Letters to the Editor

Perceptions of failure not based on the facts

On the second anniversary of the savage 9-11 attacks on the United States, two years in which our president has produced two spectacular military victories, I'm alarmed at the perceptions of failure being promoted by Democrats and mainstream media.

In his address a few nights ago, President Bush reminded us that this war on terrorism will be long and hard-fought. And he outlined for us a strategy that focuses on fighting this war not on American soil but on battlegrounds of our choosing.

The reconstruction and democratization of Iraq is proceeding, although you won't find the successes reported in the mainstream media. Instead, the media focus on the rantings of the nine Democratic presidential pretenders who, like the terrorists, cannot stand the prospect of American success in Iraq. They would rather put the U.N. in charge, virtually assuring non-victory. (Korean War, anyone? Or how about Gulf War I?)

And we hear the complaints from Europeans who cannot stand being proven wrong. Or duplicitous. And we hear carping from the previous administration, which can't stand having its own miserable failures against terrorism brought to light before a thinking public.

Vietnam is the analogy of choice for the president's critics. They try to create the perception of a costly and demoralizing "quagmire" in Iraq. When one reads the other side of the story, encouraging reports of success from Iraq, one quickly sees that President Bush is on the right track.

Lawsuits against airlines dismaying

Regarding a recent article describing a move by families of Sept. 11 victims to bring action against U.S. airlines: I may be way out of line, but except for the thousands of our military personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq who risk their lives every day, I can't believe what a bunch of complaining whiners Americans have become.

Worse yet are the ambulance chasers who've convinced those families to blame the airlines and make some money off the tragedy.

Maybe it's too easy for me to criticize, since I didn't lose a loved one in the Sept. 11 attacks. But did any families of victims of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack seek to extort money from the U.S. Army or Navy?

Admissions policy is the right thing to do

I strongly support Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy. Giving preference to Hawaiian applicants is in keeping with the best traditions of American social justice. It is the right thing to do.

Princess Pauahi quite rightly saw education as the salvation of her people, the best way to improve their well-being and bring them a brighter future. When she died in 1884, most Hawaiians were impoverished, poorly educated. Many had severe health problems. Sadly, to a great extent, that is still true. The needs that Pauahi saw still exist in the 21st century in Hawai'i's workforce, its welfare rolls, its unemployment statistics, its prisons and homeless shelters and hospitals.

By bringing hope for a brighter future to Hawaiian children, Kamehameha makes this a better society for all of us, Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian alike. The leaders of Hawai'i — and the courts — must support the Kamehameha Schools as they carry out Pauahi's noble mission. The first people of these Islands deserve no less. The rest of us will benefit, too.

I mua.

Twigg-Smith's views distort historical fact

T. Twigg-Smith's letter of Aug. 20 left me amazed, angered and sad.

As were the Americans of the 1800s in Hawai'i, he is quick to blame the queen for government manipulations by businessmen-cum-politicians who were looking for laws favorable to sugar profits. True, she was trying to promulgate a new constitution to counter the Bayonet Constitution (not so-named because King Kalakaua held a bayonet to the throats of American businessmen; quite the other way around). History indicates her motives were not out of greed or ambition, but for the benefit of her people.

Twigg-Smith's own words reveal his motives as well as those of the overthrowers: "When the Republic of Hawai'i was finally annexed by the United States ... ". That was always the goal of the American businessmen who marched on the path to overthrow the monarchy.

I am angered that Twigg-Smith applied selective "American values" to his distortion at the expense of Hawaiian values, which were (successfully) attacked and eroded. And finally, I am saddened that he will never understand our people, whose open society and aloha spirit allowed his aggressive forebears to take such advantage and subjugate the native population so quickly.

The Advertiser often adds a quick description of a writer to let the reader know of the writer's perspective. I wish The Advertiser had identified Thurston Twigg-Smith as "a direct descendant of Lorrin Thurston, who played a key role in the overthrow of Queen Lili'uolakani."

Innocent inmates convicted without trial

The last of the Hawai'i inmates who were caught in the middle of a riot situation that took over three hours to defuse in the Oklahoma Diamondback Correctional Facility July 20 are slowly earning their right to due process back.

But the innocent inmates who were caught outside of their cells on the monitor cameras in this prison after they came from their facility jobs want to know if it's fair to convict them of a crime without giving them a fair trial. They also want to know who gave the Oklahoma staff members the power to stop their personal and legal mail from reaching their families in Hawai'i.

Ever since the Wisconsin inmates moved to the Diamondback prison in Watonga, Okla., they have been segregated from the inmates from the two other states represented in this prison, which are Hawai'i and Oklahoma. I believe this has created a lot of tension and stress in the minds of the Hawai'i and Oklahoma inmates because the Diamondback staff members and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle are practicing a form of discrimination and isolation that should have been abolished when the 1965 Civil Rights Act was introduced.

