Letters to the Editor
Barbara Marshall is advocate for fairness
It was surprising to me that your list of endorsements for City Council did not include a person I consider to be outstanding — Barbara Marshall — who is running for the 3rd District seat representing the area from Kane'ohe to Waimanalo.
I've known Barbara from the days when she was the Action Line reporter from Channel 2 News, and as a consumer advocate, she's always impressed me with her keen insights and her dogged efforts to make sure people were treated fairly.
She remains a strong consumer advocate, which, for me, translates into an advocate for fairness. That is the kind of person I hope we will see on the City Council, someone who watches out for the little guys, the public, the workers, the taxpayers.
She is a moderate, someone who is able to work for balance in government decision-making. I would be concerned about candidates who run for office with strong personal agendas. It tells me they are not really open-minded.
I urge everyone to vote on Saturday and to consider what type of candidate will best serve everyone's interests — not just "special interests."
Denise De Costa
Kane'ohe
Anderson's education approach far better
As one of the two leading newspapers in Hawai'i, your endorsement of any candidate for governor should carry a great deal of weight in this community. You have a battery of reporters who cover education, government and business in Hawai'i.
You also have seasoned editorial writers who analyze, evaluate and form judgments about important issues facing our community.
Given the foregoing, I would expect you to give intelligent, reasoned explanations for your choice of one candidate over others. In fact, I am appalled, not at your choices, but at your editorial comments and the reasons for your Sept. 15 endorsements.
Andy Anderson has a different approach to education based on accountability placed on the governor. Management will be decentralized for efficiency. The principal of each campus will be given operational responsibility and flexibility. It's a beautifully simple system.
Have your education writers studied his proposal? Perhaps with the help of government and business writers who understand management of complex organizations?
Another popular cry in public education is "cut the administrative fat." Linda Lingle promised the voters that she will cut administrative costs in half and spend the saving in the classroom. Superintendent Pat Hamamoto answers by saying that Hawai'i's administrative costs are below Mainland averages, and a 50 percent cut "would assure collapse of every administrative function."
The point is, your endorsements are not responsible journalistic pronouncements. You are just as guilty of playing the politics of slogans and soundbites as so many candidates do with their slick 30-second TV commercials.
Fujio Matsuda
Democrats will have to embrace change
Regarding David Shapiro's Sept. 18 commentary about not taking AJAs for granted: I am a returnee to the state after a 20-year sojourn to Japan. On visits home in the late 1990s, I took note of a powerful dissatisfaction with the status quo among a number of my AJA friends.
So clearly the indecisiveness among AJAs today goes back further and deeper than the recent ethical violations perpetrated by AJA politicians.
The battle lines being drawn by Democratic gubernatorial candidates between an "accommodative" style of leadership and one favoring more aggressive change hint at what is going on, but because it is a question of choosing perceived gain (of continuing as is) over real pain (of change), I don't see a clear verdict emerging in the primary election for either camp.
But change is the only theme that can galvanize the Democrats in the general election against Linda Lingle — hence Dan Inouye's apparent favoring of Ed Case.
The experience of Japan over the last decade teaches us that change, however powerful the opposition, is inevitable. The question with respect to AJAs, therefore, is whether they will choose to be a part of the future or opt to remain a part of the past.
Calvin Kuniyuki
All-AJA ticket would hurt
Just when you think you've seen it all, the Painters Union decides to endorse two Japanese candidates for governor and lieutenant governor. The union must want to make sure that anyone who isn't Japanese votes for Linda Lingle.
Its endorsement must be the Painters Union way of saying sayonara to the Democrats.
Laura Chee
Lingle, Tanonaka offer change for the better
It's only a few days until the primary election when we vote for the next crop of elected leaders. Election fever this year has been greater than I ever remember. We all want change, but change for the better.
Among my friends, there is overwhelming support for Linda Lingle as the next governor and Dalton Tanonaka as the next lieutenant governor. Both support upgrading our public schools so our children can get the best possible education. They want to lure new business here and the money that would be invested as a result.
The schools-and-business combo would greatly improve local job opportunities for our children.
Kathy Alejo
'Aiea
Cam Cavasso would be great for No. 2 job
I keep reading letters from others supporting candidates, and I think Cam Cavasso deserves some print space. I'm not affiliated with any particular party and try to vote the most qualified people into office.
For the first time in my life, I actually attended a political meeting just to get more informed, and I'm glad I did. I attended the Republican candidate community meeting in Mililani a few weeks ago and got educated. Seeing and hearing people in person helped show me more of the whole candidate.
The lieutenant governor candidates are impressive, but I was especially impressed by someone I knew nothing about, Cam Cavasso. He was definitely the most prepared (along with Linda Lingle), actually saying everything he planned within his three-minute allotment. He was the candidate with the most proven and positive experience in a variety of fields, from business to military to government, and chose his words carefully, explaining his background, his hopes and plans for Hawai'i, and his moral standing.
What an asset he would be to the governor and to Hawai'i.
Deborah Yamaguchi
Mililani
Complaints against candidates unwarranted
Although Dwight Tokuda claims to be puzzled by The Advertiser's endorsement of Michael Abe and Bob Fishman, I am not. Your paper came to a fair conclusion.
First, Tokuda's flippant dismissal of Abe's candidacy because Mike is an attorney is blatant bias. Contributions from people from all walks of life enrich public service.
