Posted on: Friday, November 28, 2003

Letters to the Editor

Enforcing discipline ignored by Democrats

In her Nov. 2 Advertiser commentary, Mary Cochran, Board of Education member of Maui District, contended that "the governor's advisers failed to do their homework," and that the governor's legislation enabling teachers to remove disruptive students from classrooms was equivalent to "reinventing the wheel."

While there is, in Chapter 19, Hawai'i Administrative Rules, an existing BOE policy giving administrators and teachers the right to remove a disruptive student, the law in its current form does not work. To ensure proper enforcement, the law needs to deal with what happens to the student once removal takes place.

Since Ms. Cochran has certainly done her homework, she knows that a Republican-sponsored bill — HB362 — sought to solve the enforcement problem by mandating progressive, appropriate disciplinary actions. It sought to define a continuum of "alternative educational settings or placements," from least restrictive to most restrictive, to meet the needs of chronically disruptive students.

Further homework will uncover the fact that Democrats refused to even hear the Republican-sponsored bill. Perhaps Ms. Cochran will work to have the bill heard in the session that begins in January. Perhaps, then, we can for the first time deliver needed discipline to disruptive students.

Mainland transplant misinterpreted 1893

What is it with these people who come to Hawai'i from Texas, or from other places on the continent, and in no time are mouthing off like experts on the unfortunate and complex events surrounding the overthrow in 1893?

Evelyn Cook says she used to be historically challenged. But "after spending a year doing research in the state's archives and libraries ... my thinking did an abrupt U-turn." Wow!

In her Nov. 24 Island Voices piece, Cook attacks the Native Hawaiian mythmakers of today for the slanderous light in which the American missionaries have been cast. She obviously believed that was necessary to remove any doubt regarding the character of the subject of her book. And, I suppose, to detach the benevolent healer from the ambitious businessman/politician who ended up being one of the main characters involved in toppling the Hawaiian monarchy.

While I haven't read her book, "100 Years of Healing — The Legacy of a Kaua'i Missionary Doctor," I did read, and commented on, the three sections she sent for me to review before the book was published. I don't know how much of the draft found its way into the final printing (I suspect plenty). But I recommended that the introduction be thrown out because, as I said, it was mean-spirited, biased and not essential to the story. She had spent the entire time in that section debunking the missionary myths.

The next section, on Dr. W.O. Smith, I thought was well done. It was, as the title indicates, about a selfless missionary doctor on Kaua'i. And the final section I reviewed pertained to Prince Kuhio, his role during the overthrow and after. It also included a damning report on a dispute over property that the prince had with Queen Lili'uokalani.

I think I'll skip the book. And keep my ideas of the truth intact.

Thank you, Judge Kay, for protecting Hawaiians

Considering that the total U.S. population is about 78 percent Caucasian, I am surprised that U.S. District Judge Alan Kay rendered his verdict on Kamehameha Schools as he did, thus protecting Hawaiian children. It shows that not all haole are anti-Hawaiian.

I am grateful that for once the law of the land is finally protecting us — as representatives of the United States agreed to protect us, yet they have systematically harmed us. Thank you, Judge Kay, for protecting our civil rights.

Extend Makakilo Drive to new interchange now

The much "ballyhooed" Kapolei traffic projects partially funded by Campbell Estate (Advertiser, Nov. 21) will do little to relieve traffic problems in Makakilo, which will still have only one outlet.

They will, however, relieve congestion in business areas where, presumably, lease rent is paid to the estate.

One would be more inclined toward gratitude for their community involvement if Campbell Estate and those developers continuing to build homes on the hill were to help expedite the extension of Makakilo Drive to the new North-South H-1 interchange scheduled in the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) for fiscal years 2004-06.

The cost for extending Makakilo Drive is projected at $8.5 million. With federal funding for road projects in the TIP at the 80 percent level, the cost to the community would only be $1.7 million. This is less than the state's plan, for example, to replenish the sand on Waikiki's Kuhio Beach. It's nice to help the tourists, along with the businesses that need tourism, but it also would be nice to help Leeward — tax-paying and voting — commuters.

The time- and energy-saving benefits (as well as public relations aspects) of adding the Makakilo Drive extension to the current TIP should be obvious to Campbell Estate, D.R. Horton/Schuler Homes and other developers, and state and city transportation planners. Extend Makakilo Drive now!

Nameplates should be better displayed

Every day I drive over the H-3 for my commute to work and am reminded that an injustice is still being visited upon Mr. Tetsuo Harano.

As many will remember, he was granted the honor of having the H-3 tunnels given his name, and that honor was unceremoniously stripped away by former Gov. Ben Cayetano, who gave the honor to John Burns along with huge shiny brass lettering over the opening of each tunnel entrance (just in case we forgot whom the tunnels were named for). Eventually, the whole H-3 became the John Burns Memorial Freeway.

Someone remembered the slap given to Mr. Harano and urged that the wrong directed at him be reversed, and the tunnels are now called "The Harano Tunnels," thanks to Gov. Linda Lingle.

