Letters to the Editor
State GOP no friend to Native Hawaiians
In the March 2 edition, I read with interest the article by Kevin Dayton entitled "Hawaiian vote key in race for governor." The article suggests that Republican gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle's appointment of Hawaiians to cabinet positions while she was Maui mayor coupled with the Hawai'i GOP catering to Hawaiian issues on the party's campaign platform should sway Hawaiians to side with Lingle.
I wholeheartedly disagree.
When Hawaiian issues were adopted into the GOP platform, I was the leader of the Republican caucus in the state Senate, the only state senator of Hawaiian ancestry and also the highest-ranking elected Republican in Hawai'i.
I represented Waimanalo, an area consisting of a large group of Hawaiian Homesteaders, and a total Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian populace of 75 percent.
No Hawaiian leader from our district was consulted when the Hawai'i Republican Party decided what was best for Native Hawaiians. It is not possible for the GOP platform to adequately address Hawaiian concerns if leaders within the Hawaiian community are not consulted to aid in the drafting of the platform.
I believe the Hawai'i Republican Party platform serves to con Hawaiians into supporting GOP candidates, as opposed to actually benefiting the indigenous people of this land. I hope the Hawaiian people are not bamboozled by Lingle and others like her who claim to be running for office with their betterment in mind.
Whitney T. Anderson
Waimanalo
Legislature could use suicide assistance
My neighbor, who just arrived from Mexico, asked me to explain the phrase "What goes around, comes around."
OK, I explained, take the assisted-suicide bill that may become law. This would make it legal for those near the end of their time to put themselves out of their suffering. The Legislature has been looking quite sickly lately, having difficulty doing simple, everyday things like passing laws that will stand up when contested in court, like the traffic van camera legislation. Legislators have been gasping for air and looking as if they were on their last legs when anyone even whispered the words "balanced budget."
So, the only humane thing to do is call in the doctor to help put the Legislature out of its misery, and this time let's not spread any ashes over Papakolea.
Smoky Guerrero
Mililani
Democrats haven't faced budget realities
Gov. Cayetano's March 10 commentary ("Struggles over fund damaging") leaves me with one question: Who is he trying to kid?
He and the other Democrats in the Legislature would have us believe that if it hadn't been for the tragic events of 9/11, the state would have been awash in revenue and the Hurricane Relief Fund would not be at issue. This ignores the history of his tenure as governor.
He and his fellow Dems have been raiding special funds since he took office in 1994. While he touts a reduction in the state payroll of 12 percent, he does not say that the state budget has increased since he has been in office, and even in this year of austerity, he asks for an increase of over 5 percent.
Cayetano blames everyone and everything but himself and his party for the bankrupt economy now facing our state. Rather than playing the blame game, he should have insisted for the last eight years that the state Legislature balance the budget with current revenues rather than delaying the inevitable by now raiding the hurricane fund and increasing taxes on alcohol, tobacco, marriages and even deaths.
It wasn't 9/11 that brought the state's economy to its knees; it's the denial of the Democrats that they can't have everything.
Garry P. Smith
'Ewa Beach
Motorcycle safety training is in limbo
The governor recently signed administrative rules that would change the way motorcycle rider education is taught in Hawai'i. The changes took effect on March 4. The problem is now that the new rules are in effect, there won't be any motorcycle safety classes taught for a long time.
The Department of Transportation has once again proven that anyone can screw up, but if you really want to screw something up, you need a government agency. It canceled the existing UH program without having new courses, instructors or sites ready to go. A few specifics:
The state has not identified or appointed members of a committee necessary to certify course content, instructors or training sites. Until the committee is formed and begins the certification process, no one in Hawai'i can teach motorcycle education classes. There is no word from the DOT when this will take place.
Several years ago, the state granted UH the right to administer rider skills tests and issue waivers for that portion of the state motorcycle licensing process. Until it completes the new certification process, UH is not authorized to issue riding test waivers. The state does not have trained testers or the facilities necessary to administer the test to the 240 people, on average, who currently take the test monthly through UH.
The current motorcycle rider education program being run by UH has been extremely successful. Enrollment in its course continued to increase steadily, and the number of motorcycle accidents in Hawai'i continued to decline. Now, because of the inept way the new rules were implemented, there will be a period of three to four months, maybe longer, where there is no motorcycle safety training in Hawai'i.
The obvious and logical solution to this mess is to immediately grandfather in the current UH course, training site and instructors.
Robert Becker
Cycle Sports Hawai'i
Sign-waving problem wasn't made known
I would like to thank all those who supported my efforts during the Honolulu City Council special election. Much of my support came from community, business and nonprofit members and their friends.
I was very saddened to learn about the news regarding two members from the Fresh Start program who felt that they were pressured into sign-waving with my other volunteers.
I had no knowledge of any problems regarding volunteers on my campaign. If anything of the sort were brought to my attention, I would immediately remedy the situation. Over 50 members of the program wanted to join my sign-wavers. I made it clear that it was far too many.
Annually, I contribute to several charities with my own personal money. Of the several thousand dollars I donate each year, none is given with the expectation of any favors.
