Posted on: Friday, September 26, 2003

Letters to the Editor

Drug paraphernalia stores hurt crusade

The city, state and federal governments and public and private sector organizations, including individuals who have family members coping with the problems of crystal meth, should all be commended for doing their part combating the serious ice problem here in Hawai'i.

However, it saddens many of us to see several retail stores here selling drug-smoking accessories such as rolling papers, metal and wood pipes for smoking marijuana and hashish, and glass pipes designed for smoking meth.

I hope the news media will conduct interviews with the owners of these types of retail stores and ask them how they think they are contributing in the fight against illegal drugs.

Fix the ice problem by fixing our schools

Hawai'i's ice epidemic, for this parent of four, brings to focus bone-wrenching concern and sadness. I've discovered a call to action at a new level and drive that I've never really experienced before.

What is ever so clear is that I need to talk to my children more. Conversations at the dinner table every night about our day's activities is not going to be enough to substantiate a routine of daily communication. It is ever so evident: I have to work harder to make sure their homework is complete and that they've understood and absorbed their day's lessons, and my wife and I are immediately setting up appointments with their teachers.

My wife or I will have to get involved in their schools' parent/teacher boards to contribute ideas, for it appears a lack of parental involvement, a lack of education and a lack of communication are the culprits for this epidemic.

In general terms, it was painfully clear that the addicts did not understand the consequences of taking the drug, and when they did, it was too late. This understanding is surely built upon knowledge and the ability to learn. Every child in Hawai'i's schools has the ability to learn, comprehend and mature into a successful adult.

So wake up, legislators, as I've been woken up. You want to fix the ice problem? Start by fixing our schools. Fix our educational system. Do what you have been telling us you would do for years, and that is make Hawai'i's school system "second to none." The consequences are in your face.

Drug summit points up the need for overhaul

The drug summit is now history, with tens of thousands of words, much wringing of hands, numerous pie-in-the-sky recommendations, but no money (unless you count the profits to major drug dealers and their lawyers) to even keep pace with the numbers of addicts and related criminal activities.

During the summit, law enforcement officials trumpeted a raid on a major Waipahu drug house that arrested nine people, some of whom were previously arrested on a raid at the same location some months prior. Narcotics, firearms and currency were again seized. One of those arrested had 80 prior arrests, a second 50 prior arrests and a third 41 prior arrests, but still they were released. In the latest raid, unless there were outstanding warrants, all were again "released pending further investigation." Not much of an incentive to reform.

The spineless Legislature refuses to give our local prosecutor the tools to fight this blight and does not even allow the local laws to conform to the more stringent federal standards. As for money, forget it. Meanwhile, the state Parole Board keeps pushing dangerous criminals out the back door to make way for new recruits coming in the front door.

The present system is beyond even life support. The only alternative I see after almost 40 years experience in federal law enforcement is for the federal government to be petitioned to take over the entire justice system from the state. Honest citizens need constitutional protection as much as, if not more than, our criminal elements. Let's get moving.

Fan behavior at UNLV game was shameful

I was also present at the UNLV game, and we left early because people chose to bring their "mokeness" with them.

I was extremely ashamed of the behavior going on and also felt unsafe. Alcohol was everywhere — people carrying trays with 16 beers in the tray. What's up with that?

They need to separate the Rebel fans from the Hawai'i fans and not seat us together or this will unfortunately happen again.

Jones' contract isn't 'money laundering'

It's ludicrous to call June Jones' contract "money laundering." Public college Division-I football coaches everywhere are paid in the same way.

Compensation is partly from the state, with the remainder from the booster club. I've seen details of other prominent coaches' contracts. Booster clubs also made up the difference in agreed-upon amounts to be paid the coach from his camp and TV and radio shows that he was unable to get from the state. Also, coach Jones' perks and incentives are very similar to other head coaches', although less in overall value.

We are fortunate to have him, and this is much ado about nothing. A failing football program will destroy UH's gains in gender equity.

A bushel of lies about the Iraq war

So I lied about Iraq being a threat to the U.S.

So I lied about Iraq having WMD — no nukes, no biological or chemical agents.

So I lied about Iraq having ties to 9-11 terrorists.

So I lied about Iraq trying to purchase uranium from an African country.

So I lied about the cost of going to war with Iraq.

So I lied about having plans to rebuild Iraq.

So I lied about the cost of rebuilding Iraq.

