Posted on: Tuesday, April 27, 2004

Letters to the Editor

Third position on Akaka legislation was ignored

It's ironic that Advertiser Editor Saundra Keyes' lengthy but ultimately halfhearted mea culpa to readers regarding recent Advertiser reporting mistakes appeared in the same Focus section (April 25) in which a two-way debate regarding the Akaka bill was featured.

Ms. Keyes ought to turn similar attention to the third position on the Akaka bill — namely that it would be bad law for most citizens of the United States and for most citizens of Hawai'i and would likely be bad for many, if not most, Native Hawaiians.

Add that the Akaka bill is probably unconstitutional and that it is (at least partly) aimed at cementing-in a perpetual-victim-class-Democratic-Party voting bloc, Ms. Keyes needs to issue another apology to Advertiser readers. To wit: Ms. Keyes needs to assure the Advertiser editorial pages reflect the fact that on important issues like the Akaka bill, there are sometimes more than two views that merit inclusion in a fair debate on public policy. And then she needs to make sure that such views are included.

Cost of selecting new police chief unwarranted

I am concerned about the upcoming cost for the selection of a new Honolulu police chief.

It was recently reported that a consultant was to be used to select the new police chief at the cost of $50,000. Does the city really feel this is a justifiable expense? (It is having problems funding the new police pay raises.) The reason reported for the use of a consultant was to ensure that the selection was fair and impartial.

It it really necessary to use a consultant? Why can't the Police Commission, whose members have no police experience, just use the age-old selection process of picking the next most senior officer?

If the city wants to put the $50,000 to a better use, it could purchase a good lunch for each police officer (2,062) at the cost of $24.25.

Identifying drivers is nearly impossible

The proposed Senate bill setting up a surveillance camera program for speeders includes a provision that the face of the driver be recognizable so that the citation will be upheld in court. Before this bill gets much further and especially before any money is spent on this idea, someone connected with this program should consult an expert photographer.

Ask the expert how easy it is to take a clearly recognizable picture of a driver coming at you at 60 mph, behind a windshield that will be partially reflecting sunlight or streetlight and may be tinted or dirty.

I'll bet it's just about impossible.

City leaders need to be put into Rusti's cage

Regarding the very unfortunate situation of Rusti the orangutan in our zoo: Why don't we put for a month at a time the City Council members in Rusti's cage and let them experience firsthand the horrible environment Rusty has to live in?

Maybe we could charge a special fee for watching our City Council members on exhibit. We could use this money to finally build Rusti what he deserves, a home he feels comfortable in.

He has been in prison for so many years. He never committed a crime; he was never able to live his life as evolution intended him to. If animals could formulate a religion, they would depict man as the devil.

Triathlon was great, not an inconvenience

Thanks to U.S.A. Athens Chef De Mission Herman Frazier, the officials and volunteers of the Honolulu Triathlon and the U.S.A. Olympic triathlon trials held recently here in Honolulu. Go U.S.A.!

I live on Diamond Head Road and was not inconvenienced during these events. To those fellow area residents who are complaining about this event or others that use the streets and parks in our area on any given Sunday, I say slow down, mellow out, go for a swim, paddle, surf. Lucky you live Hawai'i!

Children should be able to work for money

I was reading a story called "Nellie Bly" in school. The book is about Elizabeth Cochrane (given the pen name Nellie Bly), a successful woman.

My teacher taught me the word "editorial." She told me the editorial is in the newspaper, and people write their opinion and might change the law.

The reason I wrote this letter is that I want to get a job. I know I'm too young, but it can give me a head start in life.

My friend came to school with the cutest puppy in the world. Black and as small as a child shoe size 3. After school I asked my grandma if I can have a puppy (not that she said yes to the last million times I asked).

Children my age (9) can do any kind of job: cleaning, washing, helping at libraries. If you don't do a good job, you can get fired. I don't just want the money to feel rich. I'm writing this so maybe I can get a job, earn money and buy things I need to learn responsibilities of life.

The real, most exact reason I'm writing this is to reach my goal. The goal is, if I want it, I have to earn it. I hope you agree because I have never reached a goal in all my life.

Thanks for the help

I would like to thank a very helpful man, whose name I did not get, for stopping to help me change a flat tire the morning of April 12. Not only was he nice enough to stop and help me, but he went out of his way by turning around and coming back after having already driven by once.

