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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, December 4, 2003

Letters to the Editor

Attorney does not deserve jail time

Let me get this clear for my own peace of mind. Attorney Edward Chun is sentenced to 10 days in jail. All he did was make an improper campaign donation. Unless I'm wrong, there are other individuals out there who are much more deserving of jail time than he.

Why is he such a threat? People with arrest records that number in the double digits would seem to be more of a concern. I would rather see those people who actually cause harm out of circulation.

Unlike most criminals, he was giving money — not taking it. I fail to see the logic here.

Jeff Chang
Kane'ohe


Lie by boy's mother 'tantamount to fraud'

As a Kamehameha alumna, I am very disappointed that the trustees, along with their counsel, decided to settle the case regarding Brayden Mohica-Cummings. I'm afraid it will set a very dangerous precedent.

What I want to know is what will become of the boy's mother. What she did is tantamount to fraud. The application process requires proof of ancestry, which means she had to have provided false documents along with the application itself.

That woman should be ashamed of herself. She's setting a very bad example for her son. He's going to grow up thinking that he can get away with anything ... even though he's not deserving of it. He is not Hawaiian by blood. Based on Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop's last will and testament, he does not deserve to attend Kamehameha.

If my child tested at the same time as the boy and got turned down, I would be irate.

Napualokelani S. Wiley
Alexandria, Va.
(formerly of Wai'anae)


Pedestrians need longer 'walk' light signal

With the increase in pedestrian accidents, drivers need to pay more attention by reducing their speed when pedestrians are approaching a crosswalk. You may even consider stopping for them to ensure their safe crossing.

The city can do its part to reduce accidents by increasing the duration of the "walk" light signal so we can cross the road completely. For example, while crossing the average crosswalk, the red "do not walk" light starts flashing when I am only halfway across the street. This is especially true for the elderly, who need the additional time to cross.

Michael Nomura
Kailua


Surf forecasts should be reasonably accurate

On Nov. 29 I went to the North Shore where the surf was in the 15-foot-plus category. The day before it was about the same size.

However, your O'ahu Surf report called for 3-foot to 6-foot surf on Nov. 28 and 4-foot to 8-foot surf Nov. 29 (your source is the National Weather Service). I called the NWS Nov. 29 and it had issued a high-surf warning for the eastern shores and a high-surf advisory on the north shores.

For safety reasons, the surf forecast in your newspaper should always be reasonably accurate.

Joe Gaynor
'Ewa Beach


Too many appeals causing backlog at court

The simple reason for the Supreme Court backlog, overlooked by Lynda Arakawa's excellent articles, are that there are too many appeals.

The reason there are too many appeals is that most trial judges want to be reappointed. Guess who controls the judicial selection committee? Insurance companies and their affiliates and their law firms.

Until the Hawai'i State Bar helps purge this selection committee of insurance-connected members, judges at all levels will avoid deciding insurance cases out of fear. At the trial level, this means simple cases with merit are being thrust on our overburdened appellate system.

Why won't the several, obviously conflicted individuals at the Judicial Selection Committee end this entire problem by stepping down? Will they too, lose their jobs?

Stephen M. Shaw
Attorney


Contract law does not govern marital rights

Your Nov. 26 editorial describing marriage as "a legal contract" is naively materialistic. Any lawyer or divorced person will confirm that contract law does not govern marital rights and responsibilities.

One reason is that children are not chattels. (Your editorial neglects to note that marriage often results in children.) Even in marriages without children, spouses have rights and responsibilities that transcend contract law.

Do you recall the phrase "love, honor and obey"? Although the word "obey" has become politically incorrect and is well on its way to etymological oblivion, the words "love" and "honor" appear to remain viable and substantive to most Americans. Try finding a lawyer who can reduce them to enforceable terms of a contract.

Timothy Luria
Honolulu


Work together to make education a priority

To the Republicans, Democrats, Department of Education and Board of Education:

Stop the finger-pointing, mudslinging and the bickering now. Public school is for the children. It is not here for you to boost your egos, gain public approval, strengthen your standing in the community or to use as leverage for re-election.

Work together to fulfill your promises of putting education first. If there is all this money for education out there, it's time to work together to figure out where it is and get it to the children.

You have an obligation to the children of Hawai'i to get this money issue resolved.

Kevin Yoshio Uyeda
Mililani


U.S.-Laos relationship both productive, friendly

I would like to contribute a few factual notes to the Associated Press story entitled "Hmong leader calls for reconciliation between U.S., Laos," published in the Nov. 29 Advertiser:

• The relationship between the United States and Laos has progressed far beyond any need for "reconciliation" as reportedly called for by former Gen. Vang Pao. As a military leader in Laos at the end of the Vietnam War, he ought to know that, unlike Vietnam and Cambodia, diplomatic relations between the United States and Laos were not interrupted by the Communist "victories" in Indochina in the spring of 1975. Both countries continued to maintain their respective diplomatic missions in Vientiane and Washington, albeit without ambassadors.

