Letters to the Editor
Killing shows we need a 'three strikes' law
I need to write this not only for myself, but for the children of Honolulu police officer Glen Gaspar.
Our state is in grave need of the "three strikes, you're out" law. Had this been in place, officer Gaspar would still be alive because Shane Mark would never have been let out of prison and not have been on the streets with civil society.
Officer Gaspar gave his life for his community attempting to send Mark back into the "system" — a system that needs to be updated for an increasingly violent criminal population.
No longer are simple property crimes the norm. With the introduction of methamphetamine, as reported, one out of three males arrested for a crime are users, making them extremely dangerous not only to the public but to law enforcement as well. We all need to rethink our laws and judicial system to appropriately deal with criminals of the 21st century.
Everything evolves and needs to change. So I urge everyone to voice this concern to their legislators to change our laws. This is the only way we can send a clear message to law-breaking citizens that enough is enough. We will not tolerate behavior like that of Shane Mark.
We are now left with the loss of another hero of Honolulu.
Doni Anderson
Kane'ohe
Dedication, sacrifices are highly appreciated
To the men and women of the Honolulu Police Department who put themselves daily in harm's way that we, the public, might live in peace and security: I just wanted to say how much you are appreciated.
Whenever an officer is killed in the line of duty, it is a sad day for us all.
My heart goes out to the families especially, because they never know when their loved ones may not come home. Please know that your dedication and personal sacrifices in the line of duty are highly appreciated, and never, ever think otherwise.
It's time that our Legislature move now and lock these criminals up. Make these crooks take responsibility for their actions, and pass the "three strikes, you're out" law for the safety of all. It's time to be more concerned about the rights of the public to safety and security than for the rights of the criminals.
Lock 'em up!
Norman Sullivan
'Three strikes' needed
Regarding the death of officer Glen Gaspar: If Hawai'i had a "three-strikes" law, that scumbag who shot him would have been in prison already and officer Gaspar would still be with us.
Ross Kuhnle
Pahoa, Hawai'i
Library's personnel problems must be fixed
You have been doing a good job telling the plight of the public library and forthcoming reduction of hours, but you have missed an important side issue. All kinds of valuable public services are literally delivered on the backs of the modestly paid civil service workers.
In recent times, reduction in benefits, lack of opportunity for promotion and unsupported increases in workloads have made it increasingly difficult to hire.
Last March, a young man resigned for better employment. We have since interviewed and selected three times, but were always rejected. That position is still filled by a temp.
Throughout the library system, there is a sizable number of temporary employees waiting for the chance to get a permanent job. Recruitment was recently completed. A list of eligible candidates was prepared. Libraries were ready to hire when the job freeze hit. As of March 31, all these valuable, trained workers, including ours, will be let go. No hiring! The public library has no choice but to regroup and reschedule.
Freezes happen frequently in state government. In 1994-95, we had an identical situation. We reverted to a five-day schedule. Instead of fewer visitors, people came in larger numbers on the days we were open. Circulation soared, and the staff suffered.
Clearly, this is no way to run an efficient business. It is no way to run "service to the people," either.
In 10 years, a high percentage of state employees will be retired. If things continue as they are, I doubt there will be enough high-quality employees willing to fill those empty shoes.
Solve the personnel problems now or pay later.
Sylvia C. Mitchell
Branch manager, Liliha Public Library
'Minimal role' during overthrow maximum
Thurston Twigg-Smith said: "The U.S. played a minimal role, pointing no guns, firing no bullets. And even that role was denounced very quickly by President Cleveland, making clear the U.S. itself was not interested in taking over the kingdom" (Letters, March 5).
This "minimal role" consisted of U.S. Minister Stevens ordering the firepower of the USS Boston pointed toward 'Iolani Palace and sending U.S. Marines into the streets of Honolulu. Stevens said such was needed to "protect the lives and the property of American citizens."
If all were equal citizens under the kingdom, who, then, were these "American citizens" whom this abuse of force was designed to protect?
Lili'uokalani said, "That I yield to the superior force of the United States of America ... (that) Stevens has caused United States troops to be landed at Honolulu and declared that he would support the provisional government.
"Now to avoid any collision of armed forces, and perhaps the loss of life, I do this under protest ... until such time as the government of the United States shall ... undo the action of 'its representatives' and reinstate me in the authority which I claim ... "
Sounds like the queen's concern about loss of life was the reason bullets were not fired.
The facts here show that, indeed, the United States, through the actions of its representatives, did orchestrate the overthrow.
Mr. Twigg-Smith, do not whitewash factual history in order to obscure the ugly deeds of Lorrin Thurston, your great-uncle.
Damon Senaha
San Diego
Curbside recycling must be done right
I read with great amusement the article on curbside recycling in the March 4 Advertiser. By the time I was finished reading the description of how this was going to work, I was visualizing the number of trash cans, containers, bins, cats, rats, mice and dogs that would be lined up on the curbside taking part in this spectacle.
Curbside recycling is nothing new. If we are going to do this — and we need to — let's not do this on a shoestring; let's do it properly. This program isn't going to fly if I put my trash in my garbage can one day for pickup, but the next day I must use this same trash can for my green waste ... so where is my regular garbage being stashed? Ah, you have 24 hours not to produce any regular trash ...
