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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, April 25, 2003

Letters to the Editor

Hawai'i motorists are hit with highest taxes

Sean Hao's April 20 article "Hawai'i yet to realize drop in retail gas prices" does a good job in explaining the various market and geographic factors affecting retail gasoline prices in Hawai'i.

Hawai'i motorists are the most taxed in the nation, at over 53 cents per gallon (local, state, federal). It's no surprise that of major cities, Atlanta, with a tax of 30 cents per gallon, is usually cited for the lowest-priced gasoline and Honolulu the highest.

Hawai'i motorists pay 26 percent (53 cents) in taxes at the current average of $2.05 per gallon. The Hawai'i Senate is considering raising the tax by another 2 cents per gallon for mass transit. According to a Feb. 4 article by Mike Leidemann, the "Federal gas tax may go up from 5 cents to 12 cents a gallon."

Taxes are a necessity, but after you pay income taxes on your earnings, you are again being taxed another 26 percent on gas. I am afraid to calculate the true effective rate.

John White


Closing off freeway for hours unreasonable

I am a retired California Highway Patrol officer and was curious about the H-1 Freeway closure on April 16 involving a pedestrian accident/suicide.

I agree with the April 13 letter to the editor in The Advertiser by HPD Chief Donohue regarding fatal accident investigations. The letter also stated that HPD's priorities are to open up the road, at least partially, as soon as possible.

In this incident, I don't think shutting down the H-1 for 3 1/2 hours during rush hour was reasonable. Opening available lanes for traffic expedites emergency vehicles, including the coroner's office and tow trucks.

I contacted an HPD sergeant who is familiar with HPD's method of operation during this type of accident scene. His reply was that it is the "procedure" to close the entire freeway in all situations involving a fatality.

The HPD needs to re-evaluate closing the entire freeway if this "procedure" is indeed true. This "procedure" is causing great inconvenience to the public as well as economic hardship for the entire city.

The CHP accident investigation policies are the same as Chief Donohue's; however, allowing the flow of traffic on available traffic lanes as soon as possible is also very important.

Ray Yourchek


They shouldn't adapt Hawai'i to their whims

Thanks so much for your thoughtful column Sunday on Chuck Quackenbush and his wife, and their attitudes toward Hawai'i. As a malihini myself, having moved here last June, I am your No. 1 type: In love with our Islands, and wanting to learn more about this beautiful culture, as it is.

I for one have great trepidation about relaxing the animal quarantine laws. While they may seem inconvenient to newcomers, I think it is far too dangerous to our environment to loosen restrictions.

The very idea of people bringing ferrets and snakes into Hawai'i makes me shudder, and while in the long run it may be inevitable that some incursions will occur, it's our responsibility to discourage them as much as possible. England for decades has had far stricter quarantines than the rest of Europe because as an island nation, it too understands the devastating impact that an aggressive new species can have on an isolated, balanced ecosystem.

I agree that the arrogance displayed by the Quackenbushes is off-putting, and I certainly hope they will not prevail in their efforts to adapt this beautiful place to their own whims. They should have stayed in California, and if Chuck truly was the innocent political victim he claims to be, he would have stayed to defend his record and clear his name.

Thanks for calling a spade a spade.

Linda Umstead
Mililani


Rep. Saiki rant against Rep. Fox immature

I read with interest Rep. Scott Saiki's rant about the House minority leader, Rep. Galen Fox. I was struck by some of the issues he raised.

First, of course, referring to Rep. Fox as sermonizing from a pulpit is rather immature. Rep. Fox has a duty to speak out, particularly at a time when the majority party is consciously ignoring the wishes of the electorate for real change, as declared in the last gubernatorial election.

Or when Democrats deliberately misled the public, as in their proposals for education reform and campaign finance reform.

At best, the Democratic proposals do nothing. At worst, as in the campaign finance proposal and their attempts to raise taxes, their proposals actually are harmful.

If it weren't for people like Rep. Fox exposing these sham proposals, we might think that the House was actually doing something good.

Scott Saiki may want to consider cooperating with the minority rather than whining about their proposals. As a start, I suggest that he spend less time on offensive resolutions on U.S. foreign policy and more time reviewing the platform that got this governor elected.

Robert R. Kessler
Waikiki


Appointment of Duffy to court outstanding

Gov. Lingle's appointment of James E. Duffy Jr. as Supreme Court associate justice is an exceptional choice.

Duffy is a highly qualified, experienced attorney; an accomplished negotiator; a steadfast, knowledgeable, good Christian; a dedicated family man; an avid UH Rainbow fan; a horseman, and an overall good guy.

His selection will bring stability, confidence and respect to the court system.

Kudos, Jim.

Mel Rodenhurst
Kailua


Commentary wrong on Rodrigues' status

Regarding David Shapiro's badly researched commentary about Gary Rodrigues in the April 16 Advertiser: I represent Mr. Rodrigues in an effort to obtain his accrued vacation, sick leave and pension benefits.

To that end, we have asked that Peter Trask, the interim UPW administrator, sign a one-page form confirming that Mr. Rodrigues has left his job with the UPW and authorizing First Hawaiian Bank to compute the amount of his pension. In accordance with state law and public policy, we also have asked Mr. Trask to pay that portion of Mr. Rodrigues' accrued vacation and sick leave that is undisputed while we attempt to agree upon whatever else he may be entitled to receive. We have even offered to set aside the amount, which may be ordered as restitution in the criminal case.

