Letters to the Editor
State Art Museum is not over budget
I would like to correct some information in Jim Dooley's Feb. 24 article about the State Art Museum's construction costs.
The State Art Museum is not $2 million over budget. The project budget is $5.2 million, and we remain well within that budget.
Construction is not one and a half months behind. The project is proceeding at a pace that will result in the new State Art Museum opening as planned in October 2002.
Mr. Dooley's assumptions about the cost may result from the fact that the initial appropriation was $3.3 million. The difference in the initial appropriation and the actual budget does not mean that the project is over budget.
When the project was put out to bid, the lowest bid for construction costs alone came in at $3.9 million, and construction is not the only cost in a project. The budget must also include design costs, labor costs, Board of Water Supply fees, and a contractor contingency fund for unforeseen conditions that commonly arise when renovating historic buildings, all which were allotted for in the final $5.2 million project budget.
Glenn M. Okimoto
State comptroller, Department of Accounting and General Services
Micronesia, Marshalls are getting assistance
The allegation by state Rep. Dennis Arakaki, the House Health Committee chairman, concerning people from the Freely Associated States (Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands) i.e., "many of them are coming to Hawai'i with severe health problems because they're not addressed where they come from," exemplifies the inexcusable, out-of-touch conclusions of our state legislators.
Had Arakaki read the U.S. General Accounting Office reports on "U.S. Assistance to Micronesia and the Marshall Islands" (May 2000 and 2001), he would have known of the facts therein, e.g., since 1986 the United States has provided more than $2.6 billion in financial and other assistance, which included healthcare.
Arakaki appears equally unaware of recent U.S. congressional approval for continued support funding, thanks to Sens. Inouye and Akaka.
John K. Kingsley
Wahi'awa
1988 act recognized existing Indian gaming
There were factual errors in the Feb. 17 Island Voices commentary by Claire W. Engle.
She wrote: "In 1988, Congress passed a law that allows indigenous people to operate gambling casinos. " In fact, during the mid-1900s, numerous Indian tribes became engaged in or began to license gaming activities on Indian-owned land and reservations at a time when federal law did not provide clear standards or regulations for the conduct of gaming.
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed by Congress in 1988 in response to existing Indian gaming.
Traditional Native Hawaiian games of chance are not subject to any regulation on Native Hawaiian-owned land. Bingo and similar games and non-house-banked card games are subject only to National Indian Gaming Commission regulation, with no state involvement, under the Indian Gaming Regulator Act. All other native gaming under the act, if a state wants to receive special taxes, requires a compact.
A tribal body does not need the act in order to exercise its sovereign right to have parity with a state's permitting of a type of gaming. And there are those who would argue that Hawai'i's permitting of a lottery in housing and Monte Carlo or Las Vegas-style charity casino nights already are sufficient to permit Native Hawaiian gaming on Native Hawaiian-owned lands.
The United States already retains a measure of control over Hawaiian homelands through the secretary of the interior. As long as the funding for maintaining homelands comes from the state, it is not likely they could be used for gaming.
Maui Loa
Land-use ordinances are being ignored
The comment that Donald Clegg is an expert on land-use ordinances gave me reason to pause.
Take a look at his work seeking to legitimize Attraction Hawai'i's over 40 unpermitted activities in the conservation district of Waimea Valley and his defense of Councilman John Felix's illegal wedding chapel in a residential area. Don't forget his work boosting McDonald's operations in the Hale'iwa special district, work that seriously undermines the clear intent of decades of community and government planning work aimed at promoting a pedestrian and historic orientation in Hale'iwa.
We see that Clegg's "abilities" are sought by those who have decided that they do not want to follow land-use ordinances. And while he appears to be "successful" in advancing his clients' interests when politicians and bureaucrats are his audience, watch what happens when his findings and recommendations are reviewed by a court of law.
Clegg claims his work is just a part of democracy in action. I would say that the opposite is true and that his close relationship with prominent local politicians damages our democracy.
Larry McElheny
Hale'iwa
State can cut budget without it being bloody
As I watch the Legislature steal the Hurricane Relief Fund for a quick "one-time fix" to the budget, I am amazed that we can't balance our budget by simply spending less.
As soon as it is suggested, we hear that the only way the state can save 5 percent is to deny services to the blind, starve children and slash UH to a mere shell. If the folks who say that believe it, then they should be the first candidates for cuts.
About a decade ago, I was involved in a task to cut a federal activity. We were simply directed to take a 25 percent cut and provide the same service as before. It was immediately determined by "nearly everyone" that it was impossible. I was guided by a gifted, dedicated and courageous leader who knew it could be done.
It was difficult, it was emotional, but it was done.