My beef is that instead of shiny, stand-out brass lettering over each entrance, there are only cheesy-looking nameplates in the middle of the two tunnels that you wouldn't even notice unless you were looking for them.

This is still an insult, not an injustice righted. I hope someone who can do something about it notices and has the integrity to do the right thing.

Sen. Dan Inouye worked hard to get this freeway built, and Tetsuo Harano was an integral part of that effort. Doing justice to those who deserve it would really make a statement that "We the People" have some power after all.

Equal marriage rights editorial appreciated

Mahalo nui loa for the Nov. 26 editorial "Gay marriage battle déjà vu for Hawai'i." Equal rights never sounded so good.

Equal marriage rights is a simple concept that gives our children the justice and dignity that all human beings are entitled to. I'm ready to "press forward gently but firmly, to bring everyone under the shelter of equal rights."

Your editorial warmed my heart and gave me one more reason to be thankful this holiday season. Thank you so very much.

Lingle's message about education predictable

Congratulations on your finally getting Da Gov's message on what she really thinks about Hawai'i's public education system. However, where were you in September and October 2002 when the campaign was in full swing? And where were you when it came time for your endorsement, which was a significant factor in Linda Lingle's election?

Hey — it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure her out back then. All one had to do was read and listen to Lingle and to her supporters.

As a candidate for the Board of Education last year who did pay attention to education issues, I heard Lingle loud and clear back then so that I certainly do not expect anything else from her than what I am getting today with her CARE Task Force and the latest report on the Financial Analysis of Hawai'i's Public Schools.

Her initiatives when coupled with the federal No Child Left Behind regulations are but the first steps in dismantling the universal public education system both here in Hawai'i and across the United States.

How can public have faith in gas lawsuit?

In a Nov. 19 Advertiser, an article discussed the dropping of a lawsuit against ChevronTexaco Corp. for alleged tax evasion.

The law firm did work for the oil company and therefore should have been removed from the case. Considering the oil industry's contributions to the Lingle campaign and the law firm's ties to the oil industry, it's no wonder that Gov. Lingle accepted the results of the "investigation."

How can the public have any faith in the decision to drop the lawsuit? Make the report public.

There needs to be another independent investigation of the charges, and the results of that should be made made public.

Meantime, the oil industry continues gouging the public in Hawai'i by $.30 per gallon of gas. When will state officials do something about this issue? Will Gov. Lingle not investigate her oil industry friends?

Bring our troops home

The savage attack on two American soldiers in Mosul is proof that we are unwanted, unappreciated and unable to control the war. I say, bring our troops home before we sacrifice more American lives.

International surf carnival? No

What are Mike Markrich and Manny Menedez talking about when they say we need to market Hawai'i as a place to surf and "The surfing industry has been stolen from Hawai'i"?

Surfers especially enjoy traveling to inexpensive countries with warm water and uncrowded, pristine waves, so it is no wonder Indonesia is popular. Surfers are also traveling the world in search of new, big-wave frontiers and that next, new secret spot. Many surfers would like to come and surf here, but they know it is expensive and crowded. Still, everyone knows that Hawai'i is the home of surfing.

Markrich's preliminary study of last year's Triple Crown concluded that the event generated $7.3 million in revenue over a six-week period (Advertiser, Feb. 16). He determined that 1,200 visitors came specifically for the three surf contests and stayed an average of 31.55 days.

The Pro Bowl brought 18,000 visitors for 8.6 days and generated $23.9 million (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 13). The Ironman brought 11,321 visitors for five to 10 days and generated $14.1 million (Advertiser Oct. 21). If these numbers are true, then surfers outspend professional football fans and triathletes $193 to $154 and $166, per day, respectively. I am doubtful.

People come to the North Shore because of the surf, not because of the surf contests. Some surf contests generate economic activity, but the majority of surf contests have negligible economic impact. Common sense reveals that the thousands of visiting recreation surfers are hugely more important economically than are the few hundred visiting competitive surfers.

The article says, "It has been estimated that the population of the North Shore expands from 18,000 to 40,000 or more during the six weeks of the Triple Crown series." Does this mean that the numbers quickly drop before Christmas vacation? Hardly. Could it be that the difference between the 1,200 Triple Crown visitors and the 22,000 surge in population includes more than a few recreational surfers who come to surf and who keep coming all winter long?

The city administration wants to exploit surfing as part of its Sports Tourism program. It points out that hundreds of thousands of people attend the Biarritz Surf Festival. French coastal resorts are large and have a great capacity for visitors, unlike our North Shore.

If Mr. Menedez wants to promote a major, international surf carnival, may I suggest the perfect place is Waikiki, world-renowned as the home of modern surfing and a place capable of handling the desired throngs. The Convention Center might even be available.

The contention that the legendary surf spot Pipeline "could be elbowed out as a major competitive wave destination" is preposterous. Is there a surfer in the world who would say that he is prouder of winning a contest at Biarritz than at Pipeline?