Second, Dwight clearly overlooked Bob Fishman's qualifications and accomplishments — leadership and experience in business, government and community service. This has been validated for over three decades, including his recent call to the Pentagon as an Army Reserve colonel for nearly a year to work on our nation's homeland security plans.
Businesses — from Hawaiian Air to Capital Investment to Hemmeter Aviation — have sought Bob out because of his executive ability. The Perot Group recently hired him as an executive for ADI Technology. Similarly, government leaders have looked to Bob when they needed someone to take on a tough and thankless job like that of city managing director.
For over a decade, Bob has taught at local universities because he is a consummate administrator and educator. Similarly, dozens of community groups — such as the Chamber of Commerce, Aloha Festivals and Salvation Army — have benefited from his contributions as a board member.
Clearly The Advertiser recognizes qualifications, even if Mr. Tokuda does not. Bob Fishman is smart, hard-working and honest — a leader with decades of applicable experience.
G. Silva
Fishman understands city budget problems
The Advertiser states in an endorsement it is impressed with Bob Fishman. The Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board held a candidate forum, and Bob was impressive there also.
Fishman knows and understands the issues of this new and diverse district. He understands the budget problems faced by the city. He provides thoughtful answers and is a consensus builder. We can work with him.
Dwight Tokuda, who lives in Kane'ohe, is wrong to bring in biases. This late in the game, negativity is transparent to the voters of District IV. We say keep it out.
Charlie Rodgers
Hawai'i Kai
Hawai'i is truly home of the waterman
On Aug. 24, beachboys, lifeguards and canoe clubs honored the legacy of the greatest waterman of the 20th century, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, at the beach in Waikiki that bears his name.
Amid pageantry and friendly competition, the first Duke's Waterman Challenge celebrated the virtues exemplified by Kahanamoku throughout his life. The competition included a canoe race symbolizing teamwork, a tug-of-war symbolizing strength, a surf contest symbolizing skill and an open-ocean swim symbolizing endurance. Ralph Goto's city lifeguards (true watermen in every regard) were the overall winners. But it was obvious that every competitor felt like a winner, proud to participate in the shadow of this great man.
Duke was a hero to all of Hawai'i and to many folks around the world. When he used his surfboard to rescue passengers from a sinking yacht off the coast of California, he demonstrated another of his virtues: service to others. Watermen are famous for this virtue. Witness the bumper stickers that we often see on the North Shore reminding us that "Eddie (Aikau) would go."
Most recently, another waterman, George Ramos Jr., dropped out of a competition to save the life of a swimmer in trouble. When it comes to saving life, George Ramos, like those before him, proves there is no other consideration on the waterman's mind.
Hawai'i, which has given the world surfing and role models like Duke, Eddie and George, is truly the home of the waterman, both male and female.
Bob Hampton
Waikiki Beach Activities
U.S. military can take care of Iraq any time
I infer from the public statement of members of the international community of nations that a regime change is needed in the United States. The present regime seems intent on initiating offensive military action, regardless of lives, costs and our friends.
What are our political leaders afraid of? If Iraq makes one move to hurt another nation, the U.S. armed forces, in which I served for 35 years, would swat that pip-squeak country like a pesky fly.
Our executive regime needs only to relax.
E. Alvey Wright
Kane'ohe
Directors, deputies should get pay raise
Your Sept. 3 editorial, "Tourism boss pay level suggests wider review," noting the disparity in pay for agency officials and urging the re-evaluation of the pay for public servants, was timely and appropriate.
One correction is necessary. The director of health in Hawai'i and all other directors in state government make $85,302 per year, not $90,041 as stated in the editorial.
I am not complaining. We all knew what the jobs paid before we agreed to take them. However, the fact is that Hawai'i has fallen behind other states. For comparison, a recent survey of state and territorial health officials found that the salaries of the heads of state health agencies range from $77,000 to $200,000, with a mean salary of $123,000.
State directors and deputy directors have not had a pay increase in over 10 years. Since salaries for these positions are specified by law, changing the salaries will require action by the governor and state Legislature. If the next governor wants to attract qualified individuals to these positions, she or he will need to deal with this issue.
Bruce S. Anderson
State of Hawai'i director of health
Use technology to protect ourselves
Born in Hawai'i, I grew up with the knowledge that "only in Hawai'i" open doors to a house were respected. Not anymore. Somebody introduced our folks to drugs, which changed all of that.
It hits you from everywhere. Over the last 20 years, we have had our house broken into, cars stolen and a general feeling that we are living in a different age and place. So we have tried to protect ourselves. We recently bought a house for our kids that is close to us because we like the idea of having them nearby. The day after they moved in, someone broke in and took a lot of family things.
Alarm systems were installed. Then they were hit again. This time the thief broke into the car and took items. The police said that a half-dozen houses were hit in the area over a 24-hour period.
Today there are technological ways to protect ourselves and, by interaction with protective agencies like the local police department, solutions are possible. Today, sensor systems of all kinds directly interface with the Internet.
It's time for the public and state and federal agencies to use available technologies to protect themselves. Individual alarm systems, general alarm systems connected to state agencies and real-time observations should be utilized.
Also, shame on us from Hawai'i for letting this happen.
Fritz Amtsberg
