Posted on: Thursday, April 22, 2004

Letters to the Editor

Kamehameha Schools should be targeted

As a public school teacher in a predominantly Hawaiian community, I know the statistics Haunani Apoliona cites in her commentary ("Why OHA got into the fray," April 16) very well. However, she has targeted the wrong institution to "break up" and over which to advocate for local control.

The real culprit for this unacceptable condition for Hawaiians is Kamehameha Schools. By "creaming off" the most academically promising students of Hawaiian ancestry, Kamehameha Schools deprives the vast majority of deserving students the opportunity to experience a first-class education. Public schools, then, courageously take on the responsibility for educating those students who may need special-education services — students whose parents are not involved in their education, students whose primary language is not English ... and the list goes on.

My solution is to break up Kamehameha Schools, the former Bishop Estate, and elect local groups of Hawaiian parents to put in charge of its $6 billion in assets. I bet we would see some dramatic changes that would really benefit Hawaiians and all of us.

Blame teacher union for school problems

For those teachers unhappy with the lack of respect they feel, thank your union. After two strikes and a third on the horizon, one would think that you would begin to understand that your union isn't up to the job.

As one who pays your salary, I am annoyed to not be able to reward those of you who do such a fine job. Equally, it annoys me not to be able to fire those of you who have no business in a classroom. Your union makes this so. Your union says that I must reward all of you the same, and that it will shelter those incompetents from the ranks of the unemployed.

Maybe I would have more compassion and direct my anger at the parents (the real problem) if every other week there weren't a sign in front of the school declaring yet another waiver day. Of course, waiver days and teacher workdays always fall before, or after, a three-day weekend. I've been to your school on these waiver days and teacher workdays; nobody is there, save the few in the library with pastries, but only if you go before noon.

On an annual basis, you are part-time workers earning full-time salaries and benefits. You want respect? Earn it! Step out from under the umbrella of your union and show us what you can do. If you're good at what you do, I'll be the first in line to see that you're compensated, and then we can work on the real problem, "parents."

Internet shows way to energy solutions

In high technology, we focus on sexy, exciting aspects of data and voice, but I submit that over the next decade and beyond we will see a scramble to ensure we guarantee electrical power for all of these wonderful technologies, if not for our everyday lives. Our vision should be to do with energy what we have done with the Internet.

When Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, he enabled the everyman to participate and enhance the greater good of data communication. The Internet itself is democratic, global, self-managing, scalable and fault-tolerant, and many of those attributes were what DARPA had in mind when it spawned the Internet over three decades ago.

Hawai'i's electrical grid could be structured where communities sponsor wind farms and solar energy and perhaps someday contribute to 50 percent of the power generated, replacing that much energy provided, which today is produced by burning diesel fuel. The state's electrical grid is redundant and somewhat fault-tolerant, but it is burdened. But today it can accommodate those who produce their own electricity.

Much as the everyman can contribute to the Web, I hope that individuals are contributing to the state's power grid, too. We're all in an age where we take electricity for granted, much as we do running water. It's almost a given as much as the reasonably clean air we breathe. We can solidify our operating future by proactively reducing our dependence on crude oil.

Today we complain of rising prices of electricity and gasoline. That means we have to start now.

Veto of warning signs at tourist sites bad idea

I don't agree with Department of Parks and Recreation director William Balfour's decision to veto signs at tourist sites in Hawai'i.

At the same time, the proposed sign itself was not too great. Why not something that tells it like it is, like "High theft area, keep cars locked"?

Councilman Charles Djou is certainly correct in saying that "things don't get done in Hawai'i government." This is a good example of why.

Diamond Head area hosts too many races

Your article about the Honolulu Triathlon included how the racers enjoyed the closed streets of Honolulu. The other side of that coin is that for the 40-something professional athletes, and the 700 amateur racers, there were thousands of residents trapped at home for the day.

Don't get me wrong. I'm an athlete and enjoy participating in many of these events myself. But far too many races are put on in the Kapi'olani/Diamond Head area. There is literally a race blocking my driveway almost every single weekend.

And if there isn't a race, it's weekend joggers providing a steady stream of congestion. Don't forget, this area is also blocked for the whole day of the marathon, and the whole morning of the Tin Man Triathlon, and the Symphony Fun Run and ...

Why not spread the burden? The city should limit permits for races in the Kapi'olani/Diamond Head area and put them in other places. How about the Waipi'o Peninsula, where the city has plunked so much money into soccer fields and tennis courts? And think, race participants there could find easy parking and it would be a much more manageable area for police to block off roads.

