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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, June 1, 2003

Letters to the Editor

We must use less gas to force prices down

Right after the Iraq War started, I wrote about gas prices. Our local economists predicted the price of gas in Hawai'i would not be impacted.

Well, the war has ended, Iraq is producing oil and prices are still high.

There was only one station at the beginning (Freedom Gasoline) that kept the price low. Now everyone has figured it out, increased the price of gas (including Freedom) and is making a large profit off Hawai'i's consumers.

Everyone is complaining that state and county budgets are too high; however, in these budgets are contracts for all their fuel and lubrication needs. Fuel prices keep going up, and local government cannot stop it.

In order to operate and maintain the current level of services, the state and city will need to raise taxes or reduce the size of government. If government is downsized and private enterprise takes over, our cost for these services will increase (just like the price of gas).

We need to start reducing our use of gas to force prices down. Continued indiscriminate use will only lead to indiscriminate price increases and obscene profits for oil companies.

Guill Colon
Mililani


Hemmings had urged impartial priorities

I think Calvin Say (Letters, May 27) should reread Sen. Hemmings' commentary and get his facts straight.

The complaint about school priorities absolutely did not recommend that the administration set them, but that the Legislature should follow the guidelines as set up by the Department of Education and the Department of Accounting and General Services. Does Speaker Say feel these departments do not know what the priorities should be, when this is their job? They have an overall, impartial view of the problems.

The legislators are looking myopically at their own little constituencies and ignoring recommendations, undoubtedly arrived at after many hours of study, by the people responsible for setting the priorities. That is indeed pork-barrel politics.

Furthermore, if the Democratic legislators had done their jobs properly the past 40 years, the schools would not be in such a disastrous state now.

Shirley Hasenyager
Kailua


Narcotics Anonymous gathering was a blast

In reference to Lee Catuluna's May 25 column on Narcotics Anonymous: Our band, "Chaos," had the pleasure of performing at the 19th annual N.A. gathering at Camp Mokule'ia.

It was a very warm, muggy night, and the meeting, usually held outside, was held inside the hall because of inclement weather. We started late because everyone had to clear out and we had to set up. People sat and stood along the walls and outside on the lanai.

As I looked around, the N.A. members seemed happy about being there. Once the music started, they were out there dancing and having a great time, and so were we.

That was one of the most fun crowds we've played for, all done clean and sober. Congratulations to everyone at N.A. See you next year.

Grant Moniz


Jim On should not have been rejected as regent

Imagine my shock when I returned from a recent trip to discover that one of the kindest, most competent and most conscientious persons I know had been publicly trashed and burned at the Democratic stake because of his views.

What were those views? That Hawai'i needs change and that we need to work hard to bring it about.

Shelton Jim On should not have been rejected as a regent for the University of Hawai'i. He is a good man, modest and loyal, with a fine family and a wonderful story of personal success — achieved, I might add, through honest perseverance and due diligence.

I am indeed shocked and saddened for the state of Hawai'i. I thought the Inquisition ended hundreds of years ago. Auwe!

Ken Harding
Kalihi


Why is Central Pacific beating a dead horse?

I just read that Central Pacific Bank is going to pursue the matter in court, after having its bid rejected by CB shareholders. I am left to ponder its logic.

City Bank and its shareholders don't want the merger, City Bank customers don't want it (I sure don't), and it is bad business for Hawai'i. Why is Central Pacific beating this dead horse?

Take the hint: Go away!

Kent Sharrar
'Ewa Beach


Cpl. Espaniola represents the best of Marine Corps

I am commanding officer of HMM-268 from Camp Pendleton, Calif. We are a squadron of 12 CH-46s and 160 Marines. We are currently deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and have flown a significant number of missions in Iraq over the last two months.

I wanted to take a moment and tell you about one of the Marines in the squadron, Cpl. Albert Espaniola. He is native of Kaunakakai on Moloka'i, and is one of the best Marines I command. He's a long way from home, but you would never know that by the way he goes about getting his work done and helping us do our job and complete our mission.

Cpl. Espaniola typifies the kind of Marine in our Corps today and is someone whom I believe represents the best of Hawai'i. I was stationed at Kane'ohe Bay for five years, and I realized at the time how fortunate I was to have the opportunity to live in Hawai'i. Cpl. Espaniola brings the aloha spirit to us in HMM-268 every day, if only when he smiles.

Our mission as part of Marine Aircraft Group 39 within the third Marine Aircraft Wing is to lift Marines to and from combat areas as well as fly cargo and supplies in support of those Marines. We also completed a significant number of casualty-evacuation missions, bringing wounded Marines from combat areas to medical facilities. These missions would not be possible if it were not for the efforts of Marines like Albert Espaniola.

He is trained to work on our hydraulic systems and corrects problems with our helicopter airframe. Both tasks are vital to us and keep us flying. He truly makes a difference. He reminds me how fortunate I am now to be able to work with truly great young people. He makes the Marine Corps better.

He has told me of the other Marines he knows from home who are serving here in the Middle East, and there is no doubt that they are doing as well as he is. I can only tell you about one Marine. He has done an outstanding job, and I know that his return to Moloka'i will be cause for celebration.

Cpl. Espaniola wants to make sure he does his job first so we can go home as one squadron — then, he says, he will look forward to reunion at home. God willing, that day is not far off. I'm thankful for Cpl. Espaniola and all that you do for us out here.

Lt. Col. Jerome E. Driscoll