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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, November 20, 2003

Letters to the Editor

Extend school day; teach on civic duties, money

Your Nov. 14 editorial "Curriculum needs are no zero-sum game" is right on target.

I believe the school day is too short. I see children getting off the bus at 2:30 p.m. I remember when I went to school on the Mainland years ago, school would start around 8 a.m. and let out around 3:30 to 4 p.m. Those into sports practiced then. Most of the kids walked home. Extending the school day would help keep the children busy and less likely to get into trouble.

Concerning subject material, I think there should be a requirement for civic responsibilities (background on how government works, how laws get passed and voting) and for financial management (balancing checkbooks, investing, credit card use and debt) for graduation.

John P. Gallagher
'Ewa Beach


Open all lanes before shelling out billions

Before the state shells out $2 billion for a rail system we may not quite need at the moment, how about doing what I had suggested a few months ago: open all HOV, zipper lanes, etc., to all traffic, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for a temporary trial period.

Traffic is so bad these days that there is enough justification to eliminate occupancy restrictions for these lanes. Try this idea first before jumping into a $2 billion project that may not be immediately needed.

Rick LaMontagne
Honolulu


Honolulu can still build a world-class subway

Doug Carlson was right on the mark in his Nov. 17 letter "Rail-transit criticism falls short."

Last year about this time, I was asked to speak to the Kapolei Rotary Club's 7 a.m. meeting. As I drove from home in the early-morning darkness on the H-1, all I could see was a steady ribbon of headlights stretching from Honolulu to Makakilo, with town-bound commuter automobiles inching along, burning gasoline and tire rubber.

All I could think about was how one businessman had been instrumental in preventing O'ahu from building a mostly federally funded fixed-rail mass-transit project in 1992.

Every great city in this world has a rail mass-transit system that took longer than expected to build and cost more than was projected. In the 1960s, Washington, D.C., got a late start on its Metro system and was vilified for its extravagant cost and for the disruption its construction created. Had our nation's capital not built that subway, it would be in gridlock today. Hong Kong had a similar experience in the '70s, but today the MTR stands as a shining example of how an efficient, modern transportation system can work.

Honolulu can still build a world-class subway system from Kapolei to Waikiki, and its downtown route can be underground. Naysayers who claim it can't be built underground should visit Hong Kong, where much of the system is under Victoria Harbor. Hong Kong's MTR operates as a for-profit public corporation and serves 7 million people in an area smaller than O'ahu.

If Hawai'i had taken the time and money the federal government spent on the H-3 and instead built a subway from Pearl City to Waikiki, we wouldn't be sitting in traffic today wondering what went wrong. There are some things that governments do for its citizens that simply don't fit on a profit-and-loss sheet. But then, not all business people understand that.

Creighton W. Goldsmith
Nu'uanu


Harris' comments on Leong are frightening

The responsibilities of the Honolulu Police Commission are to rule on allegations of police misconduct and the selection of the chief of police.

It is extremely essential that those individuals appointed to this commission have unrelenting honesty and integrity.

It should shock and dismay all citizens of Honolulu that Mayor Jeremy Harris has praised former police commissioner Leonard Leong.

Mayor Harris commented that "Leonard did a superb job as police commissioner and as a chairman of the commission."

Oh, no, no, no, Mr. Mayor! Leonard Leong broke the law. Leong was caught illegally contributing money to you. That is a very bad thing for anyone to do, especially bad for someone appointed to a position of police commissioner (appointed by you).

Further, Mayor Harris said: "I think probably he will go down as one of the best police commission chairs the city has ever had." How frightening, the mayor of this city believes that a lawbreaker such as Leonard Leong is among the best the city has ever had. If Mayor Harris truly had no knowledge of excessive contributions to his own campaign, then certainly he would have condemned this illegal activity.

Amazingly, Mayor Harris seems to have all manner of citizens illegally donating large sums of money to him without his knowledge or that of his staff. It seems that most of us would notice that tens of thousands of dollars were being deposited into our bank accounts. One must eventually come to the conclusion that what we have here is a very bad mayor.

Mr. Mayor, please do the right thing and step aside.

Michael Lauck
Honolulu


What happened to Pacific islands news?

Since about six months ago, the "Pacific" seems to have disappeared from your Asia & Pacific column.

The original intent of the column was to provide Pacific-island-related news to Pacific islanders who live in Hawai'i, with perhaps an occasional "Asia" item.

I would encourage you to return to the original format, or split the column in two: Pacific islands and Asia.

Jerry B. Norri
Honolulu


Portland shows why we need rail system

Rail transit is an alternative to the car.

An example occurred in early October in Portland, Ore. The city was asked to host an international women's soccer tournament, and the venue arranged on short notice provided no parking. But MAX (the name for Portland's rail line) came to the rescue.

The city added extra rail cars to the line so that throughout the event, people could use the public transportation system. And use it they did.

