Letters to the Editor

Commentary helped in understanding schools

I applaud Drake Beil for his comprehensive commentary concerning Pat Hamamoto's speech to the Legislature. His insight provided a new look at her speech. I didn't have the opportunity to see her address, but I did read the text in The Honolulu Advertiser.

I also noticed that Ms. Hamamoto indicated that until becoming superintendent of schools, she spent her academic career "working around the system." I'm surprised that she would admit, in her own words, that the system didn't work at the school level.

Now she's responsible for defending the very system that was, has been and is ineffective and too cumbersome.

I also agree that the taxpayers will pay close attention to the legislators who vote against putting it to the popular vote.

Let's be careful in locating the problem

Trying to fix a broken computer can be frustrating. Fixing the DOE, well, not only frustrating but also complicated. When fixing either, determining which defective component to replace has to be done carefully.

In the DOE situation, a possible remedy is to replace the centralized system with local school boards. As one tries to isolate the problem to that particular component, some testing is in order.

If we look at other centralized education systems in the United States as a way to isolate the problem, this may give us a false result since the United States education system as a whole ranks below other industrialized countries in the world like Japan, which has a centralized education system. It is the Japanese belief that this is the best way to provide all students with a quality education.

The issues raised by those in favor of local school boards may not be related to organizational structure. It would be like replacing the motherboard on our broken computer because it had no power, only to find that the problem still remains. Even worse, we find out we didn't even have the power cord attached to the computer in the first place.

Charlie Brown analogy fits DOE, Hamamoto

I want to thank Drake Beil (Feb. 7 Focus commentary) for hitting the nail on the head with regard to the analogy about the DOE and the football that Lucy is holding.

We all know that the new superintendent of education has a vested interest in preserving the status quo or tweaking the same. It's a method that has been "tried" by a succession of new superintendents with the results that are now before us — a dedicated staff of teachers and principals and a largely dysfunctional organization with little or no accountability in terms of student results (yes, they are churning out reports to the Legislature, to state agencies, to federal agencies and whomever else, but the welfare of the students has been lost in the shuffle).

I don't know if a wholesale breakup of the monolith is the ultimate solution, but I am certain that tweaking the existing "system" with input from the public, etc., etc., is not going to result in anything new or positive.

Sand replenishment must do no damage

The state's plans to pump 10,000 cubic yards of sand from the outer reefs of Mamala Bay onto Kuhio Beach is a good idea, with some reservations.

Save Our Surf has supported this concept for sand beach expansion at this area, as long as it does not take away our safe swimming for our families.

However, this sand replenishment must be limited to within the breakwater-protected areas of Kuhio Beach: No. 1 Diamond Head Basin and No. 2 'Ewa Basin.

Sand pumped onto the beach in area No. 3, fronting the Duke statue, should be limited to above the existing sandbag seawall. Sand placed below this seawall would end up on the reef and damage the surfing reefs of "Canoe Surf." It would end up on the beach fronting the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, as has happened in the past.

The present concrete and rock breakwaters are designs that were built over 40 years ago to stabilize this area of Kuhio Beach and provide protection for the public. Removing them would be a disaster and a liability for the city and state.

Our position is based on 40 years of fact, not on fiction that is based on further experimentation.

A public hearing is requested.

Public outcry shows the people have power

I applaud all those who submitted letters to the editor or called their respective representatives expressing their outrage toward Sen. Cal Kawamoto's brazen proposal toward the Campaign Spending Commission. This is an example of grass roots at its best.

Because of your public outcry, Sen. Kawamoto's campaign bills won't be given a hearing.

So people, remember this at election time: Your vote and voice will count.

Many Good Samaritans responded to accident

On Feb. 3, about 4:15 p.m., I was riding my bicycle westbound on Hawai'i Kai Drive at the Haha'ione Street intersection. As I rode across the intersection, an eastbound vehicle suddenly turned left into Haha'ione Street, placing me directly in its path. The collision threw me onto the hood of the car and catapulted me head-first into the roadway, where I was afraid that I would be hit by other cars. I was stunned and disoriented. The injuries I sustained prevented me from getting up.

Fortunately, caring and concerned passers-by quickly assisted me and called 911. A doctor appeared and calmly advised me to stay still and continued to reassure me. Someone placed a roll under my head that eased the strain on my neck and head. Police, fire and EMS units seemed to appear instantaneously, and I was taken to Queen's Medical Center for treatment.

Mahalo to the Good Samaritans who gave me their comfort and aloha. Your spontaneous response helped me remain conscious and expedited the emergency medical care I needed. Mahalo also to the police, fire and EMS personnel and the Queen's emergency staff.

Finally, I urge bicyclists of all ages to wear a helmet. My helmet absorbed the full force of the violent impacts to my head. Everyone was fascinated with the catastrophic damage sustained by my helmet and the likely fatal injuries that it prevented. I was able to survive this incident with an excellent chance for full recovery because I wore a helmet.

Changes are needed to fight illegal dumping

Why is there so much illegal dumping? A recent experience will explain some.

I had a hunch when I saw a pickup truck after hours with a load of yard waste, so I followed it unseen. Sure enough, it went up a remote stretch of road and, after a while, dumped under cover of darkness while I was hidden from view.

There is a one-in-a-million-years chance a scofflaw guy like that will be observedÊin the act by police. So first, the law should be changed to allow for citizen witnessing and consequent fines.

Second, a lot of these violators are small-time yard clean-up people who work late and don't want to take the rubbish home. They cannot dump the junk legally because the refuse stations are closed by then. Keeping some stations open until 8 p.m. for smaller trucks would help a lot.