Posted on: Tuesday, September 9, 2003

Letters to the Editor

Mel Kahele is not off on his own agenda

I have been a Teamster member, employed at United Parcel Service for 24 years and a member of the Teamsters Executive Board for the past eight years. Any representation that Teamsters President Mel Kahele is off on his own agenda during this strike is an insult to every board member and every voting member of the Teamsters who elected us all.

Mel has always put the members' best interest first with every decision he makes. All major actions are discussed and agreed upon by the Teamsters' executive board. We work closely with Mel Kahele in implementing our policy decisions, and at no time is that more important than during a walkout.

I know this because I was on strike for nearly two weeks at United Parcel Service in 1997. We must all stand behind him and our fellow transit systems workers.

In the final analysis, we all want the same thing — a first-class public bus system that has been and will continue to be the envy of every major metropolitan area across the country. The few grumblers within our own ranks need to realize what it means to be a union member and quit shooting themselves (and us) in the foot.

Four-day workweek would ease congestion

If the city is hunting for options to reduce strike-induced traffic congestion (Aug. 28, "City's hunt for options goes on"), it can get cars off the road by offering alternate or compressed work schedules.

This arrangement commonly calls for working 40 hours in fewer than five days. Most widely used are 10-hour days, four days a week. Commutes can be outside the usual rush hour because of the extended workday. Traffic would be further reduced as employees are off the road the day they don't report to work. Theoretically, if everyone participated, traffic could be reduced by one-fifth. Unlike some alternatives, it's free.

Granted, a compressed schedule won't work for every workplace or employee, but it is possible in many job settings. Some progressive state offices have successfully implemented such programs.

The city can lead here. An informal survey of my city co-workers revealed several would be interested in a trial run for the compressed workweek. HGEA has voiced support for the concept. Should the program work, it could be extended beyond the bus strike, prolonging traffic-reducing benefits. If the city is sincere about its "hunt for options," why not implement this one?

Bus strikers might learn from Europe

Recent strikes in Europe by groups that have tried to use the public as hostages to gain their demands have failed. The most recent was by the firefighters in the U.K., who, after over 12 months of strikes, had to go back to work under worse conditions than they had enjoyed. And enjoyed is the correct word.

The O'ahu bus strike is clearly about a union that has had success holding the community hostage and is doing it again.

Paying a bus driver more than a teacher is probably the result of the population becoming stupid. Why teach when you can earn more driving a bus?

Paying a bus driver more than a policeman may result in what has happened in many other places. When you pay the police peanuts, you sow the seeds for corruption.

Paying firefighters less than a bus driver may result in fires being set by a desperate fireman so he can earn overtime pay.

Paying medical personnel less than bus drivers is just taking advantage of the dedication of health workers. You as a community should be ashamed.

You have a strike, it's real and it hurts. But think of it as an opportunity to make the pay adjustment that must be made if you intend on having a viable economy.

Fallout from the strike

Paying a personal price for the bus strike:

• New radiator: $600
• New brakes: $275
• New headlight: $25
• New struts: $225
• Rental car: $75
• Car-pool friends: priceless

Kamehameha students had a common bond

One of the great achievements in my life was going to Kamehameha. At Kamehameha, all students were linked by a common bond: We were all Hawaiian. Now it seems that is no more.

I am sorry to see that Hawaiians lost their last great accomplishment. What would the princess say to this? Would she approve of it, or would she hang her head and cry? I doubt this is what she had in mind when she wanted to educate the children of Hawai'i.

Now Hawaiians will have to prove themselves more worthy to take up Pauahi's dream, for the field has expanded greatly. My only wish is for Hawaiians to remain strong, for this is only one more bump in the road of our heritage and culture.

Congratulations to all in Kamehameha decision

Aloha — love — is the theme in a mele inoa, honorific name chant, for Bernice Pauahi Bishop, founder of Kamehameha Schools: "... Aloha, love is of great value. It is what I do cherish, Lest it fall to the ground and perish ... "

Congratulations to the U.S. District Judge David Ezra for his specific court order decision, and for the aloha he extended to 12-year-old Kaua'i student Brayden Mohica-Cummings, allowing him to enroll at Kamehameha Schools.

Congratulations to Master Mohica-Cummings for his aloha demeanor, grace and calm throughout. Congratulations to Kalena Santos and her aloha to accommodate son Mohica-Cummings' wish to be a Kamehameha student.

Congratulations to Headmaster Michael Chun, whose words of assurance suggested that aloha is, indeed, a value at Kamehameha. (Certainly Christian Mrs. Bishop would recognize that love, that aloha, and, I believe, would be pleased.)

