Posted on: Monday, June 23, 2003

Letters to the Editor

Son learns hard way that crime does pay

In June 2002, my son had his new moped, which he had earned by working the past two summers, and backpack stolen in a daylight robbery at my house.

My son phoned 911 within two minutes of the crime. He was able to identify the "get away" truck and its license plate number. Sometime later, the police arrived and disclosed that the truck owner fit the personal identification that my son had also provided, complete with tattoo description.

Two weeks later we were called in to the Kalihi Police Station, and my son identified the robber from a photo lineup. We were told that this man was a parolee from the Big Island and "this matter has to be handled carefully." To my knowledge, after several inquiries to the detective in charge of this case, the culprit was never confronted with his crime, even with the offer of returning the goods with no other repercussions.

My son has learned what the criminal already knew: Crime does pay. Judging by the recent headlines concerning the increase of crime in Hawai'i, others have learned the lesson as well.

I suppose that an ineffective police force deters many from moving to or visiting Hawai'i, so, in the interest of state population control, perhaps it is a blessing in disguise.

Tobacco, marijuana precursors to ice use

A well-known Maui substance-abuse professional I spoke to recently agreed with all of the following: Two drugs in Hawai'i are driving, integral forces in the crystal methamphetamine (ice) epidemic here — tobacco and marijuana.

Island kids are exposed to tobacco smoking by smokers in extended island families, and by the one in five people in Hawai'i who smoke cigarettes. The overwhelming message to Hawai'i kids from the time they can talk is that it is perfectly OK to inhale smoke into your lungs, including smoke that is highly addictive and carcinogenic.

Marijuana use plugs perfectly into this model, except pot gives smokers a high, which, to those looking to get high, makes it even better to smoke than tobacco. That marijuana is illegal is of no concern to most island youths because Hawai'i's true-believer pot-heads have taught them that if you don't agree with a drug law, it is OK to break it.

It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out what is likely to happen when those who have been exposed to such upbringings and behaviors are introduced to the idea of smoking ice or crack cocaine or black tar heroin. A certain percentage of youths will go for a hit in a heartbeat, and crystal meth just that quickly addicts many who try it.

If any meaningful change is to come out of the House and Senate joint committee now addressing Hawai'i's ice addiction epidemic, the committee must recognize these truths. The use of tobacco and marijuana powerfully predisposes individuals to using ice and getting addicted to it. Tobacco and marijuana are without question part and parcel of Hawai'i's overall ice epidemic.

No wonder the city has run out of money

On Sunday, when I read the lead article, "New signs of costly times," I was incensed. No wonder the city has no money to fix our roads or for our satellite city halls.

It is ridiculous to be spending so much on fancy, expensive signage when we are in the midst of a fiscal crisis. Papakolea's sign is beautiful and reasonable, but spending half a million for "community pride" when we have so many more important and pressing needs is irresponsible.

All expensive projects of this nature should be halted immediately.

New York University made education No. 1

What I am about to propose will be considered blasphemous, where only fools dare to tread — certain to increase letters to the editor 100-fold.

Nevertheless, back in the Middle Ages, when I attended New York University, a school famed for its athletic program and being No. 1 nationally in baseball, football, boxing, you name it, was mediocre scholastically.

Somewhere along the line, NYU dropped its athletic program. Today, NYU ranks among the finest schools in the country. You draw your own conclusion.

No Child Left Behind is making progress

Because of President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act, our schools are already receiving additional resources and historic levels of federal funding to ensure that students succeed, and more positive changes are on the way. Recently, the president announced that every state had put in a place an accountability plan to ensure that all schools make progress.

As part of these plans and the No Child Left Behind Act's strong accountability provisions, school districts will be required to test students and give parents annual report cards. Schools that don't make progress will offer their students additional services, such as free tutoring, and parents will be given new options.

Through these new reforms, we have a real chance to ensure that every child receives a quality education, and President Bush deserves enormous credit for focusing our nation's attention on this challenge.

Barbers Point would be good site for prison

I agree with the June 17 editorial on Barbers Point. It is O'ahu's shame. All of that good, flat land going to waste. Also, all those empty townhouses.

I think Barbers Point and the land around it toward Fort Weaver Road would be a good place to put a state prison, now that there are no neighbors to complain. You would not have to worry about a water supply or the sewage. It's off the road enough to be out of sight. It could be modeled after the Perryville Prison, near Goodyear, Ariz. Kind of a Motel 6 with fences.

Also, we could have a much-needed juvenile prison. They could farm the open spaces, have lots of programs — a lock-down school.

The weather is nice enough here that you could have a tent prison. Good enough for Maricopa County, good enough for O'ahu.

We have to learn to manage our space better.

