More militarization is bad news for us, 'aina

Despite The Advertiser's huckstering for the 'aina-destroying invasion of Strykers planned to be deployed on the Big Island and Central O'ahu ("Civilians find Strykers impressive in Isle visit," July 27), this is a destructive project that will bring only more degradation to Hawai'i's fragile ecosystems and eat up thousands of acres of private land.

None of the "ordinary citizens" I have spoken to look forward to the negative impact we can expect from the 291 eight-wheeled, 20-ton Stryker vehicles and the planned 3,500-member brigade. All of this is a painful assault on our Island quality of life. Even in The Advertiser's photographs of the lumbering hulks, an obscene cruelty assaults the viewer, an ugliness. A physical sinking of the soul.

Hawai'i's economic stability (jobs, construction contracts, new consuming populations) continues to be held hostage to military spending. This dangerous and shortsighted thinking must end. Environmentalists continue to be pitted against labor unions and construction companies.

We are again being asked to sacrifice the health and beauty of our Islands for a specious "global military security" rationale. No one believes the Army's "mitigation strategies" will prevent the overdevelopment, overcrowding, noise, dust and new trails carved in green valleys.

Talk of a "balance" between Hawai'i's natural resources and the military's training needs is a clever rhetorical device — but it's a lie. It sold us out. Drive through Central O'ahu to the North Shore and look around. It's enraging to be asked once again to submit to more military colonization. Talk of "balance" and "national security" won't wash. It's plain and simple: No. Do it somewhere else. Not here. Not ever.

Claim about Australia firearms is wrong

Please allow me to correct a few of the untruths by Brian Isaacson (Letters, July 26) regarding the "Clinton assault weapon ban." He states that since Australia and England have been aggressively banning firearms, both countries have had massive increases in violent crime.

I don't know where he gets his information from, but Australia has always had a virtual ban on the private ownership of handguns, and more recently this has been extended to all other types of firearms.

As for an increase in violence, Australia's homicide rate is one-tenth that of the United States (on a per capita basis) and most experts agree the reason that our homicide rates are so low, and that our cities don't have "no-go war zones" such as those found in most large U.S cities, is that we are not a society saturated and ruled by guns.

People aren't voting for a good reason

The July 29 story "Hawai'i's voter roll at bottom" is no surprise.

The logic that making voter registration easier will improve turnout is without merit. Registration is easy. Allowing easier or same-day registration invites vote fraud and abuse. Please don't waste more money on failed "Get Out the Vote" drives. They are a guaranteed failure.

Taxpayer funding of candidates is another terrible idea for a whole host of reasons. People are not voting for a reason; their vote is to not vote. Their reasons are complex and many.

One reason the 2002 Hawai'i turnout was low was that many fed-up Democrats, unable to grasp voting Republican, stayed home so that Linda Lingle would win by default. They also sent a message to the Democratic Party hierarchy that it needs real change — to change from being the entrenched special-interest party back to a party of the people. It hasn't worked yet, but keep on trying.

People are voting to not vote for good reason. It is their statement that most of the candidates are nearly identical and unacceptable. They know that whichever of the major parties are elected, they will pass pretty much the same bloated budgets, make no meaningful education reform, or curtail the bureaucracy from harassing us.

I suggest that those voting to not vote change their tactics to something more meaningful. That is, voting only for the very few candidates whom they believe will really represent them, regardless of party affiliation. Those statistics showing high voter turnout but low vote totals will send a powerful message to those who run for office. Don't forget to vote.

Let's have law against perfume, cologne

All this fuss about the new Camel cigarette packages and advertisements is just silly.

Gov. Lingle says it's disgusting. What is so disgusting about it? Smokers will smoke no matter what the cigarette package looks like.

Also, to all the anti-smoking people, what about us people who are allergic to perfume and cologne? We suffer as well when people walk into a room drenched in the scents. Is anyone making a law against that? Maybe they should.

Dog park: We're on it

To all the people inquiring about a dog park on the Windward side: the Windward Dog Park Organization has been formed and is in the process of working toward getting a dog park in the Kailua/Kane'ohe area.

We will soon be having a general meeting for volunteers who wish to help us and our dogs in this endeavor. Our Web site will soon be up and running. In the meantime, you may contact us at WindwardDogParkOrg@hotmail.com.

A dog park is very much needed, is a great asset to a community and is a fun place for both dogs and owners.

Regents led UH in an exercise of futility

We have once again experienced the downside of politics playing into a situation, in the case of the University of Hawai'i Board of Regents appointments. We end up with incapable individuals who bask in the blinding light of power, self-interest and the so-called local style of doing business.

I am a local-born individual who has worked abroad in Asia, Latin America and North America, and we do have our small-mindedness and its limitations.

Once a successor is found, we will then be paying for two presidents for quite some time.

Additionally, I believe some of our regents tout law degrees. I guess it's just a worthless piece of paper since they couldn't make the right decision and had to hire a team of outside counsel, adding to the overall cost of this exercise in futility.

Regent micromanaging hurting our university

The UH regents have been micromanaging our university and hurting its ability to move forward for the past couple of years.

The president and chancellor cannot manage when the regents take their ability to hire and fire away from them. These regents did that. A leader cannot make change if that leader cannot hold people accountable for their actions.