Rescuers are already on the city's payroll

When hikers are lost and the search and rescue teams and the Fire Department helicopter are deployed to find them, which sometimes takes days, are these hikers made to pay the cost of their rescue? When the surf is up on the North Shore and surfers need help and have to be rescued, are they charged a fee? When a boat at sea is in trouble and sinking, are these people made to pay for their rescue?

No, the city pays the firefighters and the lifeguards to do a job. Which is to help people in distress. And there were many people in distress on Labor Day. And all involved did a wonderful job.

The media are implying that taxpayers will incur the cost of rescuing the swimmers, when in fact these people were doing what they are paid to do.

Don't go overboard with 'aweoweo catch

The present 'aweoweo run is sort of a good news, sad news situation to this longtime shoreline fisherman. With no regulations to the amount one may catch, thousands of individuals are catching several hundred thousands of 'aweoweo, and one must ask, are they catching just enough for their family to eat or catching more than they need because it's "good fun" and wasting the rest?

These baby 'aweoweo could someday mature and spawn more fish for future generations to enjoy. I remember in the 1950s when moi-li (baby moi) would run annually like the 'aweoweo are running today and fishermen would catch them by the thousands. Today, you can hardly find moi-li, and adult moi have to be pen-fed for you to purchase in the markets.

The message here is to enjoy the 'aweoweo run, but don't go overboard with your catch; leave some for another day. The other message is that legend has it that something significant will happen or is happening, such as the passing of an ali'i during such 'aweoweo runs. Could it be a sign of all that pilikia on Kapalama Heights? I hope not.

Accident points out danger of sleep apnea

Prayers for Daniel Mapu are a fixture at many Ko'olau Loa family meals and community gatherings. Daniel was the young man struck by a pickup-truck driver reportedly asleep at the wheel while Daniel was sign-waving against drug abuse on Kam Highway in Ka'a'awa.

Daniel has been a great role model for our kids and was performing a great community service when he was injured. As an independent news photojournalist, I have documented most major Ko'olau Loa traffic tragedies over the past 10 years with many past images published in The Honolulu Advertiser.

While some of the tragedies were proven DUIs, there have also been several, like Daniel's tragedy, that were caused by sleep deprivation. Respectfully, I implore Gov. Lingle and the state Department of Health to begin a program at the North Shore Health Center, Kahuku, to identify those suffering from sleep apnea and treat those without insurance.

Sleep apnea is probably an islandwide problem, but the tragedies manifest themselves here in Ko'olau Loa because we are an hour away from downtown on a good day; obviously, even longer time is required due to traffic and Kam Highway roadwork.

Another contributing factor is that many people have more than one job, with some jobs out of the community, due to the small economic base that exists in Ko'olau Loa. For us to proactively attack the generally unrecognized negative effects of sleep apnea is a fitting tribute to Daniel Mapu's ongoing courageous struggle.

Harris contradicting himself on project

Didn't Mayor Harris tell Mel Kahele that he "better get used to me sticking up for the taxpayers of the city. After all, they're the ones paying the bill" ("Kahele criticizes OTS, mayor," Sept. 8)?

So what about the $1.5 million for the Hawai'i Kai beautification project that the people of Hawai'i Kai don't want? Isn't it the taxpayers' money? He said he is going through with that project. It seems as if he is contradicting himself.

Jitney service would improve our lives

Maybe it is time to retire the big, cumbersome, traffic-slowing buses in favor of something more practical and pleasant for all, including the drivers. How about a massive jitney service that is human- and environment-friendly? A jitney is a small cab or small bus offered at a reasonable fare. Electric, hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicles seating one to several people with their belongings, some with space atop for luggage, bicycles and surfboards, wheelchairs and whatnot, could be developed and built right here in Hawai'i.

The island could be divided into several different service areas. The necessary number and size of jitneys would be assigned to each area, giving transfers to adjoining areas. People could call for service, wait at designated stops or flag a jitney down, à la New York or London, but greeted with the aloha spirit and safer driving.

There would be an affordable flat rate, a discounted monthly rate, and reduced or free fares for children, students, seniors and those with disabilities or on low, fixed incomes. The larger buses could still be used for long-distance, nonstop express service. The entire system would be subsidized by state and federal funds.

Wouldn't it be nice and fun and one more thing unique to our wonderful Hawai'i to see a bunch of cute, colorful, quiet, convenient jitneys all over the place instead of our current, generic monster buses? So many people would want to ride them, there would be far fewer vehicles in general clogging our lives.