So I'm giving secret, huge, no-bid contracts to campaign donor corporations, especially Halliburton, to aid in the war and the rebuilding of Iraq.

HELP!

Mayor has ignored Mapunapuna flooding

I recently viewed the primary reason why people are criticizing the mayor. A recent news broadcast showed deplorable flooding conditions in the business district of Mapunapuna.

Local business operators are struggling to keep businesses from closing because of this 12-year-old problem. Yes, 12 years. They have asked for assistance from the mayor, to no avail. The city response? "We are working with council members to address the situation."

Isn't it interesting how this vital core function has been ignored for the mayor's entire eight years as mayor and previously as managing director. Maybe it needs a median and some trees. I got it. How about a $500,000 community sign warning motorists of flooding conditions?

There's nothing wrong with donating to coach

We were, frankly, shocked and saddened by your Sept. 22 editorial suggesting there was something wrong in allowing donations from private citizens to go toward the University of Hawai'i's Athletic Support Fund, which supports the university's entire athletic program, including the salaries of coach June Jones and his staff.

The practice of supplementing public funds with private funds for endowed chairs, faculty and student research, and academic and athletic programs is part of every public university's financial plan throughout the United States. In fact, private philanthropic support is essential to provide the "margin of excellence" so necessary to every public university, like the University of Hawai'i.

It is disappointing to learn that the editors of one of Hawai'i's major newspapers are apparently not aware of this common practice, which is critical for attracting and retaining the best and the brightest faculty at any institution of higher education, whether public or private.

Donations from private individuals are critical to our ability to help UH develop equally strong academic and athletic programs. Because only 52 percent of the university's budget comes from state funding, we must depend on generous private donors to make up the balance.

Not only is there nothing wrong with the practice of private donors making a gift to any part of the university they choose, this is exactly the kind of spirited and generous community philanthropy we need more of if we are going to develop the kind of world-class academic and athletic programs Hawai'i wants and deserves.

We all owe these donors tremendous thanks for their continued generosity and vision. We urge others to step forward to support the University of Hawai'i with a one-time or ongoing contribution. Together, we can build a truly great university.

KASHBOX a prisoner's salvation

KASHBOX is an acronym for knowledge, attitude, skills, habits, behaviors, opinions and X, the unknown factor.

The KASHBOX therapeutic living community is at the Waiawa Correctional Facility. There are approximately 200 inmate "family" members and seven primary counselors.

All of the inmates here are of minimum security status, and most have earned a chance at release. The completion of all Parole Board and Department of Public Safety recommended programming is a prerequisite. KASHBOX completion is the key.

KASHBOX is a three-phase treatment program. There are addicts, alcoholics and other offenders here. The program focuses on criminal thinking, life management skills, tolerance, methods, anger management and other cognitive skills. Each phase is approximately three months.

Phase One encourages the new "family" member to participate in morning meetings, community meetings, AA and NA. Autobiographies are written, and family members prepare their collage assignments for later presentation.

Phase Two helps us to get in touch with our inner emotions. I have seen pit-bullish, tattooed men cry as they present their life review. We also view movies designed to instill family values. We participate in parenting classes, and some attend a nurturing fathers program with their children.

In Phase Three, life skills, goals, methods or plans to maintain sobriety are discovered and routines are developed. Inmates design charts for short- and long-term goals. There is an emphasis on clean and sober living, education and employment. Phase Three is the completion period.

Throughout all phases, we participate in primary group therapy. Here each inmate is assigned his own primary counselor. Primary groups contain 14 to 30 men.

Our days end here at 4:30 p.m. Three nights a week we have AA/NA; a recreation period of one hour provides a break at 2 p.m. The men play basketball, volleyball and baseball.

KASHBOX consists of two main buildings; each has two wings, and each wing holds 50 or so inmates. The inmates govern themselves. We issue citations and hold court. We also handle inmate mediations and assign special duty to rule violators. We have approximately 200 rules. They include leaning on furniture, failing to address each other as "Mister" and neglecting to say thank you when receiving a ticket; violence is not tolerated.

There is much more to KASHBOX than what I have mentioned. The most valuable assets we have are in our willingness to change and in the dedicated professionals who serve as our counselors, as well as the adult corrections officers who provide security.

In this period of state fiscal crises, KASHBOX needs the community's support. Help us to grow as an alternative to prison.

Here at KASHBOX we are preparing mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually to be released to rejoin our families. KASHBOX is a place of change.