Letters to the Editor

Federal government not involved in overthrow

Charles Rose indicates that the state of Hawai'i and the international community recognize that the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian nation was an illegal act by the United States (Advertiser, Jan. 18). This view is not supported by available historical data that clearly indicate that the overthrow was conducted by the Committee of Safety, consisting of a group of 13 Hawai'i subjects.

Washington received word of the overthrow weeks after its occurrence. Upon being informed, President Cleveland decried the overthrow and favored reinstating the queen.

The only involvement that might be implied regarding any U.S. role were the actions of U.S. Minister to Hawai'i John Stevens. Without authorization from Washington, Stevens requested the disembarkment of troops from the USS Boston for the indicated purpose of protecting Americans. He told the Committee of Safety that he might favor a new government, but would play no role in an overthrow.

His actions, even with no proven effect on the overthrow, were considered improper and he was reprimanded and replaced. There are no available records that indicate that the authoritative government in Washington was involved in the overthrow.

Many questions arise about Hawaiian stands

If the petition against annexation, signed by thousands of Hawaiians in 1897, is genuine, how can Anne Keala Kelly ("OHA trying to eliminate options," Jan. 18) explain that six years later, in 1903, the House of Representatives, which was 73 percent Hawaiian, voted unanimously for statehood and sent the petition to the U.S. Congress with Prince Kuhio? (Puerto Rico, annexed in 1898, unlike Hawai'i, still has the option of independence because, after numerous plebiscites, it never voted for statehood.)

Didn't Kuhio — a pure Hawaiian and heir to the throne — know what was good for the Hawaiians when, in 1902, he joined the kingdom overthrow party, the Republicans, in order to work the system from the inside?

Didn't Queen Lili'uokalani — a pure Hawaiian — know what was good for the Hawaiians when, on Sept. 2, 1900, she wrote in her diary, " ... though for a moment it (the overthrow) cost me a pang of pain ... the present has hope for the future of my people," and when in World War I, she raised the U.S. flag at her home?

The counterrevolution of 1895 against the Republic of Hawai'i was condoned by the U.S. Cleveland administration, which, unlawfully, allowed a shipment of arms to the queen's men. Why did only 800 Hawaiians, out of 15,000 Hawaiian men who signed the petition against annexation two years later, take up arms and then give up in one day?

Weren't only 22,000, or 28 percent, of 80,000 ballots mailed to Hawaiians for the Sovereignty Convention plebiscite returned with "yes" votes?

Diversity will thrive, even in a million years

Jeremy Bowman (Letters, Jan. 13) asks what we think about the loss of diversity in the human race in a million years.

I think he thinks that diversity is measured by skin color, eye shape and food preferences. That's the equivalent of judging a book by its cover.

In a million years (provided humans are still around), there will be plenty of diversity in the human race to keep us from boring each other to death. Human diversity will lie beneath the skin. Human diversity will be displayed in the choices we make, our inherent skills, our wit or lack thereof, our spiritual beliefs, and maybe even our taste buds.

In a million years, we may all resemble one another, but we won't all be alike on the inside.

Lessen the debate and enjoy Michelle

Should she? Some caution no: too young, women shouldn't play with the men, follow Tiger's path, sponsors taking advantage of her, not good enough.

Neither age nor women's rights are an issue. Mr. and Mrs. Wie have Michelle's best interest in mind. Shouldn't we credit them for raising a decent young lady? Michelle is smart, articulate, vivacious and has good values.

Sure, the sponsors have an agenda in offering an exemption, TV ratings, nickels and dimes. However, Michelle also benefits tremendously by the media exposure, and her endorsement future is secure. More importantly, she has the opportunity to compete, and golf benefits.

The most valid issue: Is she is good enough to compete with the men minus exemptions? A question the future will answer.

Perhaps we should lessen the debate, enjoy the moment and appreciate this talented young lady. Let's also thank Sony and Linda Lingle for the exemption.

Michelle certainly has the potential to be a world role model.

Fixed-rail system, pay raises are puzzling

Things that don't make sense:

• Why spend so much on a fixed-rail system when it would be cheaper to build a West O'ahu UH campus? Traffic is always heavier when school starts up. What happened to the Second City idea?
• What's up with the people awarding raises to city and state employees when we don't have the money to fund them? They think Joe Public has unlimited money to pay for new taxes.
• I think Bernice Pauahi Bishop would want to educate the Hawaiians who need her help, and not the best and the brightest.
• I think the public wants UH games to be portrayed as a good place to come and play because of our aloha spirit and not because we are Warriors. After all, it is just a game and there are more serious things to fight about.
• If Chief Leonardi really wanted to do something for the Fire Department, he could continue on for $1 a year. He makes more in retirement than most people do in regular pay.

