Letters to the Editor
It's time to address Wai'anae's problems
For 30 years, we've been waiting for a permanent campus for the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu. And judging from Linda Lingle's recent decision to cut $171.3 million from the budget for the campus' construction, we will probably have to wait 30 more years.
It angers me that Lingle and most other politicians do whatever they can to ignore investing in the Leeward Coast. They instead build their careers by spending all of the state's money in East Honolulu.
It angers me that all of O'ahu's garbage gets dumped on the Wai'anae Coast.
It angers me that O'ahu's homeless "problem" is on the Wai'anae Coast where about 1,500 people are roaming the beaches with no place to go, and the state government is doing nothing about it.
OK, Gov. You said at the Lincoln Day dinner that the Leeward Coast has been neglected for too long. It's time to walk the talk.
Brian Okino
Wai'anae
Possible terror attack should be made known
The news report published in Monday's Washington Times regarding a planned terrorist attack on Pearl Harbor, using airplanes hijacked from Honolulu International Airport, has certainly raised some important questions and also created a good deal of confusion for many of us in Honolulu.
First, we have Sen. Inouye, who says he knew about the reported threat two weeks ago. Even if he did not think the threat credible, I believe it was his duty to at least make this information available to, say, the FAA in Hawai'i, which regulates all flights in and out of Honolulu International Airport. Did that happen?
Then there is Gov. Lingle and Gen. Lee of the Hawai'i National Guard, who seem to continue to dance around the question of when they actually knew of the threat. Are the state officials responsible for the safety of Honolulu being kept current by the federal government on any threat to that safety?
Finally, we have The Honolulu Advertiser. Whether this was a credible threat or not, once the story hit the national wire services, it became a big local news story. The Advertiser chose to give the story scant news coverage and bury it on the back page of the second section of Tuesday's paper.
Do our elected officials in Washington and in the state government here, as well as the editors of The Honolulu Advertiser, think so little of the intelligence of the people of Honolulu that they are afraid at the first news of a possible terrorist attack we are all going to rush up to the Pali and throw ourselves off?
John P. O'Neill
Hawai'i Kai
Failure of education system was unmasked
Finally a teacher within our public school system has written a very honest appraisal of our current school system. Thank you, Thomas Stuart of Kapa'au, Hawai'i (Letters, March 4).
A more true and honest assessment of our broken school system could not be verbalized or written.
OK, taxpayers, for those who believe all the lies and half-truths spewed by the DOE and BOE, let these entities continue to waste your money while failing to provide quality educational opportunities for your child. Maybe then someone will write a letter about you.
John L. Shupe
Cockfight proponents have poor arguments
Regarding the debate over Senate Bill 1581: It's ridiculous for the bill's opponents to compare dog- and cockfighting with the Humane Society's euthanasia of a starving feral population.
Unlike cockfighters, the Humane Society does not "encourage" animals to rip each other to pieces while gamblers watch, cheer and throw money around.
As for cockfighting being a "cultural" tradition: So is cannibalism. Should that be permitted as well?
Devra Doiron
Lahaina, Maui
Carpooling failing, so restore all lanes
Many years ago, carpool lanes were designed to keep more automobiles off the road, allowing traffic to move faster. While the idea had merit, many dropped from the carpool program, choosing instead to have the convenience of using their own transportation.
As the years passed, the required "four or more" has dropped to "two or more," apparently to attract more drivers to the carpooling program. However, today, as it was when the program had started years ago, "two or more" can be the driver plus another driver, or the driver and an infant.
The rationale behind "two or more" by today's standards is confusing. Traffic is so bad these days that all carpool and zipper lanes should be open to all traffic during all hours of the day.
Rick LaMontagne
'Brunch' our cup of tea
We are among a large group of friends from Canada and the Mainland who come to Hawai'i every year, and we thoroughly enjoy "Brunch on the Beach." It also gives us a chance to mingle and visit with local people. We hope very much that this will continue as a lovely tradition.
Dale and Judy Leander
Atlantic, Iowa
