Letters to the Editor

Public schools must retain class kupuna

I was extremely saddened to read of this program in the schools being challenged: "School kupuna hoping to retain role" (May 18).

Throughout my daughters' years in the two public elementary schools they attended (in Kona and Honolulu), I was so impressed with how the kupuna in the programs imparted meaning and values to their students. These kids didn't just read it, they felt it — something our "No Child Left Behind" education is ignoring, that is, the power of feeling the value of knowledge — not just in the institutions of education, but as a lifetime learner who learns best from familiar traditions.

My children did not have to be Hawaiian to benefit from this gift that these wonderful kupuna have brought to the classrooms.

If we continue to only serve knowledge on a sterile plate of acceptable mediocre standards, then we will continue to leave behind the children who cannot relate to it.

Kathryn Shawhan-Mathis

Pauoa

Confirmation process had no McCarthyism

Please permit me to respond to Roy Yanagihara's letter of May 12 alleging that the rejection of Shelton G.W. Jim On and Edward D. Sultan to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawai'i smacks of McCarthyism. Perhaps Mr. Yanagihara is part of or misguided by an orchestrated campaign of misinformation and political spin:

• There was no "anonymous e-mail" sent to Sen. Donna Mercado Kim. In fact, Sen. Kim, with the approval of the e-mail sender, announced publicly the name of the author of the e-mail.
• The e-mail was sent to Sen. Kim after The Advertiser reported concerns with the confirmation of Mr. Jim On and Mr. Sultan. The contents of the e-mail did not support Mr. Jim On for confirmation.
• The University of Hawai'i is on the threshold of a world-class institution of higher learning, and therefore the commitment to foster the best and brightest is needed to maintain this momentum and to make the right decisions for the integrity of the UH system.

As the chair of the Senate Education Committee, I can assure the public that the decision of the committee will not be guided by rumors or misinformation without facts and completed staff work. Therefore, people like Mr. Yanagihara should take the time to get the facts right.

In conclusion, the rejection of Mr. Jim On and Mr. Sultan was not based on an e-mail rumor as alleged by Mr. Yanagihara. It was based on their responses and demeanor on how best to run a highly complex university system.

We need to hold the university system and the over 48,000 students located on 10 campuses throughout the state above the political spin.

Sen. Norman Sakamoto

Legislators should get what they can

The recent article by Jennifer Hiller in The Advertiser regarding "Schools feel political clout" must have a purpose, but what is it? Is it to say that the priorities set by the DOE are flawed, or are the lawmakers overstepping their responsibilities?

I for one believe that each and every lawmaker's task is to gain whatever possible for his constituents regardless of party affiliation. Isn't it naive to think that lawmakers should readily accept everything that is presented to them?

Question: From whom, what, where and when did the list of DOE priorities come? No clout involved?

Howard K. Oda
Waipahu

Slow road maintenance a reflection of the times

Advertiser writer Mike Leidemann's recent article on road maintenance put the situation in perspective. Unfortunately, some of that seems to have been lost on John Pritchett (Letters, May 20).

As Leidemann points out, road maintenance has been a problem at all levels of government across the nation. In Honolulu's case, the amount of street repair is directly tied to its operating budget — budgets that have become leaner and leaner over the past 10 years as the cost of essential services has risen while revenues have dropped.

In prior years, city coffers benefited as real property values soared. During those years, it was possible to fund more roadwork from very comfortable operating budgets. However, when the Japanese economic bubble burst, property values plummeted by billions of dollars and city property tax revenues dropped accordingly.

When you look at other essential services that must be funded — like police and fire protection, ambulance service and garbage pickup — then add in rising costs of mandated pay increases and other benefits, little has been left in the extremely tight operating budgets of recent years for road resurfacing.

We would like to do more, and we will as times improve.

Larry Leopardi
Director and chief engineer, Department of Facility Maintenance

Increase out-of-state tuition for UH first

Currently a senior planning on attending UH, I question UH's need to raise tuition.

Several days before reading about the proposal to raise tuition, I had read about UH spending $80,000-plus on a design for a new logo. Not only did it spend a large amount on a foolish whim, it did not turn to its own art department first. If UH has the money to spend on such ridiculous things, why is it raising the tuition again?

I find this aggravating because, as a local, I know that many other locals go to UH mainly because out-of-state tuitions are around $6,000 or more for other universities per semester. That is $1,000 more than what out-of-state students pay at UH.

Instead of raising tuition for locals, why not raise the out-of-state tuition to about what other universities charge? I highly doubt that this will deter students from coming. After all, the tuition will be just like going to other out-of-state colleges, but it will come with perfect weather, beautiful people and breathtaking beaches.

Matthew Arakawa

Something's wrong with this flying picture

Isn't it amazing that Aloha Airlines can't make money flying its 737 aircraft the 101 statute miles between Honolulu and Kahului at nearly $1-per-mile fares, when Southwest Airlines can apparently make money flying the 338 statute miles between Los Angeles and San Francisco for $39?

And isn't it truly amazing that, somehow, security demands made on the local Hawai'i airlines have caused the latest outrageous fare increase and somehow Southwest doesn't face these same issues?

Michael Cashman

Traffic mess answers right under our noses

Just call me Mr. Fix-It. In my opinion, the reason for so many cars on the road during rush hour is that the state and the city provide too many parking spaces at subsidized rates for their employees.

Therefore, in order to alleviate our traffic problems, the Department of Transportation should start in its own backyard first. To taketh is to giveth. So now, we have a bunch of people with no parking privileges. Simply give them a bus pass and, in time, they will adjust.

Academia is also changing. Students used to drive from all parts of the island to attend classes at Manoa. But soon, virtual learning will replace the need for traveling and, thus, help reduce the morning rush-hour traffic.

I believe the answers are right under our noses. But we need to take action, otherwise nothing will change.

Roger Chang
Mililani