Letters to the Editor
Question No. 3 would be of benefit to victims
Arthur Ross provided a lengthy and erroneous explanation why to vote "no" on Question No. 3 (Letters, Oct. 9). In his opening statement, Ross says, "Question 3 ... calls for the elimination of the grand jury and preliminary hearings."
In fact, as I am sure Ross, who is a lawyer, knows, Question No. 3 adds the additional option of information charging to the existing avenues to determine if there should be a trial.
In order to eliminate grand juries or preliminary hearings, an amendment to the Constitution specifying just that would be necessary.
I am curious why he really is so opposed to the amendment. I will vote "yes" on Question 3 and will encourage others to, as a means of expediting due process for the victims.
Susan Phillips
Kailua
Hawaiian recognition won't divide people
Regarding Ken Conklin's position on OHA, "Abolish it," as expressed in his Oct 15 letter: Motive? Could it be because Conklin lost the statewide election as an OHA trustee? Why would someone want something abolished that he had sought to manage?
While Conklin proclaims Hawaiian recognition would divide the people, there is no evidence that the recognition of the 450-plus Native American entities has divided the United States in any shape or form.
Hawaiians, as a Native American people, deserve the very same treatment as other native peoples of the United States.
Damon Senaha
San Diego, Calif.
McDermott wrong on Hannemann intention
Republican congressional candidate Bob McDermott was totally off the mark when he stated, in your Oct. 16 issue, that I was somehow privy to inside information from the Democratic Party that "(John) Mink would run in the special election (and) that's why you see ... Hannemann and others backing out at this point."
I had, in fact, announced my decision not to be a candidate on Monday, Oct. 14, via a statement that was faxed to all the news media. Some chose to run with the story right away; others either waited or passed on it.
In a conversation I had with a Mink confidant on Oct. 14, it was conveyed to me that it was highly unlikely that Mr. Mink would be a candidate. Nevertheless, I pressed forward because I wanted to go on record with my sentiments, ultimately hoping to prevail upon "Mr. Mink or senior aide Joan Manke" to consider placing their names on the ballot by the deadline on Oct. 15.
This option, I wrote, "is the right thing to do and would enable voters of the 2nd District to pay tribute to the congresswoman through a 'Mink candidate' to ensure that her staff, policies and philosophies stay intact until the end of her term. This could also diffuse and depoliticize a situation that has become all too confusing and contentious."
I concluded by stating that "to be fair to Mr. McDermott and others, the outcome of Nov. 5 needs to be determined (before) I make a decision on whether to run" for the next possible election on Jan. 4.
Mufi Hannemann
'Aiea
There are key issues that need addressing
Here are the issues this voter would like to hear the candidates address:
• Hawai'i has a very fine state auditor. Every few months she comes out with a report detailing how a specific state of Hawai'i department is mismanaged and is wasting money. The release of the report is followed by the department head explaining to the news media that the auditor just does not understand.
I want a governor who follows up on the auditor's reports, looks into the situation and takes action.
• Every election year, the standard mantra is education. It seems to me that since the Department of Education is the largest department in Hawai'i, the governor should spend a little more time finding out what makes it tick: researching where and how the money is spent, and actually noticing that money does not seem to translate into better test scores. A whole lot of the state budget is spent on education; maybe it is time to analyze the education problem, rather than blindly throwing more tax dollars into the problem.
• This heavy focus on the DOE detracts from what everyone who has ever had dealings with the state already knows: The DOE is not the only badly run department in the state. How about promising to look into the functions, management and public service record of all the departments? And above all, look into the books and find out how the money is being spent.
Mimi Bornhorst
No more masochism, no more casting vote
I have decided that I will not vote this year or again. I voted in the primary, yet the present candidates and their behavior and the people they have surrounding them have convinced me that my years as a masochist are over.
I just don't dislike what goes on before, during and after an election — I hate it. I wouldn't put up with this stuff in my family and I walk away from it when it shows up in my life. It won't change, so I must change.
There isn't a politician out there with the courage to change, especially here in Hawai'i. Give me a real reason to vote. The past justifications were and are just proof of the lack of integrity in the whole system.
And since everyone has agreed that this "best way to live" hasn't gotten better but worse and these people have made endless (failed) promises that they will get things changed for the better and are no better and sometimes worse than those they say can't get the job done ... whew. Why should I participate in the charade?
Jerry Ferro
Hilo
Mainland political gifts are welcome here
Those who believe out-of-state political campaign contributions are a "negative" have it all wrong.
Both Democratic and Republican candidates for governor recognize our economy has been weak for too long. Both say they can do better than the other at attracting responsible outside investment and spending to help revitalize our economy. Neither can credibly invite outside money to Hawai'i and then criticize its involvement in our democratic political process.
In fact, thoughtful, reasonable people will probably conclude that the candidate who attracts more outside contributions will also be more successful in attracting healthy outside investment and spending.
Hawai'i is subject to the "global economy." Let's be sure to benefit from it also.
Gary G. Grimmer
Kailua
Where is the outrage over 'dirty tricks'?
