Posted on: Tuesday, September 16, 2003

Letters to the Editor

Noisy frog should be treated respectfully

I understand the small coqui frog is noisy and irritating, as explained in the Sept. 7 story "Assault on O'ahu coqui planned." What bothers me is the attitude toward these animals. Somehow they got here to Hawai'i from Puerto Rico, and because they are "noisy," it is determined they will be killed.

The article describes how the colonies will be killed with an acid solution. There has also been reduction of numbers with hand-picking. I'm curious. What method of killing was used after the frogs were "hand-picked"?

What bothers me most is a comment by Nilton Matayoshi, chief of the Chemical/Mechanical Control Section of the Department of Agriculture's Plant Pest Control Branch. Regarding the coqui, Mr. Matayoshi said, "It's like controlling weeds."

Mr. Matayoshi, these are not weeds. These are living, breathing creatures and should be treated respectfully. I do not believe there is not a solution to the "coqui problem" other than killing them, and not necessarily humanely.

'Minority degradation' is important reading

I was very pleased to see the Sept. 7 Advertiser carry the piece entitled "Minority degradation is new chic" on the front of the Focus section. The writer was Stanley Crouch of Knight Ridder News Service.

Parents might consider this required reading for their intermediate and high school children, and older.

He writes about the thug and porn-star stereotypes of our young people's celebrities. I think his piece might have been motivated by the MTV Video Music Awards. He talks about how our young people, especially black Americans and American women, have been sold a terrible bill of goods. "They have come to believe, far too often, that self-degradation is the purest form of liberty." He writes how the "gangster" and "slut" stereotypes have been embraced.

Teachers might find this an interesting article to discuss in an appropriate class. It's a subject I haven't seen anyone have the courage to write about and might be long overdue.

Kamehameha programs jeopardized by ruling

I am concerned about all race-related programs and whether they could be in jeopardy based on the Brayden Mohica-Cummings ruling.

In addition to providing excellent educational opportunities to students on three campuses, Kamehameha provides post-high-school financial assistance to Hawaiian children locally and on the Mainland and provides preschool education to young children throughout the state. Ultimately, any race-related program could be targeted.

State law recognizes legally adopted children as those who can receive benefits from parents along with natural-birth children, not hanai children. We have long realized that to provide guarantees for our hanai children, we need to adopt them.

Shame on us for TV program choices

I am an O'ahu resident currently back in Texas for the funeral of a loved one. I made the mistake of distracting myself this evening by viewing one of the many television programs dedicated to promoting "love and true happiness." To my dismay, I realized how morally bankrupt we, as a nation, have become — not only in terms of our entertainment choices, but also in terms of honesty and moral integrity.

I work at a hospital that treats mental patients, but I can assure you that as a group, they possess more innate dignity and passion for life than the poor examples of the "beautiful and successful people" who are plastered across our television screens. Shame on us.

Kamehameha should have greater impact

On Aug. 24, your paper printed a commentary, "Kamehameha Schools' policy advocates social justice," submitted by Kamehameha trustees. Without evaluating the "rightness" or "wrongness" of their admissions policy or the salaries of the trustees, it seems to me the school gets a failing grade: Kamehameha should have graduated sufficient numbers and have had a greater impact on the Hawaiian community.

The statistics listed by the trustees bear repeating:

• In 2000, Hawaiian children in our public schools scored 11 percent below their non-Hawaiian classmates on reading tests.
• About one in five Hawaiian high school students is held back a grade.
• Nearly half — 40 percent — of adults in prison have identified themselves as Hawaiian.
• Hawaiians make up 19 percent of the state population, but account for 39 percent of the people in shelters for the homeless.
• Forty-seven percent of the children in shelters for the homeless are Hawaiian.
• The poverty rate of Hawaiian families is more than twice that of non-Hawaiian families.
• Hawaiians have the highest death rate of any major ethnic group in Hawai'i.

Staggering, unacceptable statistics. And in my opinion, Kamehameha Schools is failing the Hawaiian community. If after 116 years of graduating leaders into the community and the above statistics prevail, I suggest the trustees find a better way — without having to wait another 116 years.

If I have offended, I apologize but beg to remind that I have a Hawaiian grandson, a brilliant student attending a Mainland college as well as having attended the University of Cairo.

Aircraft carrier would be great for Hawai'i

I, too, am a Makakilo resident, but I think a carrier would be great for Hawai'i. Let's see — jobs, boost in the economy, jobs and more jobs.