Hemmings' take on tax cuts is off base

There in the morning Advertiser was Sen. Fred Hemmings repeating the conservative mantra: "The Bush tax cuts are good for the economy."

No, Sen. Hemmings, the Bush tax cuts are good for rich folks.

Bush told us that these cuts would create jobs. He was absolutely correct. They created jobs in China, Thailand, Malaysia, India, etc. They just didn't create jobs in America. This "jobless recovery," which has seemed to catch economists off guard, was as predictable as tomorrow's sunrise.

The Bush tax cuts, which primarily benefit the wealthy, have resulted in record deficits, which in turn force cutbacks in programs for the poor. So, what we have here is what we always have when this mantra is in play; namely, the incredibly rich are getting incredibly richer while the incredibly poor are getting poorer.

In his historical recitations about tax cuts, Sen. Hemmings conveniently overlooks the '93 Clinton tax increase on the rich. It resulted in the longest period of prosperity in our history. Twenty-two million new jobs were created.

To Sen. Hemmings, I say: Duh!

Mudslinging begins with attack on Bushes

Can there be any doubt that the presidential election year has begun, with The Advertiser featuring a positively nasty picture of the two President George Bushes, accompanying a generally unsubstantiated and somewhat shop-worn diatribe implying the Bushes' Machiavellian role in the Middle East?

Save us the suspense. I would guess that The Advertiser will endorse any as-yet-undetermined Democrat (or, for that matter, any party) against the candidacy of George Bush.

Better exchange rates won't increase tourism

The local tourism industry might view the decline of the dollar as a sign that better times are ahead as vacationing in Hawai'i becomes more attractive to those countries experiencing a favorable shift in the exchange rates.

However, jubilation may be premature. Offsetting the economic inducement to travel in the United States is the sheer deterrence imposed by the ever more stringent security measures travelers are forced to endure to come to this nation and to these Islands.

While it is beyond the scope of this letter to address the credibility of claims made by the U.S. government of the actual need for such security, the fact remains that travel to and from and within the United States has become a very unpleasant experience.

On my last trip to the Big Island from O'ahu, I was treated with a great deal of disrespect and disdain by the security personnel. As an associate in England put it when explaining why he and his family were not returning to Hawai'i any time soon, how can you enjoy a vacation in Hawai'i when you're treated like a POW trying to get here?

I am not alone in this observation. The foreign press (http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=54792004, for one example) is reporting that tourism from Europe may shift by as much as 30 percent away from the United States and toward Canada because of the U.S. requirement for biometric passports and the general unpleasantness of traveling in the United States. A 30 percent decline in tourism for the United States is a 30 percent decline in tourism for Hawai'i. Such a decline overwhelmingly offsets any potential gains in revenues resulting from the decline of the dollar.

In short, U.S. policy is giving Hawai'i the worst of both worlds: increasing prices for imported goods, but no increasing tourism to pay for it all.

Trauma decisions made carefully

I appreciate and share Albert Bustos' concern in his Jan. 10 letter regarding the state's trauma system.

In Hawai'i and elsewhere in the United States, trauma is the fourth leading cause of death for all ages and the leading cause for those between 1 and 44 years of age. Hawai'i's current trauma system has a number of significant problems.

Nevertheless, I must disagree that "had the (Pali shooting) victim been taken to Castle versus Queen's, he may very well have lived." Castle is an excellent facility and an important component of our community trauma system. However, rapid access (a short injury-to-treatment time) is only one of three critical elements in improved survival. Experience and dedicated resource availability are equally important to improving a trauma victim's chances of recovery.

Research and study have shown the volume of patients seen is a significant predictor of success in treating trauma patients. The Queen's Medical Center sees more trauma patients each year than the other O'ahu facilities combined. It is our most experienced trauma center.

The American College of Surgeon's Committee on Trauma states that trauma centers are distinguished from other hospitals by a strong commitment to provide 24-hour availability of dedicated resources for trauma care. Nurses, physicians and ancillary personnel with specialized knowledge in trauma care as well as specialized services (in-house radiology, surgical/anesthesia and laboratory) must be immediately available. Again, this level of service in the state is only available at Queen's.

The decision by emergency medical services personnel of where and how to transport a trauma patient for treatment is made with great care. They take into consideration the patient's injuries and condition, facility availability and resources, as well as anticipated transport times in choosing the "closest appropriate facility."

Low- to mid-level acuity patients, as well as those in cardiopulmonary arrest, are routinely transported to lower-level trauma facilities, such as Kaiser, Kahuku and Castle. Significant trauma patients are taken to The Queen's Medical Center, Hawai'i's best and highest-level trauma center.