Letters to the Editor
Rep. Mink, local staff helped out at school
I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Congresswoman Patsy Mink and her local staff for their assistance at the Kapunahala Elementary School Hawai'i 3Rs project on Aug. 3. Mrs. Mink took time out of her busy schedule, coming to Kapunahala directly from the airport, to help paint classrooms and do yardwork in support of our school.
Her staff spent the whole day with us — helping with classroom painting, drainage improvements and general campus clean-up. Their contribution was significant to the success of our project, which used $75,000 of state funds to the Hawai'i 3Rs program to accomplish over $320,000 of backlogged repair and maintenance work.
Mahalo, Congresswoman Mink. Best wishes on your full recovery.
Keith Matsumoto
Kapunahala Elementary School
Hawai'i 3Rs co-project manager
Privatization could be financial culprit
We have often heard from the gubernatorial candidates and other political officials that our government is in dire financial straits. Maybe, just maybe, this situation is created by too much private contracting of services, and the spiraling cost of these services.
The latest example is the several-million-dollar cost overrun of the building at Hanauma Bay. Also, at huge costs to the state are the legions of private, overpaid consultants every state agency has on the payroll.
It seems to me a control of this excessive cost to the state should be one of the highest priorities for the office-seeking candidates.
Hakon Bjerke
Bill 53 would clarify condemnation law
From recent letters regarding Bill 53 and the number of people of Hawaiian ancestry who attended the last public hearing to voice their opposition, I can only conclude that these people are either misinterpreting this bill or they are being manipulated and deliberately misled as to its intent.
Bill 53 clarifies existing law. It deletes only three words and adds one word to amend Chapter 38, to bring it into line with how the City Council has been interpreting the law since its inception nine years ago. The state Supreme Court decided Chapter 38's rules violate the law on determining the minimum number of applicants needed to apply for condemnation. Passage of Bill 53 would correct that.
The condemnation law is still in effect, and will be whether or not Bill 53 passes.
And since when did being paid fair-market price for your property equate to stealing? I suggest these people refer to their dictionaries. If the Queen Lili'uokalani Trust, or any other landowner, has to sell any of its lands under a condemnation proceeding, it can reinvest the hard, cold cash in commercial property or some other money-making vehicle.
In many cases, including the condominium where I live, there are willing sellers and buyers — it is just the price that is in dispute, and that is what is resolved during condemnation proceedings.
Lessees are facing eviction from their homes when their leases expire if the landowner decides to reclaim the land and the improvements thereon, tear down the building and redevelop — all without compensation to the lessees who paid a considerable amount of money for their apartments. Now that's what I call stealing.
Lyn Stobie
Put aside rhetoric, focus on economy
The upcoming general election is absolutely critical for Hawai'i's future. Let us put aside the campaign rhetoric and promises. The political spinning is enough to make anyone dizzy. Let us step back for a moment and look at the forest rather than the trees.
The economy is probably our single most important issue. Attracting outside investment dollars to Hawai'i is critical for establishing new industries, job creation and increasing tax revenues. A growing economy would provide the tax revenues for our public schools, Felix kids, UH and other programs.
Everything revolves around the economy.
Politicians often argue about the state budget. Yes, we can increase government efficiency, but it's not nearly enough. Diversifying and growing our economy is the only long-term solution to our crisis.
D. Tokuda
Waikiki needs to find what makes it unique
Waikiki. The news is always about Waikiki, the sacred cash cow. Lately, I've been reading a lot of articles about declining tourism, but between the lines I see the same headline, the one that says "The affluent no longer find Waikiki appealing."
Blame Japan's economy or 9/11 but, it seems to me, we have the first sign that there's big trouble ahead.
Hey, no more worries. I know what the problem is. Waikiki is facing the same obsolescence Las Vegas had in the late '80s. Back then, there were newer, cleaner places to gamble developing all over. Sound familiar?
For example, that huge building on Waikiki Beach, the one that looks like a '70s office plaza in suburban Dallas. Would somebody paint that thing? C'mon, that color scheme is so dated. It's grim. Think of it, sandy beach, blue waters, pink stucco — now that's legendary and a salable image of tourism.
OK, let's go back to 1912 — Santa Fe, New Mexico, the city council votes to redo its downtown from Western Victorian to a glamorized version of mud houses people are flocking there to see. They called the style "Pueblo Revival" and it sparked a blitz of big spenders that's gone on for nearly a century. Isn't that like what Las Vegas is doing? So, where's our "Hawaiian Revival" style? I'm not talking "Plantation Style" either; that's gone prefab already.
I never thought I would live in Waikiki and like it. Where else can you live and work, shop, surf, see movies, go to the beach or gym without ever having to drive? Mornings are the best. Mornings, everything's quiet, people smile and the ocean is clear. That's when you can feel the old Waikiki.