I would like to extend my gratitude to this man because it is one thing to get stuck on the side of the road and another to be stuck on the freeway with cars flying by. To that I am very grateful. Thank you for your help.

Higher gas prices might be welcome

Shouldn't all of the liberal groups in Hawai'i be in favor of higher prices for gasoline?

After all, the higher gas prices will put the United States closer to gas prices in Europe. Peace creeps, environmentalists, socialist politicians, limousine liberals, student yahoos, Sierra Club members, assorted hate mongers, etc. should be applauding higher gas prices.

I thought we were in Iraq just for oil. Wouldn't that mean cheaper gas prices?

Why not make up an excuse and invade Mexico or Canada, since we get approximately 17 percent of our oil from those two nations?

Where's the field trip?

Regarding the front-page article Saturday about the benefactor financing a trip to Borders: How can there be a sixth-grade class in which some students have never been to a bookstore or a public library? What does this say about the state of public education in the state of Hawai'i? It is simply unthinkable. Where are the teachers and principals who should be arranging field trips to libraries?

Teachers union seeks excellence in schools

I wanted to respond to the April 22 letter from Jon Hunter that questions the union's role in improving student performance in Hawai'i's public schools.

I can assure Mr. Hunter that the Hawaii State Teachers' Association believes Hawai'i's children deserve the best, and it's our job to ensure teachers have the professional development training, tools, resources and salary and benefits they need to deliver measurable results in the classroom.

The perception that the union "protects" bad teachers simply isn't true. We can — and have — taken swift action when teachers don't perform to standard.

More than that, however, HSTA is the forefront of innovative programs designed to deliver professional support for public-school teachers and the highest-quality education for Hawai'i's public-school children. Our Leeward New Hires and "I Can Do It" programs are just two examples of how we are helping teachers do an even better job of helping kids learn.

Today, our biggest challenge is combating Hawai'i's teacher-shortage crisis. We have more than 100 "empty" classrooms without a qualified teacher. We believe Hawai'i's kids deserve better.

Increasing teachers' salaries is a key component to improving the quality of public education for our children. Teachers' salaries are so low that hundreds of teachers leave the profession each year. We are asking Gov. Lingle to deliver a contract that will attract and keep highly qualified teachers in our classrooms. Our request — which includes a 10 percent increase over the next two years — is reasonable and fair, and frankly the minimum of what we need to be doing for Hawai'i's teachers.

Hawai'i's public-school teachers are truly some of the best in the nation. But, we must give them a reason to stay. Getting — and keeping — high-quality teachers is the key to student achievement.

We look forward to working with Mr. Hunter — and with business, government, parents and the community at large — toward making Hawai'i's public schools second to none.

Marketing plan doesn't cut it

The April 18 Business section headline ("Plan to lure business stymied") laments the state's inability to market Hawai'i as a business destination because of the lack of funds.

A marketing plan that embraces showcase videos on airplanes, in hotel rooms, on the Internet, at the airport and, interestingly enough, through customized phone numbers lies underutilized because the shoestring won't stretch enough.

The Legislature is accorded the usual share of blame for this happening, on top of the furor over uses or misuses of Act 221, intended to entice busy business executives to garner tax credits for technology investment.

The plan provides the customary obeisance to the state's resources in astronomy and ocean sciences, biotechnology, renewable energy, et al., and trusts that traveling or stationary executives will expeditiously calculate the costs vs. benefits of investment or establishment in said areas. But as with many of these plans, the chariots are moving ahead of the horses.

It may appear churlish to reiterate the statement of faith that has confronted many an administration. To wit, advanced enterprise can only come from concerted and continuing efforts in university research, infrastructure development, workforce upgrading and community (read private sector) outreach ("Science and Technology: Key to Hawaii's Economic Future," DBEDT, 2001). Said publication highlights advanced university research and enlists promising (though futuristic) areas in the use of:

• Free electron lasers to examine viruses such as HIV.
• Software to extract 3-D information from 2-D imaging.
• Procedures to provide better communication between primary-care physicians and research specialists.
• Hydrogen fuel research to provide a clean, non-toxic and inexhaustible source of energy.

Perhaps such nuggets may try the patience of "people sitting around waiting for luggage." But again, serious and concerted efforts to study and evaluate inherent potentials for economic growth may be the only way to realize potentials and excite legislative contribution.