Ann H. Kobayashi
Hurricane fund must be available in future
I believe there's a misconception about whom the Hurricane Relief Fund belongs to.
Many feel it should go back to the contributors, while the governor and most of our legislators think it's state money. Like car insurance, monies accumulated are expected to be available for current and future policyholders only.
The real question we should be asking is: Will $230 million be enough to cover damages for current policyholders should a hurricane hit the Islands this year? Probably not.
Hurricane 'Iniki did over $1 billion in damages on Kaua'i. At the time, Kaua'i only had about 17,000 homes plus businesses. Raiding the much-needed fund will not only risk a possible shortfall in compensation, but will discourage future participation in the program.
We need to get after our legislators to do the right thing and not re-elect them if they don't.
Robert Ing
Harris still received fund-raising money
The article "Harris freezes campaign" makes one think how magnanimous the mayor is to halt his fund-raising efforts while the court contemplates his political future.
It appeared at first glance that Mayor Harris was being up-front with people by canceling fund-raisers on O'ahu on March 19 and on the Big Island on March 21. What should have been noted was that while he canceled these fund-raisers, he didn't return the fund-raising presales to ticket-holders.
In essence, all he has done is to cancel the expensive part of any fund-raiser, the event itself. Without providing a location, food and entertainment, he has essentially made more in net donations than if he had gone through with the event itself.
It is clear to everyone observing Harris' fund-raising that not only is he putting the strong-arm on those consulting, engineering and construction firms doing business with the city, but also continuing to make money without even the inconvenience of a fund-raising event.
Don Mills
'Ewa Beach
Legislative bills are a study in confusion
The current event whereby the court has deemed that the mayor must resign before running for governor is but another example of the legal system's failure in our community.
We have a legislative system run by lawyers who work very hard to write every piece of legislation in such a manner as to ensure a maximum of confusion and future litigation. We have a judicial system that then interprets what it thinks was the intent of the Legislature, not what the law says.
The end result is that we waste an inordinate amount of our resources.
The legal profession should hang its collective head in shame; the citizens of the community should be equally embarrassed and ashamed for having elected these incompetents to office; and our university should share in the responsibility for the inadequate ethics training.
The resources we are wasting on this litigation process are simply extracted from every aspect of our lives, in one form or another. That money could sure be better spent on educating our children, fixing our roads, sewers, etc. Shame! It is too bad we cannot sue them.
Colin M. Jones
Entrepreneur boot camp was a huge success
The Fund for the Pacific Century, a foundation I chair, recently had the fortunate opportunity to sponsor 30 public high schools students from Waipahu, Farrington, McKinley and the E-Charter School attend Guy Kawasaki's boot camp for entrepreneurs.
Initially, some were skeptical, including some students who wondered whether this workshop would be a meaningful exercise.
Thanks to the University of Hawai'i College of Business Administration's encouragement and support, the speakers' ability to communicate their messages in an easily understood manner, and the students themselves and their teachers, the forum was a huge success. The student were attentive and inquisitive.
As we as a county continue to grapple with challenges to our economy and education, it's reassuring to know that we have talented Hawai'i youth poised to become the next generation of Steve Cases, Guy Kawasakis and the like.
Mufi Hannemann
Now's not the time for free bus passes
Free bus passes for UH students: Bad idea.
UH students should be taught that there's no such thing as a free lunch. Somebody has to pay for the free bus ride, and guess where the money will come from: increase student tuition, raid the Hurricane Relief Fund, raise taxes (after the election year, of course), or all of the above.
Give the taxpayer a break. Halt new programs, and support the ones that need the resources now.
Miles A.P. Kahaloa
Fishing folks keep their area spotless
At the Ala Wai Harbor end of Ala Moana Park, near the canoe-launching area, there is a group of folks who get together almost daily to enjoy each other and fish. If you ever go by that area, look around. It is spotlessly clean.
Even the grass is raked up daily. There is not a shred of paper or plastic left when they depart for home. What a great example for all of us.
Mahalo to these people for being so responsible for the public area they use. And I would like to thank the person or people who have planted grass and coco palms near the beach showers. Their efforts to add some green life to the beach is very much appreciated.
Ray Jeffs
Drug dealers liable for users' treatment
A. Lee Totten's March 12 letter asked, "Why can't we get the funding (for drug treatment programs) from the people who hooked our kids on the drugs?"
The answer is that under Hawai'i law, you can. The Drug Dealer Liability Act allows recovering drug users and their families to sue drug dealers for the cost of treatment and rehabilitation, as well as for other expenses and damages. Hawai'i is one of 14 states to use this proven and effective tool to make those responsible for drugs pay.
Unfortunately, this law is set to expire on June 30, 2003. I've introduced legislation to repeal the expiration date; it has passed the state Senate and now is being considered by the House.
This law can be an important tool to make help available to those who need it but can't afford it. With thousands of people in need of drug treatment, we can't afford to let this law expire.
Sen. Matt Matsunaga
D-9th District (Wai'alae, Palolo)