Our family members were delighted to avoid the driving/parking hassle and reported that the orderly crowds were pleased as well.

Certainly most of us love our cars, but wouldn't it be grand to have a rail line that stopped near the stadium, or one that could take you to the airport, or UH-Manoa?

It is time for the city to finally provide this alternative to the car.

Dorothy Lum
Honolulu


State documenting Hawai'i's art history

Louis Pohl felt very honored that the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts purchased his art from the beginning to acquire some of his best works.

In 1995, he and I went to an exhibit of the state's art collection. Across the room, he saw a painting that he thought was excellent. He had to know who painted it, but people were standing in front of the signature. He eagerly asked to know the name of the painter. When someone replied, "Louis Pohl, you did it," he was totally surprised. He had forgotten and was humbled by his own work.

Last month the State Foundation purchased "Flow to the Sea" out of the recent Contemporary Museum's First Hawaiian Center art exhibit. Louis felt this was his best and last volcano oil. He died in December 1999.

The state documented Hawai'i's contemporary art history and master artists with each purchase. Thank you.

Sandra Pohl
Honolulu


Word is out: Hawai'i is homeless capital

Traveling the country for the last three years, I can assure the citizens of Honolulu that this is the best place in the entire country to be homeless. Key West is more accessible, but too hot and full of mosquitoes in the summertime.

For those who don't wish to migrate seasonally, Hawai'i is the place to be. The more services you provide, the more homeless you can expect to find a way over to the Islands.

With substantial numbers of all homeless being recent arrivals (less than a year), the word is obviously getting around. Caring for all these citizens could employ lots of Honolulu residents looking for jobs.

Dan Murray
Livingston, Texas


Make HPD accountable for enforcing the law

Your Sunday article on the rate of unsolved crimes by the HPD was very surprising, considering the amount of money and manpower it has at its disposal.

If this information was available prior to the award by arbitration of 4 percent raises to the police for the next four years, perhaps we could have tied the raises to an increase in productivity or crime resolution.

What was not surprising was the call for more manpower by "police officials." This standard answer cries for an outside look at how the HPD does its job. I think it's time to look at this bureaucracy-heavy dinosaur and make it more accountable for its purpose — law enforcement.

Richard G. Harris
Wai'anae


Independence wouldn't hurt us

This is in answer to the Nov. 15 letter of Susan Voglesong regarding the alleged losses Hawaiian independence would bring.

The basis for Hawaiian independence is geographic, historic, ethnic, cultural and economic (and for some of us, spiritual), but separation does not have to result in resentment or alienation. It is, rather, a natural parting of the ways. I believe that an independent Hawai'i would have a close relationship with the United States with continued military presence and protection that would benefit both the United States and Hawai'i.

As for the loss of federal funding, many of the services mentioned by Ms. Voglesong are already provided and funded either entirely or largely by Hawai'i taxes: i.e., welfare, health, education, universities, highways, business, police, fire, judicial system and housing assistance. The answer to the provision of other services mentioned is that they could be easily funded out of money now paid in federal taxes.

Ms. Voglesong mentions currency. Interestingly, creation of a Hawaiian currency, while not necessary, would result in extra income to Hawai'i.

While anecdotal, my information is that at least one-third of welfare assistance in Hawai'i goes to people who are essentially recent arrivals.

As for Medicare and Social Security, Hawai'i residents have a vested interest in the United States systems, which would have to be accounted for in a separation treaty. Arguably, Hawai'i residents would be better off in a new Hawai'i system than in the present United States pay-as-you-go system, which is projected to be in deep trouble in the future.

As far as impact on college football and volleyball is concerned, you may be correct. On the other hand, given a close relationship and historic ties, who knows what might be worked out with the NCAA.

As for business leaving Hawai'i, the ones you mention are very successful here, and most do business in other countries. Why should they leave? Specifically, Hawai'i would not be subject to the Jones Act, could develop a more rational ADA law, could have a simplified tax code, and otherwise simplify and improve the life of its people and its businesses.

The adverse impact on tourism is mentioned. Hawai'i can set up any system it wants to administer the entry of visitors. Contrary to Ms. Voglesong's concerns, the present United States policy of stringent visa issuance because of homeland security paranoia is potentially very damaging to the Hawai'i tourist industry.

As far as individual freedoms, Hawai'i has a long history of democracy and protects individual rights in its state Constitution, which could be readily adopted to a country constitution. I believe that as an independent country, we would see much more voter participation than we now experience because many of Hawai'i's people feel powerless with the complex division between state politics and federal politics, the latter taking place 5,000 miles away. Furthermore, we could properly protect the rights of Native Hawaiians.

Finally, as a keiki o ka 'aina, I promise I am mind, heart and soul for my family, friends, neighbors and fellow citizens of Hawai'i.

Allen W. Wooddell
Waimea, Hawai'i