Lingle criticism silly

How silly that Richard Port (Letters, June 18) would be complaining about Gov. Lingle's accomplishments after only seven months in office. Gov. Lingle has several decades of mess to sort through, thanks in part to Richard Port. Considering what she had to start with, I have to say she's done an outstanding job.

New Hawaiian nation should be spiritual

As a sovereign individual, self-governing and independent, I long ago declared my loyalty to spiritual laws. And whenever I perceive that human laws conflict with them, my commitment is always to spiritual authority as I understand the cosmos (http://www.globalvisions.org/cl/swn).

History is full of spiritual laws being violated by people in powerful positions ignorant of the workings of the cosmos, and, as a consequence, love, peace and harmony remain unrealized ideals. In fact, unrest increases.

In Hawai'i, an opportunity exists with the U.S. government admission of wrongdoing in the overthrow of the Hawaiian government in 1893, and now with consideration of the Hawaiian nation being reinstalled, it would be highly important for it to be grounded firmly in spiritual laws, especially recognition of "individual sovereign rights" within its national sovereignty.

Such enlightened foundation could be a shining example for the world to follow.

Homeless must have someplace they can go

I read the articles and saw the pictures about the city's new campaign to string barbed wire along the underside of freeway overpasses to keep the homeless from taking up residency there. Meanwhile, every time I jog Ala Moana Park, I notice that the number of homeless people there is increasing exponentially.

I would submit that the homeless need to be able to reside in their makeshift structures somewhere. I would further submit that under a freeway overpass in central O'ahu is probably a vastly preferable place to lodge the homeless (i.e., tucked away and out of sight in a relatively "hidden" part of town) than is Ala Moana Beach Park.

Ala Moana Park is truly one of the pearls in the necklace of most attractive spots this island has to offer. We are a tourist-based economy that requires putting the best face possible on our bountiful natural resources — especially when it comes to our prime beach parks that are most popular with the tourists.

Hawai'i's homeless problem requires a permanent solution so that these people can live decently, preferably in one centralized location. Ultimately, this will likely require a city-sponsored, bare-bones, quasi-camping facility in a centralized, out-of-the-way location. Until then, we are stuck having to at best Band-Aid the problem.

This being the case, I would strongly suggest that under-utilized, inner-city, urban-core 'A'ala Park and areas under freeway overpasses in central Honolulu both represent far better Band-Aids than do our city's prime beach parks — which, sadly, are rapidly turning into the only viable fallback position for these legions of homeless.

Let's boycott the gas companies for a week

How come gas prices in Hawai'i are still high? Gas prices on the Mainland are going down. And don't tell me it's the cost of living in Paradise — that's a cop-out.

The gas companies are price-gouging us. Let's boycott the gas companies for a week and everybody ride the bus.

Reading, writing and basking in sun

What do you enjoy doing during the summer? Personally, I would like to travel but I don't have the money. So I take trips I can afford.

For example, I'll take a trip to Waikiki Beach every day after teaching summer school and, yes, you guessed it, I'll read and practice writing short stories under my beach umbrella.

I'll also take a trip to the library every week to borrow books so I can continue to feed my brain cells with new experiences. Why do I do this? So I can continue to be a role model for my summer school students and help them to develop their skills as readers and writers.

A handful of my students asked me if I had anything better to do than to teach during the summer. My response was, "I read and I write at the beach." I explained to my students that reading takes me to various places I have never experienced. I just have a good imagination to transport myself to various places through words on the pages.

I also explained that writing is a self-indulgence activity that makes me reflect upon myself as a person, teacher and student. It's also healthy, so I do it every day.

How can I get my students to do the same thing? Well, I share my stories with them. During my first year of teaching, I learned that it's important to share my personal experiences with students so they can relate to me on a personal level rather than view me as a dictator in the classroom. This also sparks a great discussion that everyone, including the shy ones from foreign countries, can participate in. Sometimes they have the best stories to share. I enjoy hearing my students' stories because I can also relate to them.

My summer vacation is a break from school and work as a "full-time teacher." I get to spend more of my time reading and writing, which are things I can't really do much of during the regular school year. I try my best. I also get to work with my handful of students on a more personal level.

When summer vacation is over, I can go back into the classroom as a "full-time teacher" to share my stories from the summertime with a new crop of students. I can also find out which students have been reading and writing during the summer, too.

During the school year, I realized that a lot of students do read and write during their various vacations only when they are reminded to do so. So I would like to take this opportunity to remind all students to find some time during the day to continue to read and write. This shouldn't be a task but a personal enjoyment.

Parents, you can also encourage and help your child to continue to read and write during the summer. It's OK to do other fun activities at the beach like surfing and swimming, but do not forget that reading and writing can add up to having fun under the sun, too.