Just think of the money that would be pumped into our local businesses. Wow. Each carrier has a ship's company on board of about 3,000 sailors. Not to mention the air wing of maybe another 2,000.

Not all the questions have been asked yet and not all the problems have been addressed, but I'm sure they will be addressed. So as a resident, I speak out in favor of the carrier, and I believe our senior politicians have already spoken in favor as well.

The sounds of the jet engines are the sounds of freedom.

Mall's crackdown on parking mean-spirited

The afternoon of Aug. 30, we made our way to Kahala Mall for the first of this season's Football Express to Aloha Stadium for the UH football game. We have been doing this for several years and have found it a great way to get to the game — less traffic, no parking hassle; all the PC goodies. It is wonderfully civic-minded.

Of course, the bus strike was in full swing, so the good people at Roberts were making the alternative transportation arrangements. So far, so good.

But then something very untoward happened.

We were astounded that the Kahala Mall security were out in full force, rousting anyone and everyone who looked remotely intentioned of going to the game (green shirt, UH visor, body paint, whatever paraphernalia that would be telltale) to get their car off their lot, and that these deadbeat fans were not welcome to park on the mall property.

Remember, this is 4:30 Saturday afternoon — hardly prime time.

Now, I spend a lot of money at that mall — every week. And I know that the people who were being rousted were seniors like me. So I am astounded that the mall management had the temerity and insensitivity — during this bus strike, of all times — to make such an ill-conceived and mean-spirited crackdown.

Credit the military for helping secure money

I would like to commend Jennifer Hiller for her coverage of the Department of Education receiving an additional $3.5 million in federal impact aid ("Hawai'i schools to get $3.5M more," Sept. 3).

This effort took many months of hard work by everyone involved.

Although I found this "obscure provision" in U.S. law, it was the efforts of our military partners that made these additional funds possible.

To secure the funds, the state needed to document military housing units that were vacant because of necessary and major renovations. Our military partners assisted in this effort.

Although too numerous to mention, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to a few hard-working military personnel who made this all possible. Please join me in thanking Col. David Tom, Allen Awaya, Joeann McCarthy, Capt. Chris Conklin, Terina Clark, Marc Aoyama and Evelyn Almaraz.

The state of Hawai'i is truly grateful to have such a special relationship with our military. It is true — together, we can do much.

'Malihini haoles' can feel your pain

As a recent resident of Hawai'i, I continue to hear how I cannot understand the oppression suffered by Hawaiians. "Locals" need to be aware of their arrogance toward "malihini haoles."

My French-Canadian family emigrated from Canada only 100 years ago. Upon entering New England, my grandparents were subjected to the largest organized group of the Ku Klux Klan. A number of their immediate family and friends were tortured, killed and, yes, had crosses burned in their front yards due to their religious faith and ethnicity.

Yes, Hawaiians, I feel your pain. But please do not assume white skin means ignorance to your plight. Mahalo.

Slowing creeping urban growth on our ag lands

The recent Hokuli'a ruling is a blessing for farmers throughout the state of Hawai'i.

The explosion of luxury subdivisions masquerading as agricultural in nature is having a profound effect on farmers on every island. It might be pointed out that many of the plaintiffs in the Hokuli'a case, Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians, are farmers.

The ahupua'a upon which the Hokuli'a development sits were described by Fornander in the early 1800s as "one of the agricultural wonders of the world."

Since the inception of the Hokuli'a project, rents have tripled in mauka Kona (if you can find anything to rent), there is no moderate income housing available, and land speculation has boomed. This may be good for the real estate business and for developers, but for farmers it's bad news.

Sadly, it's a saga being repeated on agricultural lands throughout America.

For years, powerful, big-money developers have flaunted their power in the face of reasonable land-use planning. Hokuli'a invested heavily in local politicians and skirted around state land-use law, knowing exactly what they were doing.

In a state with an abundance of agricultural potential, it's a travesty that we import 80 percent of our food.

Listen up, Ms. Lingle. This state needs more support for family farmers, not less agricultural land.

Kaiser should trim fat, not raise rates

In a published interview in May, Janice Head, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan president, stated she planned to lower the costs of healthcare by spending "tens of millions of dollars over the next several years" improving their computer system.

I knew there was something very wrong with that statement.

Costs are never lowered by increasing expenses in this manner, especially in healthcare, and it was obvious premiums would have to be raised. Kaiser doesn't deserve a rate hike because of how it spends its money. Is it really necessary to run Kaiser commercials all day, every day in a small state with only a few health plans? What it needs to do is trim some fat.