Watching the news on "dirty tricks" — of hate mail, using race and swastikas — being played against Linda Lingle's campaign, I was appalled to see Mazie Hirono's response, with her lack of anger, disgust and outrage at her supporters.
If she isn't the organizer behind this practice, then why didn't she show some displeasure that the old campaign tactics have surfaced?
This type of language has no place in Hawai'i. A leader would have demanded whoever was doing this to stop immediately (unless she approved it). Hirono shows no leadership ability, no guts and no talent nor skills to be governor of this so-called Aloha State.
Laura Millman
Not so good a judge
The Democratic Party "would choose more coherently than the voters in a regular election," said the governor in support of the Democratic Party replacing Patsy Mink on the November ballot. Well, thanks, Ben, you've proven to be most "coherent" — 16 years (four terms) of incompetence.
Henry Miyamoto
Closing five smaller airports is a mistake
The governor's office and the state Department of Transportation, Airports Division, have proposed closing or privatizing five general aviation airports. They are Dillingham Airfield, Port Allen airport (the original Kaua'i airport), 'Upolu Point airport and Waimea-Kohala airport on the Big Island and Kapalua airport on Maui.
Conspicuously absent from the list are Hana airport on Maui and Kalaeloa airport, which used to be Barbers Point airport on O'ahu. Presumably, DOT officials wish to retain control of those two.
Two million dollars to operate five airports for a year seems like quite a bargain. The economic activity at these five airports surely generates more than $2 million in state taxes. Part of the federal funds for airports received by the DOT is intended to support general aviation.
Many of the passengers and users of these airports are tourists who want to see our Islands not through the tiny window of an airliner at high altitude, but from the bubble canopy of a glider, helicopter or small airplane. Tourists also skydive, and many repeat skydivers are ex-military who have settled in the Islands. Tourists look for something fun to do while on vacation, and it's hard to beat a bird's-eye view from a light airplane.
Dumping these airports would be penny wise and many dollars foolish. It would harm the communities that depend on them, and it would be a kill-joy thing to do.
Brian Daniel
Oust UH students who test positive
In regard to your Oct. 13 story, "Gone too soon": The onus is on the back of the University of Hawai'i. But not for having a student die from a toxic mix of alcohol and methadone. UH should be required to step forward and permanently terminate all students who at any time check positive with any drugs. Period.
All addictive drugs are defined by the medical profession as "mind altering." Thus, in Math QED, all students on any drug are already, or have already, started deteriorating their brain system. Why waste good money, time and space on students who knowingly have decided to blow their brains into uselessness when there are undoubtedly other prospective students in line to step in and fill the gaps?
If they check positive on any drugs, throw the buggahs out — permanently — and have the next applicants step forward.
Ted Gibson
Kailua
Lovers of fine dining avoid the 'pizzazz'
Matthew Gray was, quite obviously, showing himself to be the dilettante in his recent restaurant review of Chai's Island Bistro.
As a purported restaurant critic, he has the freedom to write as he pleases. But, when a supposed critic complains that a fine-dining restaurant, such as Chai's, has no "pizzazz," it belies the reputation of a fine-dining establishment.
As the present organizer of the Honolulu Men's Dining Club, a group that visits a fine-dining restaurant once a month, I have dined at Chai's Island Bistro on several occasions, and it is one of the top three favorites of our group. I know I share the opinion of many people when I say that a fine-dining restaurant should not be known for "pizzazz."
If one seeks "pizzazz," there are restaurants like Dave and Buster's and Buca di Beppo that will definitely satisfy that desire. However, I doubt that you will find many lovers of fine dining there.
Donald D. Graber
View of obscenities in music is misguided
In reading the Oct. 11 letter from Jenny Yamasaki, I see the same approach: "You're old and wrong, I'm young and I know better."
Good old liberal Hollywood recognizes the amount of TV watched and music listened to. It has created and produced TV, music and movies that bombard society with the mindset that says "I can do what I want as long as I don't hurt anyone else." Problem is, this removes the element of personal responsibility for one's actions.
Just because we can doesn't mean we should. Every decision we make has a consequence, but it is not PC to teach this. It's always easier to say "not my fault," let's blame anyone but me.
Overall, parents simply do the best they can because kids don't come with instructions. Miss Yamasaki doesn't seem offended by the obscenities in today's music, which in itself is cause for concern. One sign of having a level of morality and personal discipline is to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Why not sit down with your parents and discuss this, instead of blaming them for things you really don't have enough experience to understand?
Scott Glasgow
Campbell High should get football field back
This year, Campbell High's football powerhouse will be playing the entire season away from home because the same contractor failed to meet DOE inspection for the second year in a row.
Homecoming was held at the highly restricted Aloha Stadium, which prevented true parent and community participation. A lot of the Campbell High School 'ohana attended the game despite the inconvenience. The team would not be defeated by this irritating situation. Campbell was victorious over Leilehua.
Why did the DOE allow this again? Who is holding the contractor accountable? What is the consequence for failing to meet the deadlines? Why was the same contractor used when it failed the year before? What is being done to prevent this from happening again?
We must not accept failure. Our community must wake up and hold everyone accountable. Campbell High deserves to have its own field of dreams.
Tesha H. Malama
Class of 1983
