Letters to the Editor
Columnist's criticism of naval singer off base
Is Lee Cataluna losing her cosmic perspective beefing over an itty-bitty-gritty song at a free rock concert in Waikiki? She blew her achtung whistle on a young singer in uniform who "could really sing" (her words).
Now come the dogs of war, Rummy and his close-minded sidekick Ashcroft, to investigate those wild, crazy naval folks Tsunami.
With all the terribly big things going on in the world, apparently Ms. Cataluna doesn't want to hear the swaying lady sing, "get up, get up, get up, get up, let's make love tonight." She has an antiseptically clean dichotomy about patriotism and censorship.
I say, let the young military lady sing her lyrics loud and clear in a free America.
Jack M. Magann
Waialua
Women's commission has larger agenda
On April 10, The Advertiser covered a newly released study under the headline "Islands' cost of living a big strain on poor." As a community member who worked on the family self-sufficiency standard for Hawai'i, I feel the information contained in this study will be extremely useful in private planning and public decision-making. What your article did not say was that the state Commission on the Status of Women was responsible for this study.
The commission brought together community leaders to work with Wider Opportunities for Women and the University of Washington, resulting in a local report that can better focus resources and efforts where most needed.
In light of the April 3 editorial ("Commission funding cuts dramatize choice") that includes the somewhat dismissive statement that the commission is interested in working on such issues as gender equality and the status of women, I find this omission unfair. The community is often unaware of how various state offices affect their own lives.
The state Commission on the Status of Women is the linchpin in bringing focus to the needs of women, children and families. I hope that anyone who thinks this service can continue on trust funds, as suggested in your editorial, will get out their checkbooks and put their money (preferably in sums that have a comma) where their opinion is.
Barbara Tavares
Both sides are wrong on handling the economy
I wish I could say that I am amused by all the posturing by both sides of the political spectrum regarding the various tax-and-spend proposals now making their way through the present Legislature.
Instead, I am saddened, as Democrats and Republicans alike fail to show any understanding of basic economics and business practices.
Democrats are especially guilty on this account, as they push for various proposals to increase taxes on Hawai'i's already overburdened residents and businesses. Does it not occur to any of these folks to wonder why investors prefer to place their funds in China, Chicago, South Africa or South Dakota?
The principal reason why money isn't flowing into Hawai'i (that includes funds for new high-tech and other business) is our state's terrible reputation as a tax-and-spend state. Republicans are just as much at fault for failing to make this point clear — that the only way we are going to really bring new investment and new business into Hawai'i (let alone retain what little now remains in terms of existing economic activity that isn't dependent on government in some fashion) is to make our state truly competitive.
This is especially true for Hawai'i, where our economy is truly an insignificant boat adrift in the turbulent global oceans.
To take the first steps toward becoming competitive, we must cut back on as much "tax-hungry government" as we possibly can, then move on to improving schools (which needn't cost an additional penny), raising the productivity of our ports and airports, adding better communications and other infrastructure, and so on.
In short, take care of the Big Picture.
Henry Richmond
Public restrooms are limited downtown
Except for the restrooms (a.k.a. comfort stations) at the parks, restaurants, schools, libraries and churches, there are limited public restrooms downtown.
Since Macy's downtown is closed on Sundays, patrons like me and families with children have difficulty finding convenient restrooms.
To increase the number of public restrooms in the downtown area, one incentive is to encourage community organizations to sponsor the conversion of existing restrooms for public use. Another is to provide additional real property tax exemptions or waivers to property owners as an incentive for dedicating restrooms for public use.
Such "public" restrooms should also be accessible for persons with disabilities and conveniently located near major gathering places such as bus stops, malls, plazas and parks.
Finally, when the additional restrooms are operational, the community organizations should inform and encourage the downtown community, especially those who like to demonstrate their biological proficiency outdoors, to use these restrooms.
Neal Wu
Sanford Dole's statue belongs at the palace
Sanford B. Dole, native-born at Punahou School, April 23, 1844. Raised Hawaiian-style at Punahou and Koloa. Lawyer, represented plantation workers. Adopted native girl (perhaps his biological child), whose descendants are community leaders today.
Elected to kingdom legislature 1884-86 from Koloa. Led protest group forcing new constitution in 1887. Later appointed Supreme Court justice by King Kalakaua. Resigned 1893 before the revolution; led the provisional government afterward.
U.S. President Grover Cleveland ordered him to undo the revolution. President Dole refused. Helped form the Republic of Hawai'i and was its only president. Negotiated annexation. 1900, first territorial governor. 1903, judge of U.S. District Court (Honolulu). Many years of charitable works. Died 1926.
Dole and Lili'uokalani were friends. He protected her safety and civil rights during the revolution. Rifles and bombs in her flower bed during the Wilcox revolt (1895) earned her "imprisonment" in a huge private room at 'Iolani Palace for a few months (with servant, sewing and writing supplies). Dole pardoned her, allowed her to speak and write freely, to organize a petition drive opposing his cherished goal of annexation, go to Washington, D.C., and lobby Congress. Facing death years later, she appointed Mr. Dole to be her first trustee of the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Trust.