Inoa'ole best music at Kapono's since Willie K

Many are familiar with the local music scene, to some extent. I enjoy the likes of Kapono, Kapena, Willie K (when on island) and the magic hands of Jake. Anyway, to the point: I work downtown and recently I went to Kapono's at Aloha Tower and was pleasantly surprised. There was a group called Inoa'ole performing, and let me tell you, these guys are the best thing to happen to the Kapono's venue since Willie K.

The music was only part of it, though; these guys set a relaxed, warm ambience, the kind where you feel like you are with friends and the kanikapila goes on into the night.

The band members were approachable; they had a playful stage persona that had you smiling when you weren't dancing (or at the very least tapping your foot). I felt these guys deserved a "shout out."

Hawai'i drivers should drive with predictability

All of my driving on the Mainland while on vacation, and for the numerous years I spent living on the East Coast, was done with other drivers who understand that efficient traffic flow is accomplished with predictable driving habits.

Drivers acting in the same, predictable ways results from being able to read, understand and prepare for pavement markings and traffic signage and impending changes in lights, lanes and roads while following driving rules such as passing on the left, not traveling unnecessarily in the merge lane and being able to react appropriately and consistently for most road conditions.

Hawai'i's drivers are undertrained and too often jeopardize the lives of other drivers because of their inability to act consistently while operating a motor vehicle.

When drivers understand this point — and the necessary changes are made to driver licensing tests that will require this understanding — traffic in Hawai'i will become more of the science it has become in the rest of the country, which can then lead to implementing applicable and meaningful traffic management solutions.

Speed limits and traffic signal "wait times" are a diversion. Let's solve the problems our drivers are causing.

Drug addicts must be given treatment

Fifteen million dollars for treatment of ice addicts in the current legislative budget — that is great.

To balance that, our lawmakers need to give law enforcement the tools to go after the leaders profiting from this epidemic. Bringing back the "walk and talk" and letting federally obtained wiretap evidence be used in our state courts would strengthen law enforcement's abilities.

I urge lawmakers to build a new treatment prison to assure the safety of Hawai'i's people. Treatment through the prison system would be a wake-up call for users of illegal drugs who commit crimes. It could also prevent a situation like our recent Maui shooting of a mother who had 25 felony arrests.

I still wonder why she was out on our streets. If she were doing some time for her crimes, Lisa Tomita Kaina might still have had a future with her children.

Especially if there were treatment available to her as an inmate.

Abandoned vehicles should be removed

I am concerned about the abandoned vehicles at the intersection of Fort Weaver and Old Fort Weaver Road.

Sen. Willie Espero and other legislators of this district have been diligently trying to have these vehicles removed for more than a couple of months. The dumping of these vehicles occurred in February. All the efforts and numerous calls to the city and state agencies imploring that these abandoned and unsightly vehicles be removed have been met with frustration.

As the months pass, these vehicles are continually being stripped and vandalized, resulting in an even greater eyesore and embarrassment to the residents of 'Ewa and 'Ewa Beach.

It is now nearly three months since residents have been subjected to this unsightly dump. Why must we be exposed to this eyesore for such an unreasonable time? When will the city or state take care of these abandoned and stripped vehicles so that 'Ewa and 'Ewa Beach can be a respectable community — one that our residents can be proud to live in?

Legislature cut money for important memberships

I was annoyed, disappointed and then angry when I discovered that the state Legislature had not approved the annual membership dues for the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Pacific Basin Development Council (PBDC).

NGA is an organization consisting of the 55 governors of all the states, territories and commonwealths. It holds an annual and winter meeting each year to discuss issues of importance to the states and territories. Discussion among the governors allows for the exchange of information and collaboration in a number of areas.

Fortune magazine recently named NGA as one of Washington's most powerful lobbying organizations due, in large part, to its ability to lead the debate on issues that impact states. From welfare reform to education, from the historic tobacco settlement to wireless communications tax policies, NGA has influenced major public policy issues while maintaining the strength of our federalist system of government.

The Pacific Basin Development Council was established in 1980 with membership consisting of the governors of Hawai'i, American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Govs. Arioyshi and Waihee were very active with the organization. Gov. Cayetano, for reasons known only to him, did not participate during his eight years as governor.

PBDC, for two decades, dealt with a number of regional issues to include essential air service, funding for the containment of the brown tree snake, working on impacts of the increased number of freely associated citizens migrating to Guam and Hawai'i, the establishment of the FEMA office in Honolulu, issues relating to fishing, coastal zone management, telecommunications and other important issues to the region. Gov. Lingle has shown interest in regional issues and deserves the right to participate in both organizations.

I can only assume that the state Legislature, in its wisdom, did not cut the dues for the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Western Conference of the Council of State Governments — two organizations that it is actively involved with.