Many of UH's entrenched mediocre mid-level managers have been battling change at UH with the help of friends on the board. A great example of this micromanagement is taking place with the new chancellor at Manoa. He has been here for two years, and the Board of Regents has yet to allow him to complete his management team, reorganize any units at UH, or hold anyone accountable on the Manoa campus. Many of those who need to be removed or reorganized are related to or are close friends of several regents.

Presently, there is no accountability at UH and no way to manage or lead. These regents are putting close friends and politics above the best interests of our university and community. They were recently reprimanded by the accreditation board for doing exactly that. There needs to be action immediately.

Just-ended convention came off perfectly

I was one of the almost 13,000 psychologists who just completed their annual American Psychological Association convention Sunday. It had been 32 years since the APA last met here.

The convention was terrific, and the people of Hawai'i tremendous in making us feel welcome and allowing us to have a productive, relaxing and altogether fun meeting.

I sure hope we don't wait another three decades before returning. So, a very sincere mahalo and aloha to all!

Easing state purse strings now is fiscally irresponsible

For more than three decades, I have seen governors come and go. I have been a budget director for the city and a director and acting deputy director of budget and finance for the state, and I am currently deputy director of budget and finance for Hawai'i. I therefore feel compelled to set the record straight and correct some of the comments from the Rev. Bob Nakata in his July 26 letter.

First, almost every governor has followed a long-standing practice of restricting budget expenditures at the beginning of a fiscal year. This is done to ensure that total spending will not exceed actual revenue collections. The Legislature's budget is based on projections. Governors have a constitutional responsibility to manage state resources in a prudent and balanced fashion throughout the year. To release all funds in the first month, as Rev. Nakata suggested, would be fiscally irresponsible.

Second, while the $98 million in additional tax collections is good news, it does not mean the state can go on a spending spree. The state has to look beyond just this year and ensure we have enough money to pay the growing costs of borrowing for our reconstruction projects, paying retirees and the myriad additional expenses Hawai'i faces in 2006 and 2007. This is very much like a family saving money to ensure they can pay the four-year costs of their child's college tuition.

We already know the state is facing a $160 million shortfall in 2006 and 2007. A one-year improvement in revenues should not be used as a justification for opening the spending floodgate.

Third, Rev. Nakata asserts that because the state received $98 million more in taxes in fiscal year 2004, we will receive the same increased tax revenues in 2005 and 2006. This is simply faulty reasoning. Revenue projection is an inexact, complex task. Even the experts on the Council on Revenues have found their projection job challenging.

Yes, Hawai'i's economy is definitely getting better, and improvements in jobs and income are a welcome expectation. Let's take this opportunity to improve the state's financial health and everyone's well-being.

The fiscal responsibility we practice today will be the legacy our children enjoy tomorrow.

Akaka bill attack without merit

Shame on former Advertiser owner Thurston Twigg-Smith for claiming the "Reservation Report" will help residents understand the Akaka bill (July 28 letter: "Why Akaka bill is being fought").

The report he cites is old and laced with many flaws, starting with simple errors like the wrong bill numbers. Then there is the ridiculous assertion that federal recognition threatens to "jeopardize Hawaiian statehood." That paranoia serves to feed those who continue to defend the wrongs committed during the 1893 overthrow.

Mr. Twigg-Smith knows the vast majority of Hawaiians want to remain proud and loyal Americans. He knows most in the non-Hawaiian community support justice for Hawaiians.

In the interest of disclosure, Mr. Twigg-Smith should reveal he is a plaintiff in Arakaki v. OHA, ongoing litigation that seeks to dismantle the state's homestead program and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. If successful, the lawsuit will also attempt to cut off tens of millions in federal dollars that annually flow into the state to benefit Native Hawaiians.

The anti-Akaka groups are vocal, but they do not represent the majority opinion on this issue. The Akaka bill enjoys substantial bipartisan support, including our governor, our congressional delegation, our Legislature, along with dozens of prominent groups, both locally and nationally.

Among the Hawaiian organizations supporting federal recognition are the Kamehameha Alumni Association, the Royal Order of Kamehameha, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and the State Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations. Among the national groups in favor of Senate Bill 344 are the National Japanese American Citizens League, the Organization of Chinese Americans, the Alaskan Federation of Natives, the National Congress of American Indians, the NAACP, the National Council of La Raza, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

They support the purpose of the Akaka bill, which simply extends official recognition to Native Hawaiians as an indigenous people, with rights and entitlements comparable to those of Native American and Alaska Natives, and a process for federal recognition. Hawaiians are deserving of recognition the two other indigenous groups in the United States already enjoy.

In recent weeks, readers of The Advertiser have witnessed a vigorous assault on the Akaka bill. These letter writers blast the reputable work of pollsters who time and again find that the "silent majority" of both the Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian community support federal recognition. Now they attempt to further divide those communities by instilling fear that statehood is being jeopardized and that "militant Hawaiian descendants" are seeking a "divorce from all other Americans in the state."

If the Akaka bill passes and a nation-to-nation relationship is established with the United States, it would serve as a shield to thwart the litigious, well- financed and prolific forces who seek to tear down programs that help many Native Hawaiians become active and contributing participants in the growth of Hawai'i and the rest of the United States.

Amidst all the emotions and rhetoric involving the events that occurred more than a century ago, and the ongoing battles in our courts and Congress, there are two old sayings that come to mind: Justice delayed is justice denied. And those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.