Mr. Dole was Hawai'i's longest-ruling chief executive at 'Iolani Palace (1893-1903). His statue belongs there.
Ken Conklin
City should rebut critic of Bus Rapid Transit
One puzzle in the ongoing Bus Rapid Transit debate is the city's apparent refusal to take on BRT critic Cliff Slater and his spurious assertions, including his latest one ("The folly of the in-town BRT," March 31) that BRT would not significantly improve travel times in Honolulu.
The city could have pointed out that Slater is comparing apples and oranges. He compares future BRT travel times to today's congested auto and bus travel times. He should be comparing future BRT times to future congested auto and bus travel times, which likely would increase at least 10 minutes without new road capacity.
Another consideration he fails to note is that without larger, articulated BRT vehicles in use, the city would have to add many more regular-size buses to its system, thereby increasing road congestion and increasing travel times.
The refined BRT alternative would provide 60 percent more transit capacity (seats) with much better service (shorter times between vehicles) than existing buses. Ridership would increase due to greater convenience, comfort and improved service to future residential and commercial sites.
Regarding the city's reluctance to refute Slater on these pages, officials should recall what happened in 1991 when Mayor Frank Fasi put a gag order on city officials and prevented them from publicly defending or promoting the proposed fixed guideway plan. That project, which would have been built out by now, died in the City Council a few months later.
Doug Carlson
President faced up to the evil in Iraq
A few years ago, I remember saying, "Oh, wars are so stupid. Why can't they just work things out more peacefully?" I was ignorant, because I didn't know evil like these poor Iraqi people have known it. I didn't think such evil could touch our own homeland. And, I didn't realize that evil doesn't negotiate or respond to inspections.
I hold up President Bush as exemplary to my sons. I hope they can see the wisdom and genius in his actions. He has been ensuring our country's safety. He has also been man enough to not turn away from the atrocities in Iraq. He took brotherly action with genuine respect for the Iraqi people's rights to their own religion, cultural practices and even the right to their country's resources.
I am so disgusted by the peaceniks. They light candles and cry "Peace! Peace!" but what I think they are really saying is, "I don't want to get involved." How do you get peace when you won't make a sacrifice? Peace is earned, not chanted.
I'm proud to be an American and proud and deeply grateful to each one of our men and women in uniform. God bless you all.
Annie Harris
Kailua
What is worth killing for?
Thanks to The Advertiser for its balanced and thought-provoking Sunday Focus sections the past couple of weeks. Regarding Greg Barrett's "The Price of War" piece on April 13, I pose the following question: The price of war is often posed in the question "What is worth dying for?" Should not the more pertinent question be "What is worth killing for?"
Tom Huff
Don't put a price tag on the freedom in Iraq
Enough is enough. I am sick and tired of all the hoopla the war in Iraq is causing. Everyone is complaining about how much it is costing the United States and speculating on how huge it will become — in the billions. Come to think about it, do you dare put a price on freedom? The right to speak, the right to dream, your choice of religion — is there a price to that?
Come on, America, wake up! Every time you step outside and smell the fresh air, you'll wonder — was it worth it?
Angelino Baron
Waipahu
Republican's criticisms are just grandstanding
Rep. Galen Fox wants to improve the economy, fix the schools and end political corruption.
Good for him.
He should step down from his pulpit for a few minutes and work with his legislative colleagues to accomplish these worthy goals.
So far, in the current session, Fox has acted to block meaningful campaign finance reform, stood in the way of significant changes in our public school classrooms, and offered not a single measure that would help protect our state's threatened economy.
The Republican leader's operating principle seems centered on convincing the public to believe what he says and not what he does.
While Fox seldom misses an opportunity to sound off on the House floor, House Democrats took the lead to protect local jobs before the Iraq war started through the Select Committee on War Preparedness, and we did it by working together, not by partisan attacks.
House Democrats have advanced real reform for our schools. Not four years from now, but this year. Fox needs to get a reality check on school reform. Look at the people who are supporting the Democratic initiative to provide local control and fully fund our schools: teachers, parents and principals.
No one expects the public to understand every detail of the budget process, but consider the Fox record on the budget. Fox wants to sell buildings the state doesn't own, cut programs the state doesn't fund, eliminate the lieutenant governor's office, eliminate the state's occupational safety and health program, and eliminate Hawai'i's Civil Rights Commission.
House Republicans have proposed dozens more ideas in their "crusade" to end government waste. Let the record speak for itself: The current Republican administration has dismissed every single one of those ideas with four words: "No savings will result."
Fox should stop engaging in reckless economics and posturing that undermine efforts on both sides of the aisle to make government work better for the people it serves.
Scott K. Saiki
House majority leader
