiting Hawai'i must go down": I truly agree that Hawai'i tourism leaders should change their policy. They should cut their prices.
For instance, hotel costs are extremely high. Even as the number of tourists was decreasing, the price of hotel rooms was staying the same. Don't they think they should try a new strategy?
Ying Hsiu Chen
Mo'ili'ili bowling alley must be preserved
I live in Mo'ili'ili. I protest, vehemently, the commercial development of the property on Isenberg, presently used for the University Bowl-O-Drome bowling alley.
Again and again, insensitive bureaucrats do not consult with the community first. The bowling alley is perfect for this community, and serves other communities as well.
Please, Hawaiian Home Lands, consult with the residents of Mo'ili'ili and our kupuna. Go someplace else. This is a residential community that needs this facility.
W. Keola Choo
Democrats are guilty of fiscal mismanagement
For decades, the Democrats have proclaimed how good their party has been for the state of Hawai'i. And now we know how they did it.
Once George Ariyoshi left office, our elected government of mostly Democrats by and large spent the cash reserves of about $750 million to where they are today. Instead of doing the necessary but unpopular task of laying off workers and cutting programs, our elected officials are still trying to keep up the pretense of being able to afford stuff like teacher pay raises.
Like parents looting their kids' piggy banks to continue their spending habits, our legislators have already raided the employees' pension fund (the public might have to make up the difference if the fund goes broke), and now they want to take up to 50 percent of the Hurricane Relief Fund.
At least the Enron employees can complain about their lost pensions to our national legislators. In Hawai'i, it's our elected officials who are guilty of fiscal mismanagement.
Wayne Chun
Degree from UH isn't critical to teaching
In the Feb. 27 article by Beverly Creamer, "Meshing kindergarten-to-college system," state school Superintendent Pat Hamamoto has the right idea that it takes more than a caring teacher — it takes an "engaged teacher who wants to teach."
However, her idea that teachers need to come from the University of Hawai'i College of Education is inexcusably close-minded.
I believe that a teacher is one who shares knowledge in an effective and lasting way — not necessarily someone who graduates from UH.
UH President Evan Dobelle said, "We can grow our own." Are we to ignore certified teachers from outside of Hawai'i because we are too busy growing our own?
Don't forget that this "new" proposal for a 16-year system is familiar. Repeat after me: "UH Lab."
What makes UH's program better? Will the 16-year system produce "engaged" teachers? As far as engaged teachers, that is up to the teacher, not the school.
The playing field should be open to anyone, regardless of where they received their education degree. As Hamamoto explained, just make sure the teacher is "engaged."
April K. Akana
