Ko Olina Aquarium is not being delayed

Some recent articles in your newspaper have stated or implied that the City and County of Honolulu permitting process has delayed the building of our planned world-class aquarium. This could not be further from the truth.

The city, specifically the staff of the Department of Planning and Permitting, has been working with us to ensure that the many details involved in such a complex project are done correctly.

As you know, an interactive marine facility like the one we are proposing has not been done before in Hawai'i. Therefore, as you can imagine, the details are not easy. I want to thank the DPP director and his staff publicly for their openness and willingness to work with us in completing this project.

We have spent a significant amount of time sitting down face to face with DPP staff and have worked to design and plan our facility to meet the requirements of the Land Use Ordinance and other applicable laws. The DPP staff has been very helpful in guiding us through this process.

We are completing the planning and permitting process on the aquarium, making the necessary planning adjustments to make this facility a reality. We are all excited about its future and what it will bring to Hawai'i.

We already enjoy some of its indirect benefits, through the accelerated construction of Phase II of Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club vacation club project and Centex's Ko Olina Kai resort residential project. These projects, spurred on by the planned aquarium, have already brought hundreds of construction jobs to West O'ahu, and upon completion, will create new, permanent jobs for our residents.

Hannemann would protect the farmer

Both of the leading mayoral candidates agree that Bill 10 as written is flawed. But they sharply disagree on what needs to be done about those flaws.

Duke Bainum, with his prosecutorlike zeal, would have the city sacrifice small farmers who are leasing their farmland in order to go after big landowners who may be taking advantage of the loophole he helped to create.

Mufi Hannemann, however, thinks that any decision that causes farmland to disappear and pressures landowners to develop is a bad decision. He supports Bill 35 for that reason. Better that a few guilty landowners go free than we punish innocent farmers. And if the case-by-case basis called for in Bill 35 is adhered to correctly, then no one will get off scot-free.

Mufi understands that once a piece of land is being developed, there is no going back. Once the bulldozers start, then no amount of "tweaking" of Bill 10, as Bainum calls it, will make a difference. Bainum's stance reminds me of a favorite quote: "The operation was a success but the patient died."

Let's not let the small farmers of O'ahu die!

Regents must have had goods on Dobelle

Regarding Evan Dobelle: I suspect there is much more that the Board of Regents knew than it was willing (or legally able) to make public. The board voted unanimously to fire Dobelle. That in itself says quite a bit, considering that four of the regents were appointed by Gov. Cayetano. That tends to suggest that the firing was based on cause rather than politics.

Quite frankly, although Dobelle is a very able politician and a strong supporter of UH athletics, there appears to be little evidence that he did much to raise funds. His fund-raising efforts seemed to be aimed at drinking from the federal "trough" rather than bringing in money from private foundations or individuals.

His support of ethnic studies, like the Hawaiian studies program, was encouraging. On the other hand, he seems to have done little to bring together the faculty or the various "centers" that seem to proliferate throughout the university.

In general, the UH faculty has been conspicuous for its few comments on this issue. This suggests that they were generally at best indifferent to Evan Dobelle.

Shapiro got it all wrong on Gabbard

I found David Shapiro's July 14 Volcanic Ash column typical of the smug and arrogant attitude that afflicts too many members of the media.

Shapiro's impression of Mike Gabbard's tenure on the City Council makes clear that Shapiro doesn't know what he's talking about. Gabbard has worked tirelessly on the City Council to pass legislation to protect our underground drinking water, create a new volunteer policing program and legalize the construction of traditional Native Hawaiian architecture. He has also been very successful in working with the mayor and his colleagues on the council to get funding for many important projects for 'Ewa, Kapolei and Wai'anae that are critical to the health and safety of residents.

Shapiro clearly underestimates Gabbard. I'd be willing to bet that Shapiro eats his own words come November.

Vote for those candidates who will support gambling

Hawai'i is losing hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues from not allowing lottos, gaming, bingo, etc.

If a poll were taken today on the question of gambling, I would venture to guess that 80 percent would admit to participating in some form of gambling. Ten percent, for whatever the reason, would deny it. Another 10 percent would oppose gambling because of the negative influence it would attract. The negative influences cited in the past are the underworld control of gambling, the social ills created because of gambling and the financial misfortunes of those addicted by gambling.

It has been proven that with appropriate laws and stiff fines, the criminal influences can be controlled. The social ills can be better treated with the revenues from gambling. Gambling exists now, and those who suffer because of gambling suffer because it is illegal. And those who suffer from social ills have nowhere to turn for help because gambling is illegal.

Legalized gambling could be controlled through licensing and the establishment of appropriate enforcement agencies. There are a number of these agencies in other states that are available as examples. We could choose the most effective examples and adopt them.

Gambling would create new sources of employment. Our young people need not leave the state of Hawai'i to seek employment. This would in effect allow a lot of our people to return home, as so many now would like to do. If lottos and gambling were allowed, the monies from these sources could cure our shortcomings in education, health and other areas in dire need of funds.

Gambling would provide another reason for tourists to come to Hawai'i. If we want to increase tourism, we need to also provide this source of entertainment as an option to our visitors.

The people of Hawai'i can take destiny in their own hands by electing those candidates for government offices who are practical-minded citizens and are not afraid to look at all available means of revenue and incorporate those ideas that will improve the livelihood of the people they represent. Forty-eight other states in the union allow gambling/gaming/lotto. They can't all be wrong in the paths they chose to raise the much-needed revenues.

Arts worthy of state investment

At the invitation of Gov. Linda Lingle, a number of arts leaders representing the nonprofit arts community recently met with the governor to discuss proposed funding cuts to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA).

The executive conference room was filled with directors of both large and small organizations who have weathered the market doldrums and the steady decline in government funding for the arts. Like captains of battered ships, they keep their crafts sailing regardless of conditions.

Why do it? Financial gain? Endless perks? Nonprofit arts groups are notoriously lean and live close to the bone. Often the hours are long and the recognition minimal, but the passion runs deep.

There's a bigger vision at work here. Creativity empowers. Our own creative expression or the appreciation of another's is a dynamic journey of unfolding revelations about our world and ourselves. The arts are as much a process as they are a product to be enjoyed and critiqued. The process of discovery is what enriches us as a culture and as a society.

What happens to us while creativity is in play? We question. We evaluate. We step outside our comfort zones to take risks. The arts offer a valuable means to disagree, but often give us the opportunity to see an old issue in a fresh way. How many times have we seen ourselves in the characters of our favorite novels, plays and films and been inspired to make a change?

And if the intrinsic value of the arts weren't enough, economists have shown that nonprofit arts groups in Hawai'i delivered $20 million in local and state revenues in one year.

Critics argue that nonprofits should be more self-sufficient. Surely, if Honolulu Theatre for Youth charges $40 a ticket, this will offset operating costs, but how many schoolchildren will see the play? At the same time, our museums offer access to world-class collections for nominal fees. These services add value to our community.

Gov. Lingle has asked: Should any and all arts initiatives be funded by government? The answer is certainly no. I would expect that those applying to the SFCA for funding would be held to higher standards of expectation and accomplishment relative to their particular art form.

If the SFCA's mandate is to provide the people of Hawai'i with accessibility to arts and culture, while the mission of the many nonprofit arts groups throughout the state is to provide arts and services to the community, then I would say we have the potential for a very effective partnership.

Individuals and private foundations have long seen the value of supporting arts and culture. As our state leaders set their sights on building a better Hawai'i, we ask that government allocate adequate tax dollars in public support of the nonprofit arts sector.

A vibrant arts community is both a public and private concern. We all benefit.