Letters to the Editor
After-school program must be preserved
With the recent shortfall in the DOE budget, there is a threat of closure of the A-Plus after-school program. As a working single parent, safe and affordable day care is a necessity for me.
The A-Plus program is a brilliant solution to latchkey kids. What a natural fit: Children are able to go to day care after school without buses or crossing busy intersections, facilities are age-appropriate and children are grouped with familiar classmates.
It is disappointing to see the state of Hawai'i put such a low value on our children. With the recent teacher's strike, delays in building and repairing schools, overcrowding in existing schools, and now a possible curtailment of A-Plus, I wonder whether our state government is truly committed to providing a future for the children of Hawai'i.
Quality education is the key to sustained economic growth, prosperity and social stability. I challenge the new state administration to put our children first and adequately fund the DOE. Otherwise, we will be challenging another administration to do this after the next elections.
Bruce Chen
Motorized scooters should be banned
A reader pointed out in a Jan. 22 letter how annoying motorized scooters are because of their noise and their being operated on public streets. She suggested that they be licensed. A much better idea is to ban motorized scooters from public streets.
Last weekend, our usually peaceful and restful weekend was shattered by two young boys riding their motorized scooters around and around the neighborhood. These scooters are public nuisances and truly disturb the peace. They do not transport people from one place to another; rather, they are thrillcraft that are driven at high speed in the middle of the street without consideration for others.
I urge the City Council to immediately ban motorized scooters from being operated on public streets before more scooters appear on the road. Let's nip the problem in the bud.
H. Lau
School drug testing would protect students
I agree with drug testing to protect students.
The students need to be in school to study and learn, not for drugs. Also, it would stop students from carrying sickness and spreading it to other students.
They could be treated if they were found positive for drugs.
Anty Kattil
Random drug testing of teachers needed
In his report of legislators' response to Hawai'i's crystal methamphetamine ("ice") epidemic, Advertiser Staff Writer Will Hoover, in the Jan. 26 issue, quotes Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle as saying " ... you've got to identify the people who've got the problem" by way of advocating drug testing in schools.
Some years ago, a proposed resolution was introduced at the then-annual HSTA convention in support of drug testing teachers. Naturally, it was voted down decisively by delegates, who thought such a measure might infringe on the fabricated right of privacy — the one that hid in the "penumbra" of the Constitution for more than a century and a half before it was magically discovered by Justice William O. Douglas in Grisswold vs. Connecticut (1966).
If Hawai'i is really going to get serious about drug abuse, I believe now — as I did when I introduced the resolution — that random drug testing of teachers is a small but useful measure. Why? Teachers who use dope have no business in a classroom and should be driven out of the profession. The rights of children outweigh make-believe "rights" of adults who should know better.
Thomas E. Stuart
Kapa'au, Big Island
Brandt deserves to be in Royal Mausoleum
The many glowing tributes paid to the late Gladys Brandt in the media are surely well-deserved. She was a great credit to her Hawaiian forbears throughout her long life. Much of her greatness was not revealed until the press coverage of her long and active career.
Her little-known accomplishments to numerous worthy Hawaiian causes were so many that they remain unknown. I recall that when I was with the John Howard Association (a nonprofit prisoner-aid agency), she sent us, unsolicited, a very generous check. I am sure her concerns and generosity reached out to many other worthy causes.
I cannot but wonder why this remarkable lady is being buried in a private cemetery when she deserves the honor of being interred in Hawai'i's Royal Mausoleum in Nu'uanu Valley. Despite carrying the name "Royal," that beautifully landscaped area contains the remains of 55 individuals. Many of them were descendants of royalty. But many have no royal blood. Among the haoles laid to rest there are Dr. Thomas Rooke, John Dominis, Gov. Cleghorn and, of course, John Young, the English-born sailor who became adviser and confidant to Kamehameha the Great.
Gladys Brandt, in her long life of contributions to Hawaiian causes, deserves nothing less than interment among the ali'i and commoners alike in Hawai'i's Royal Mausoleum.
Emmett Cahill
Volcano, Big Island
Maui's MRI scanner no better than others
I am very glad to hear that Maui finally has a new MRI scanner. But I believe the capabilities of the new MRI scanner were overstated in a Jan. 29 article.
The speed of MRI scanners is dependent on their gradient switching capabilities. I know that the GE Signa Infinity cannot scan four times faster than the 1.5T MRI scanners currently at Straub, Queen's, Kuakini, St. Francis and Kaiser since their gradient switching is roughly equivalent among all 1.5T MRI scanners (although no manufacturer will ever admit to that).
Similarly, the GE Signa Infinity does not gather information four times faster than other scanners. I believe what may have been referred to is what is known as parallel imaging, which is possible with all multichannel scanners. However, this imaging technique has certain limitations and cannot be used for all patients.
I would not be writing this letter except that I worry people who come to our local hospitals may believe that they may be imaged on inferior MRI scanners here in Honolulu when in fact there is little if any data in the medical literature to support the diagnostic superiority of any one scanner or another.