Congratulations to the older Kamehameha student, "big brother," who graciously offered his aloha to young Mohica-Cummings. Together, "as brothers," these two Kamehameha students are showing us the way with their aloha. High Chiefess Pauahi, husband, the Honorable Charles Reed Bishop, I believe, would be proud and approve.

May aloha, love, peace and liberty prevail throughout Hawai'i, the United States and beyond.

Theocharidis was exemplary student

Costas Theocharidis was in a class I taught at the UH College of Business Administration last year. He was an exemplary student, an engaging (and jovial) participant in every discussion and a perfect gentleman. He was hardly humble, but I never saw him as arrogant or remote, as some "student athletes" I have taught. And, of course, he is an outstanding volleyball player.

There is something very wrong in a collegiate athletic system that would penalize the whole men's volleyball team, while barely scratching the seamy surface of the shenanigans that go on in big-time college sports across the Mainland.

I don't condone misrepresenting or lying about your past, but frankly the collegiate athletic system that makes it seem necessary in this case stinks. And I believe UH was better off having had Costas as a student and an athlete than it is having a trophy in a case, painful as the loss may feel today.

We have outlived our welcome in Iraq

There is great irony in your recent editorial soliciting multinational involvement in Iraq.

The United States and the United Kingdom made a very conscious choice when they decided to wage war on Iraq against the better judgment of the world community. The bloodthirsty hawks in this administration decided to move forward "with or without" a United Nations mandate and pointedly snubbed some of our traditional allies (France, Germany and Russia) in the process. The rationale for invasion was dubious then and is dubious now, now that no weapons of mass destruction have been found.

The events of the past few weeks make it quite obvious that we have outlived our welcome in Iraq. The "stated" objectives of the Bush administration have been met. Saddam Hussein has been ousted. Even though no WMD have been found, the Iraqi infrastructure has been decimated. Now is the time for the United States to bow out gracefully and hand over "full" control to the United Nations before more and more U.S. soldiers are killed (not to mention the billions of dollars of taxpayer monies that could have been spent on a worthier cause).

The Iraqis and the Middle East will find this far more acceptable than a U.S. "supreme" command and continued occupation.

Rees' commentary on elections chief biased

Robert Rees' Aug. 17 commentary about the elections chief was slanted. Rees seems to be trying to become a sixth member of the Elections Appointment and Review Panel.

He stated that the chief elections officer, Dwayne Yoshina, is a scapegoat. No, Bob, that was four years ago by the previous administration. The recount was his responsibility then, yet he was reappointed by a vote of 3 to 2 by our panel.

The panel is made up of appointees from the House and Senate majority and minority and the governor. The governor's appointee was a carry-over from Gov. Cayetano. Most appointees of the previous governor resign, but not in Ray Pua's case.

Rees tried to interject his opinion during our past meeting, but the second time the panel voted not to let him have the floor again for testimony; yet he did get a few extra words in by the ruling of Pua, the chairman, before the action was ruled out of order. Bias is the only word for his actions. No other reporter or media person would show such partisanship. He is not even trying to be even-handed.

First bonus, then fine

Give June Jones the $10,000 bonus. Then, because he is so wonderful, take back $20,000 because he let Timmy Chang slip through his superb academic crack.

Don't blame committee for Roughwater disaster

I swam in the Roughwater Swim. There is a huge hullabaloo going on about this event. Hindsight is always 20/20. The conditions that day were like "The Perfect Storm": The worst of all possible conditions came together.

This event is 34 years old; never before has this happened, and it probably won't happen again. However, we have every naysayer pointing a finger at the Roughwater Swim committee. The swimmers were warned about the severe current and were advised not to go if they had any doubts about their ability.

The swimmers taking part in this event are not beginners; they are seasoned swimmers. The conditions were extreme; yet standing on the shore, you looked out on a benign ocean, with a bit of a wind chop. Period. You can't see the current.

In hindsight, it would have been most beneficial to know the speed of the current. I'm sure the Roughwater Swim committee will be measuring the current in the future.

Yes, it turned into a disaster, the biggest rescue ever. The firefighters, EMS, Coast Guard, lifeguards and all the other boats that came to the rescue were wonderful. The Roughwater committee shouldn't be stuck with the bill for this.

These professionals are employed to perform rescues; they were on duty. This was extreme. We needed them. They were there. It's their job. Mahalo! And what a great training day it was for them — it all worked so well.

I know. I was there. I was one of the first swimmers back on the beach at the start line after a futile 45 minutes of fighting the current and my way back to the start. The rescue was impressive. We were all safely back on terra firma. And the Roughwater Swim committee has learned a lot. The hard way.