We need to do this as it's been done on the Mainland for years: one can for garbage, one "green" can for green waste and one "blue" can, subdivided, for plastic, cans and paper. The residents can then merrily put their stuff into the proper cans and wheel these on out to the curb for pickup, and voila! It's recycled!
And let's get with it — we should pay for our garbage pickup, just as we pay for water and sewer fees.
Forget the multi-use of one can, stickers for two pickup cans, calendars, instructions, educational programs ... we know we need to recycle. Let's make it easy on the residents and it'll work.
Wendy Minor
Moloka'i's espresso coffee rates with best
Your article in the Island Life section of Wednesday's Advertiser on the "Perfect Shot" was much appreciated. However, your writer (and sources) missed the most important ingredient in making a fine espresso shot — the coffee.
You simply cannot make a decent espresso out of just any coffee "darkly roasted" and "finely ground." There is a specific roast used for espressos, and the best espresso coffees are blends. Amazingly, in blind taste tests, espresso coffee from Moloka'i rates with the best in the world.
This is a blend of two differently processed green beans that are roasted on-site to an exact final temperature for perfect espresso. From there, the barista can take over.
A guarantee of a great espresso shot is the density of the cream on top of the shot. But you need to start with a proper espresso bean to get there. Try (800) 709-BEAN.
Brian Barbata
President, Moloka'i Coffee Plantation
Both sides of war issue are patriotic Americans
I am one of the individuals who stood on a street corner March 5 to voice my opinion on the potential war with Iraq. I realize there are many out there who do not share my opinions and beliefs, but I would never dream of calling them unpatriotic or un-American.
All individuals, either for or against the war in the Middle East, who held a sign, raised their voice and stood up to be counted are patriotic Americans. Why? Because by doing so they are supporting the ideals that make this country great: free speech and democracy.
By standing on a corner with a sign, by voting, by writing to your congressman or state representative, or even by sending a letter to the editor, you are actively participating in the process that makes the United States a great country. By actively using your rights to free speech and democracy, you are supporting this country; you are being a patriotic American.
Anne Campbell Stone
Cool what 'rhetoric' on Librarian Lowell?
In response to your March 6 editorial advising Sen. Bob Hogue to "cool the rhetoric" about state Librarian Virginia Lowell: "rhetoric," as you used the term, is undue use of exaggeration in writing or speech. Is it exaggerating to call Virginia Lowell "arrogant" and "inflexible" when she:
1) Shut down the Waimanalo Library on Saturdays, saying it was unfair to all the other libraries to make an exception and keep any library open on that day, even though Verizon, not the state, was voluntarily paying for the cost of running the library that additional day?
2) Refused to let volunteers temporarily staff the Kapolei Library, assuming they somehow got books in it?
3) Didn't consider transferring some duplicate books from each existing state library to the Kapolei Library to make at least a barebones collection of books available to the public?
4) Refused to accept brand-new donated books for Kapolei, even if she could pick the titles to be donated?
So, are you saying Virginia Lowell isn't arrogant and inflexible? Or are you saying she is, but you'd prefer it if politicians like Sen. Bob Hogue didn't voice unpleasant truths?
Jim Henshaw
Kailua
Sen. Menor bottled up clean-energy proposals
I would like to join Jeff Mikulina (Letters, March 2) in recognizing state Rep. Hermina Morita for her efforts in the Legislature to get Hawai'i on track toward clean and renewable energy.
I find this a disappointing contrast with state Sen. Ron Menor, D-17th Dist. (Mililani, Waipi'o). In the Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing Committee he chairs, several key clean-energy bills were killed this session. Measures to expand the amount of renewable energy that individuals can sell to the utility, regulate greenhouse gases, develop standard contracts for clean power and develop an innovative carbon-trading scheme to deal with global warming all died when Menor failed to schedule a hearing on them (SB 1682 SD1, SB 1609 SD1 and SB 499 SD1, among others).
As a 21-year veteran of the Legislature, Sen. Menor would do well to better understand our energy needs, which have far-reaching impact on our economy, environment and standard of living. Hawai'i's dependence on foreign oil for electricity is at 87 percent, among the highest in the nation.
Would Sen. Menor rather continue to build expensive oil-powered power plants and import oil from unstable global regimes? He has consistently voted against clean energy and the efforts of other legislators to advance the most efficient alternative-energy technologies.
Karen S. Shishido
Waipi'o Gentry
City should check out what is being dumped
Most recent Advertiser and TV news stories describe how the landfill is close to being full. The mayor justifiably stated that recycling is a must.
Then on March 6's KITV news, at 6:45 a.m., the landfill was televised showing a tractor compactor crushing what appeared to be wood boxes, which could have been burned at H-Power, and a dump truck unloading palm trees and soil. I was under the impression that this was green waste, and not allowed in the landfill.
I would suggest that the city check just what materials are being delivered to the landfill. Maybe we are shooting ourselves in the foot here by not screening what is presently being disposed of at the landfill.
And this may be the reason it is becoming full so soon.
Don Gerbig
Lahaina, Maui
It's better to vacation this year on O'ahu
OK, let me see if I've got this right: Hawaiian and Aloha are raising interisland air rates — AGAIN.
The airport is already an armed camp; it takes hours to get through "security." Do I really need this?
I don't think so!
My family and I will "vacation" here on O'ahu this year — Turtle Bay sounds better all the time. I always wanted to play tourist ... now is my chance.
Mo betta stay O'ahu.
Deane Gonzalez