Of course, each brand has certain advantages over its competitors, but none are so all-encompassing as to support the claim that one is "four times faster and gathers four times more information" than all the others.
Hyo-Chun Yoon, M.D.
Homeschool children are better adjusted
I read in your newspaper Gov. Lingle's statement in her first State of the State address that "Hawai'i's public school system is broken." Lingle also advocated alternatives to public schools — one being homeschool.
Homeschooling has offered a great solution to many families in the United States. Parents choose this course for their children's education for multiple reasons, including reclaiming family closeness. Experts have stated that "at every age, a strong parent-child relationship is far more important then any particular curriculum."
Whatever the reason may be, as President Ronald Reagan once said, "Parents have the natural and inalienable right to educate their children, publicly or privately, as they see fit, and that right should be recognized and encouraged."
But what about their social life? Many people feel that homeschooling leaves children socially handicapped. Nevertheless, homeschooled children learn that the real world is filled with people of all ages. Researcher Dr. Raymond Moore has found that homeschooled children are happier, better adjusted, more thoughtful, competent and sociable children.
Marisa Todd
Hau'ula
Community support needed for fireworks
The headline of the Jan. 24 article "Kailua fireworks may lose out to BayFest" really misrepresented our relationship here on the Windward side with our U.S. Marines at MCBH.
We began discussing this year's Fourth of July events back in August 2002 with MCBH at the table. We believed then, and we believe now, that this is a good thing for Windward O'ahu. Both Windward events are very important, and we strongly encourage community support for both events.
The social value built from the Kailua event cannot be overstated. For the last 50 years, it has created a bond within our community and family traditions generation after generation. Our organization understands the greater good that results from this long-standing tradition, but we need community support to show our sponsors and those who volunteer their time to make this event happen year after year that Kailua appreciates and wants this to continue.
We are very grateful to our supportive corporate sponsors, Mike McKenna Windward Ford, Kane'ohe Ranch, Castle Medical Center, Ameron Hawai'i, Papa John's Pizza and Foodland Supermarkets. It is very important also to see that the residents also care about the program and the ways we can measure this is by way of public donations, letters and phone calls. Letters or donations are always welcome and can be mailed to: Kailua Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 1496, Kailua, HI 96734.
MCBH has always been supportive of the Kailua Chamber of Commerce, our communities, our economy and our schools. We are confident that we will find a solution that will benefit everyone and allow for community participation for both events.
Pohai Ryan
Executive director, Kailua Chamber of Commerce
City's wastefulness must be reined in
Once again, the residents of Honolulu have to pay for the misguided city administration's mismanagement of funds by raising property taxes to bail out the city's $160 million shortfall. Maybe we can pressure the city to help save money by:
- Cutting out Sunset on the Beach, which the city co-sponsors. This is a luxury item not necessary for the needs of the city.
- Postponing any more spending on new parks, skate parks and sidewalk beautification projects (like Wai'alae Avenue in Kaimuki) until the economy improves.
- Postponing spending on the Bus Rapid Transit project or cancel it outright, because it seems to be doomed as more and more people, council members and now the governor oppose this project.
- Capitalizing on popular facilities like the Ala Wai Golf Course, which may be the heaviest-played course in the world, by increasing user fees, but offering discounts to Hawai'i residents.
The city should be operated like a business — with a CEO instead of the mayor, managing director, etc. — and should start trimming the fat.
D. Ching
Eco-tourism, access haven't been addressed
Regarding the Jan. 23 article by Jan TenBruggencate on the status of the Northwestern Hawaiian Island Reserve: It was terrific to hear that the Commerce Department raised concerns regarding the special requirements and regulations on President Clinton's executive order establishing the NWHI Reserve. Commerce should be concerned.
After attending a pubic meeting and providing written concerns on the NWHI Reserve, during its public-input phase, I found that the concerns of allowing eco-tourism and public access have not been adequately addressed.
It has become impossible for the public to see what they are getting for their tax dollars since access to the Midway Island Reserve has become next to impossible. When coupled with public access not being allowed to the NWHI Reserve, only a select group of researchers and scientists is being allowed to see what tax dollars are being spent on. The public has to settle for snippets on TV or in newspapers — a poor substitute for allowing the public to experience either of these reserves.
No money should be spent to exclude the public from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands until eco-tourism is completely supported by all parties involved.
Robert Johnston
Claim that Saddam has weapons is illogical
We are all familiar with the basic argument. Saddam Hussein has not been able to prove that he does not have nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, therefore he must have them. It has been repeated by the president and others ad nauseam. It is also a logical fallacy.
This particular fallacy is often known as "appeal to ignorance." The fallacy comes in the assumption that a proposition is either true or false simply in light of a lack of evidence one way or the other. A common example is the following: "No one has been able to prove that God does not exist, therefore He must exist."
This is a bad argument and as such it should be considered an insult to intelligent people everywhere. Think what you want about whether it is justified to attack a country simply because it possesses weapons of mass destruction, it is simply wrong that a lack of evidence gives a good reason to attack.
Ethan Mills