• In the 1980s, a normalization process was adopted by the two governments which culminated in the first ministerial level meeting in New York in the fall of 1991 between U.S. Secretary of State James Baker and Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Phoun Sipraseuth. In the next year, Laos and the United States exchanged ambassadors.

• It is understandable that refugees from Laos who were given new homes in this country by the generous American people would express concern for the well-being of their friends and relatives in Laos. But they should also be aware that for years the U.S. and Laos governments have been working hard at improving bilateral relations and cooperation, including the search and recovery of remains of MIA (missing-in-action) Americans. The recent repatriation of the remains of Howard Dean's brother from Laos is another clear evidence of the long-standing productive and friendly U.S.-Laos relationship. Any call for "reconciliation" and new "doctrine" at this time is obviously self-serving and at least 10 years too late.

I would like to add that I participated in the groundbreaking meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria as a member of Secretary Baker's delegation.

Thavanh Svengsouk
Retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer
Hawai'i Kai


Quicker prosecution can keep criminals off street

In response to your article "When tourists become victims," officials blame the increase on drug use; I blame it on the lack of punishment. How about catching and quickly prosecuting these criminals to keep them off the street?

I keep hearing and reading about repeat offenders waiting years for prosecution, so in the meantime they are free on bail to commit more crimes.

According to another article in your paper, the police know about all the trouble spots and even know where the unwanted stolen items are dumped. Since the police know where these crimes occur, how about some action — catch and prosecute!

Get Hawai'i off the top of the list. Set an example for the younger generation and show them that crime doesn't pay. If this crime trend continues, the tourism industry really will start suffering. Come on businesses, be proactive in protecting your customers. Surveillance cameras and security guards are a small price to pay to keep both local and tourist dollars coming in.

Denise Timmerman
Honolulu


Program can provide free eye care for seniors

The greatest gift you can give a loved one is the gift of sight. As one of 38 EyeCare America Seniors EyeCare Program volunteer ophthalmologists here in Hawai'i, I experience firsthand how providing a simple medical eye exam can preserve sight.

Call the Seniors EyeCare Program, (800) 222-EYES (3937), for free eye care information or to see if you or someone you love may qualify for medical eye care at no out-of-pocket cost. There are more than 7,500 EyeCare America volunteer ophthalmologists in the United States dedicated to serving their communities.

The program is designed for seniors age 65 or older who have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years. Eligible patients will be matched with a nearby volunteer ophthalmologist. Seniors receive a comprehensive medical eye examination and up to one year of treatment for any disease diagnosed during the initial visit at no out-of-pocket cost.

As program volunteers, we have agreed to waive Medicare or other insurance co-payments and unmet deductibles, resulting in no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. Seniors without insurance receive care at no charge. The program is co-sponsored by EyeCare America, a public service foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and Knights Templar Eye Foundation Inc.

In Hawai'i, more than 1,000 seniors have been served through the Seniors EyeCare Program. Nationwide, the program has received more than 654,000 calls, provided service to 352,795 and treated more than 180,000 cases of eye disease.

Malcolm R. Ing, M.D.
Honolulu


DOT doesn't have act together on rail

The Advertiser recently published several letters from Windward residents in support of the light-rail project. I doubt this represents majority opinion on the Windward side.

For example, at the most recent Kane'ohe Neighborhood Board meeting, the Department of Transportation presentation on the project was met with a less-than-enthused reception. Among the more pointed questions directed at the head of the DOT: "So where again would the on-ramp be for Windward residents?"

Two daunting facts presented by the DOT stuck in my mind:

  • The project would not relieve traffic congestion at all. The DOT repeatedly emphasized this point.
  • If the construction cost of $2.6 billion were entirely financed over 10 years by an increase in the gas tax, we'd have to pay an additional dollar a gallon for gas. We'd have to pay even more to finance the operating costs of the system.

The head of the DOT kept saying, "If we build it, they will come." But didn't our state government also say that before they built the chronically underused Convention Center?

Jim Henshaw
Kane'ohe


Maintenance neglected at Pearl Harbor bike path

For cyclists seeking alternatives to risky highway travel, a viable option once was the Pearl Harbor bike path.

Today, still uncompleted, neglected maintenance has tarnished its cycling value as the path becomes more segmented. A wooden bridge west of Waipahu is gone and replaced by a concrete barrier. Between Waimalu and 'Aiea are two sinking sections where tidal waters inundate the path. Tree roots create unexpected high ridges cracking asphalt. Pipes embedded in the path's center protrude two inches to six inches, lurking, just waiting to cause nasty falls. Cars on the path contribute their debris and shattered bottles.

Early-morning cyclists are at risk as few bike lights can adequately illuminate these dangers. One also questions the credentials of engineers who allow stubs of pipes to stick up into the path of walkers, joggers and cyclists.

A disturbing trend to use public money to further political ambitions through building ostentatious projects is leading to a daunting maintenance burden, surely adding to the neglect of less visible bike paths.

Larry H. Dote
Waipahu