In the end, no essential services were cut, no requirements unmet, and products and services actually were improved across the board. This experience and others of a similar nature convinced those of us involved in the effort that even deeper cuts could be taken with imagination and ingenuity.
What holds us back in Hawai'i is that we lack the will, and we lack dedicated, courageous and intellectually capable leadership.
Dan Muccia
Kailua
Let the people decide on hurricane fund
First it was the state Highway Fund.
Then it was the retirement fund that has gone into the general fund. My husband worked 33 1/2 years for that retirement money so there would be something for him in the future.
Now it is our money in the hurricane fund.
Instead of a few selecting where our money goes or is used for other than the purposes it was intended and dipping into it for Band-Aid fixes, let the people vote on whether it should be used to balance the budget. Plus, we are being threatened that if they don't use our money, then services will be cut. Who are these guys kidding?
Thank you, Ed Case and the other few who are against this travesty. No wonder there is voter apathy.
Skim and divert. That's the name of the game.
Adrienne L. Wilson-Yamasaki
Wahi'awa
Float more bonds to pay for government
In a final desperate attempt to appease voters, our leaders moved to raid the Hawai'i Hurricane Relief Fund and use it for purposes other than what it was intended: hurricane damages. This set a very dangerous precedent for the status of other such funds.
Is it any wonder that our younger generations do not have much respect and trust for our elder leaders in government?
Rep. Charles Djou, R-47th District (Kahalu'u, Kane'ohe) deserves a lot of credit: He stuck out like a sore thumb in trying to protect the public interest with his firm stand in doing the right thing. Djou is one of the new breed who tries to show the old-time leaders the right directions.
If we cannot down-size the government enough but still need more funds, let's have the public invest in government through local tax-free E bonds or G long-term bonds, as our federal government offers. This would be the right direction to go — voluntarily. The public would have more interest and pride in the right operation by our leaders. The end result would be better voter participation at the polls.
Our government must learn to live within its (and our) means.
Yasu Nakamatsu
Kapa'a
Putting more police on motorcycles good
I totally agree with Jimmie Duncan's March 10 letter concerning the city putting more police in pairs on motorcycles.
I moved to Las Vegas from Honolulu six months ago and work at McCarren Airport, where motorcycle police are most effective. Most bikers are proud of their steeds and take care of them. Bikes are almost ageless and fuel-efficient, and have good maneuverability in heavy traffic — the best reason for police on motorcycles.
Las Vegas is planning to put more motorcycles on the road as this city grows at its fast pace. Honolulu would at last and not least be spending money wisely.
John Correa
Las Vegas
Parking lot speed bumps are ridiculous
I find it ridiculous that most parking lots in 'Ewa Beach and the surrounding communities have speed bumps.
Some are just a couple of feet from a stop sign. There are even some speed bumps right next to a gas pump (7-11 in 'Ewa Beach) — does that make any sense?
If anything, it is a hazard for people to go over these small mountains. People almost have to come to a complete stop before going over them, causing traffic to back up. Going 5 mph in a parking lot and then going over a speed bump is ridiculous.
Douglas Swanek
'Ewa Beach
Who hid the news?
Did I miss it? Why haven't we heard much about the new Arena Football team, The Islanders, coming to Hawai'i?
Pua Fuamatu
UH, DOE could team up to improve system
I laud the efforts of schools Superintendent Pat Hamamoto and UH President Evan Dobelle to improve relations between the state Department of Education and the University of Hawai'i. They will have to do more with fewer resources from taxpayers.
I suggest the DOE take a huge step by graduating students early to get into college, to get into a technical school or to enter the workforce. For example, Advanced Placement classes could be cut out of high school and the students would attend the UH system for such courses.
As another example, GED classes might be offered to allow students to graduate earlier to enter technical school or the workforce as early as age 16. This would free up a lot of teachers who could enhance the education of students who elect or need to remain in the system from K-12.
This might also free up teachers to allow for pre-kindergarten classes where needed. Perhaps kindergarten should start at age 4 for all students. They just cannot add on another year without trading a year off at graduation. It would be too expensive.
I would also recommend the Legislature provide schools with "lump-sum funds" and let the schools decide where, when and how to fund their needs, including repairs, books, teachers, etc. The UH might help in creating a new program in education administration. Perhaps the Legislature could provide matching funds to schools that obtain funds from outside the government.
Privatization and contracting of school-related services could also free up resources and manpower to academic programs.
I would like to see the DOE and UH do more to foster "home-schooling." The DOE could offer some academic courses, testing or extra-curricular programs to home-schoolers. The more children who are home-schooled, the less the DOE has to provide for them.
Russel A. Noguchi
Pearl City