I'm sorry, I see many business opportunities here, but for the visionary, not the greedy.
Tim Lambert
Green-glow abomination
I just came across the new green-glow signs at the airport. My feelings: functional, but what a visual abomination for Hawai'i.
Pete Wokoun
'Ewa Beach
Medical school complex not right for Kaka'ako
The Advertiser's Aug. 31 editorial correctly lamented that "much of the (Honolulu) waterfront is devoted to industrial uses rather than recreation and the contemplation of beauty."
However, the rationality of the editorial fell apart when you went on to laud the Kaka'ako development plans. Those plans don't make the area makai of Ala Moana Boulevard an open park. The plan includes huge new "boxy," uninspired buildings and parking lots for a new medical school complex, sprawling warehouses with more parking lots for biotech companies, and more commercial building complexes all built on the last oceanfront recreational land available in urban Honolulu.
Your editorial started out, "More than 60 years ago, architect and internationally acclaimed planner Lewis Mumford wrote in a report that 'Honolulu is the natural stage for a complex and beautiful drama. The blue sea, the mountains, and the tumbling clouds form a landscape that has few rivals as a setting for human activity.' "
If he were here, I think Lewis Mumford would press for the Kaka'ako oceanfront area to be returned to green, open space. I think he would urge the university to rethink its plan to build the medical school on this precious urban site.
R. Rodman
Enough is enough on tying up Sunset Beach
Just in case you were hoping to surf Sunset Beach this weekend, keep in mind the National Scholastic Surfing Association has a contest permit. If the first decent swell rolls in on the weekend, you will have to find somewhere else to surf.
This contest does not count toward the total allowable number of events during "surf season," which runs from Oct. 1 to March 31.
Rumors of back-to-back events in December are circulating, although the city has not yet released the schedule.
If you agree that enough is enough, join us at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Hale'iwa Surf Center for the first meeting of the supporters of the Let's Surf Coalition.
Come and give us your opinion. Learn about the court injunction we have ready to go if the city breaks its own rules yet again.
Gil Riviere
Let's Surf Coalition
Radio station's van disturbed the peace
A big auwe for the panel van of radio station 102.7 FM, "The Bomb," for playing its boombox radio very loudly while driving around Honolulu town.
You should choose a more responsible way to advertise your rock music by not disturbing those around you. This is the least you could do to be a good role model for our young adults.
Michael Nomura
Kailua
Traffic jam solution
Stuck in traffic for three hours.
Why can't they open up Kolekole Pass when they have to close Farrington Highway?
Derek A. Stephens
Wai'anae
Pay up or shut up
I'm surprised that President Bush was allowed to speak before the United Nations, seeing as we are so delinquent in member dues.
Ted La Fore
No 'runaway costs' at Hanauma
I'd like to set the record straight on both the cost and importance of the Marine Education Center and related improvements to the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.
The project came in on budget. A full accounting of the project costs has been submitted to the City Council for its review.
There is absolutely no truth to the charge that the project was plagued by "runaway costs." The fact is that the project was very well managed, with a highly dedicated team of contractors, consultants and city staff.
Taking into consideration the development's size, complexity and unparalleled significance to our community, it is natural that adjustments had to be made in the course of construction. Indeed, it would have been unconscionable had the city ignored the need to make the necessary adjustments, which ensured the highest quality possible for this world-class facility.
In addition, construction crews had the very difficult task of working around the 1.5 million visitors who continued to visit the bay throughout the construction.
Hanauma Bay is a culturally and environmentally sensitive landmark that is also one of O'ahu's most popular visitor destinations. It's important to note that a recent study estimates that "the annual benefit from the existence of the $13 million visitor center could reach $44 million." That's a good annual return on investment, no matter how you measure it.
Let's not lose sight of the fact that Hanauma Bay will continue to define East Honolulu and the island of O'ahu in the years ahead. The city has removed the hodgepodge of ramshackle structures that blighted the landscape and replaced them with facilities in keeping with the integrity of the natural environment.
Much appreciation goes to the volunteers at the Friends of Hanauma Bay and many project advocates for their support during the planning and design phases of the project, and without whose support the project may never have gotten off the ground. Did we listen to them? Yes. Did they get everything they asked for? No. Unfortunately, it's not always possible to accommodate every need, desire or request.
With the completion of the Marine Education Center and related improvements, we've created a living memorial to one of our island's natural wonders, a place where residents and visitors can learn to respect our fragile marine ecosystem as our ancestors taught us.
I believe we can all be tremendously proud of this project, which preserves and enhances a unique asset for future generations to enjoy.
Eric G. Crispin
Deputy director, City Department of Design & Construction