When Mr. Trask failed to respond to our letters and calls, we reluctantly filed a lawsuit, and after the hearing, which occurred last week, Mr. Trask finally did sign the pension form we have been seeking.

Contrary to Mr. Shapiro's sarcastic comments, no one is whining or begging or blowing this matter out of proportion to the many serious issues and events in the world today.

Eric A. Seitz


Military, families are in our prayers

This is how I feel about the war in Iraq: We should pray for world peace. We should also keep the Army people and their families in our prayers.

We could turn on the TV and see what's going on. We could also read the latest newspapers and see information of what's going on there, too. And last, we could listen to the radio.

I feel that the war is dangerous and it kills the Army people who are fighting for us. It is like the tragedy of Sept. 11. I also feel that the war is not just killing people, it is tearing down homes, too. And that's how I feel about the war.

Tiffany Salvador
Student, St. Joseph School
(Editor's note: Other letters from St. Joseph School students were received.)


Thank you, Hau'ula, for helping police

I would like to thank the community of Hau'ula. Its support enabled us to do our jobs in apprehending the three escapees.

The small businesses and the staff of Hau'ula Elementary provided us with hot meals throughout the four-day search.

This was one of the most fulfilling assignments I have had, knowing that community members showed their heartfelt appreciation for our time and efforts to protect them. They showed the true meaning of aloha.

Vernon Bunch
Honolulu Police Department
Specialized services division


Find a way to keep Indigo in Chinatown

I am extremely concerned about the trouble Indigo is having with the renegotiation of its lease with the Hawaii Theatre.

As a longtime downtown business owner, neighbor and enthusiastic patron of the restaurant, I can tell you that Indigo's presence on Nu'uanu Avenue has been a tremendous benefit to the area. So many attempts have been made to "revitalize" Chinatown. Indigo's contribution to these efforts is priceless.

Our economy is hurting. Good tenants are hard to find. A restaurant that has consistently helped to upgrade the neighborhood may be even harder to find.

I urge the Hawaii Theatre Center to do everything in its power to facilitate a lease agreement that will help Indigo stay.

Pegge Hopper


Quarantine editorial misses rabies point

Your April 19 editorial "Pet quarantine rules must emphasize safety" correctly underscores the importance of preventing rabies introduction into Hawai'i. However, you again equate the proposed changes as some sort of appeasement to pet owners to overcome the "discomforts, inconvenience and expense of quarantine." This totally misses the point.

If you are truly concerned about rabies prevention, then you would strongly endorse the proposed vaccination-based protocol. All of the world's rabies experts acknowledge the efficacy of rabies vaccinations.

A risk analysis has shown that if all animals imported into Hawai'i had two current vaccinations with a confirming blood test, then the risk of rabies introduction would be nearly 1,000 times less than the current mandated 120-day quarantine system.

Instead of pandering to pet owners, you should publicly thank the Community Quarantine Reform Coalition for its tireless promotion of this change, for it surely represents the correct method to improve rabies safety in Hawai'i.

Jerry B. Wilhelmy


Student library help saves the state money

It's a good thing the library can keep using students. What was Linda Lingle thinking? The library relies heavily on the minimum-wage workers. Students provide the library system with 3,000 hours of work each week sorting books, etc.

It would have been inefficient for the budget because the work, performed at $5.75 an hour, would have to be done with a staff paid $9 an hour. It's a good thing Lingle backed off from firing the students.

Oliver Lim


A sign of the times

With all the talk around town about the pothole condition of our roadways, don't look too soon for a quick solution. I say this because while driving in Honolulu on Kakoi Street, a warning sign at the entrance reads "Rough Path." Can we be looking forward to more of these signs in lieu of repaved roads?

Michael Nomura
Kailua


Tourism summit behind closed doors is justified

Gov. Lingle is a bright, capable and gifted leader. She is also a transparent person. She doesn't claim to have all of the answers to all of the complex problems. But she surrounds herself with talented and hard-working people and gathers information from every corner of the state. Her decisions are made in public, and all of the reasons, testimony and advice that inform her decisions are made public.

She calls on those who have expertise who can help her make the best possible decisions for Hawai'i. And she solicits counsel from all sectors.

As she looks at our tourism situation, our governor has made the wise decision to cast a wide net. Rather than simply making a dozen phone calls to key advisers with special expertise or rather than merely inviting a handful of industry leaders for a private meeting, she has called a tourism summit, where a large number of experts and industry leaders can gather with key policy-makers and think out loud together.

The goal is to provide a forum where the governor can get unvarnished counsel, perspectives and ideas in a no-spin zone. The goal is to maximize the chances for total candor. This is key to the process of arriving at a real solution to a very real problem. And making a decision is a process.

It is unfortunate that some have taken a cheap shot at the governor on this issue. What she did should be applauded. Unlike President Clinton's economic summit, which was designed for show and for TV cameras, Gov. Lingle is interested in getting something done.

Rep. David A. Pendleton
R-49th (Kane'ohe, Maunawili, Enchanted Lake)