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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Letters to the Editor

Important progress made, now let's do it

We commend Gov. Linda Lingle and the Legislature for making education reform a central policy issue in 2004. As Superintendent Pat Hamamoto has said, our public school system is obsolete and requires change.

The legislation passed this session (SB 3238 and HB 2002) makes important progress toward creating a "school-centered" system that gives individual schools and their principals more funding, authority, autonomy and support.

The legislation adopts a landmark "weighted student formula" to base funding on the unique needs of each student. The bills reach beyond the schoolyard fence to create school-community council partnerships for each campus, and there is some increase in money for textbooks and training.

These bills offer an encouraging opportunity for change. Now, opportunity must be followed by effective execution. Before change can reach our classrooms, the school system and state administration must work together to transform the system's culture to be classroom-centered and more accountable for student achievement.

Mitch D'Olier
Chair, Hawai'i Business Roundtable

Jim Tollefson
President, Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i


Motivated students can be well-schooled

It is refreshing to read of Justin Mew being proud of a public school education for himself, his wife and his son. There are many residents here in Hawai'i who found public education to be just fine. I would like to add my name to that proud list.

My older son went through Hawai'i public schools and is a recent graduate of UH-Manoa's College of Engineering. He turned down lucrative job offers in California and now works for a large aerospace company on Maui.

My younger son, also a Hawai'i public school graduate, excelled at a private Mainland university and now works as a professional video/graphics artist in Los Angeles.

I believe there are many parents who think that public education has not failed them, yet they don't necessarily speak out. A motivated and responsible student can get an excellent public school education.

During spring break, I was visiting my son on Maui and heard Gov. Lingle on a radio commercial. She was quoting low standardized test scores, labeling our failing schools and claiming that her multiple school boards idea is the answer to these education woes.

Instead of running radio commercials bad-mouthing public schools to promote her political goals, why not focus on issues that could make public schools even better: parent/community support, attracting quality teachers, smaller class size, more textbooks and resources, and improved student behavior?

Jim Wolfe
Nu'uanu


Lei Day Celebration this year was terrific

We would like to thank the Parks and Recreation Department for the glorious time that we experienced Saturday, May 1, at Queen Kapi'olani Park for the 77th Annual Lei Day Celebration and Lei Contest.

It was such a beautiful day, just beautiful. The Lei Day queen, Hina Kamau'u, and her two princesses, Mamo Wassman and Shirley Amundsen, were lovely in their gowns and crowns. The precession and the investiture were absolutely breathtaking. The hula performances by the queen and her court were an awe-inspiring example of the gracefulness and love of the hula that each has in her heart for the dance. When the queen danced alone for her court and her people, there was not a dry eye watching her gift to us.

Our special thanks to Naomi Carter at the city and her staff for all the hard work that went into this Lei Day celebration. Many commented that not only was the court beautiful, but the bandstand was decorated with a lot of thought and preparation. It was a full day of one halau after another performing for the queen.

And the celebration and all the entertainment were free. The lei that won the contest were presented the following day at Mauna'ala, with chanting and dancing performed by the queen, her court and the queen's beautiful children.

Why all of Honolulu wasn't there, we can't figure out. Hope to see you all there next year.

Elizabeth Wilcoxson
Deanie Lehano
Honolulu


Lack of proper training in Makua is hurting

During the recent Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Sen. Dan Akaka asked Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, "How can a brigade be deployed when they are not properly trained?"

Hawai'i has deployed thousands of servicemen and women to Iraq and Afghanistan who have not been allowed to train properly, due to the actions of EarthJustice and Malama Makua, using the court to prevent our military from proper training in Makua Valley.

I find Sen. Akaka's question laughable since he and other political leaders have never spoken out against Malama Makua or EarthJustice actions and have never publicly supported our military's right to properly train for war in Makua Valley.

Ronald L. Edmiston
Honolulu


Thank you for keeping this island so beautiful

My husband and I purchased a condo 18 years ago by the Ala Wai. We were married here 14 years ago, but were just able to move here (six weeks ago).

We fell in love with your beautiful island and its wonderful people. We saw how hard the people of your island worked to keep it this way. Clean beaches, well-manicured flowers, trees, etc., and even flowers in pots on the street lights and frequently emptied trash bins.

We would like to thank all for keeping our new home clean and beautiful. I know other people notice this, too.

Mark and Shari Wentovich
Waikiki


We should take better care of our beaches

My name is Noah Willey, I'm 9 years old and I go to Hanahau'oli School. We have been learning about our rights and responsibilities as citizens of our community.

In the past few months, I've been to the beach a lot and I've noticed there's a lot of litter everywhere. The beach is one of our biggest attractions in Hawai'i, and we should take better care of it.

Maybe if we all make sure that we take care of our own trash, we will set an example for those who are littering. One of the beaches is Malaekahana. It has a lot of cups and paper.

Noah Willey
Hanahau'oli School, Makiki


Taser guns: right move

Just as I was about to give up completely on the direction and operation of our Police Department, it does something right. Equipping officers with Taser guns (which have been around for years) will enable them to confront dangerous suspects without shooting and killing them, such as they were forced to do in the case of the man with the knives. The life of even the most crazy, drugged-up degenerate felon has value, or none of our lives do.

Tom Sayles
Hawai'i Kai


New UH logo selection should have public input

The University of Hawai'i is painting itself into a corner again by restricting itself to a process in which the new UH logo must be chosen from the creations of only three contracted designers or firms. What if none of their efforts truly fits the bill, like the last time?

At the very least, the selection procedure should provide for an open competition whose winner would be considered by the Board of Regents in the final selection. The public university belongs to all the people. Allow them to participate and share their creativity, vision and talent.

The exclusiveness of the selection process appears to run counter to the qualities and essence of what we would want the UH logo/image/brand to express and represent.

Richard Y. Will
Waikiki


Wai'anae Intermediate brought home honors

On Saturday, April 17, Wai'anae Intermediate competed against 15 public and private schools in the state History Day Competition at UH-Manoa. The two Wai'anae Intermediate teams placed first and third — an amazing accomplishment for our students, coaches and school.

The first-place team consisted of Justin Lozano, Malie Pine and Laurissa Asuega. They produced a video titled "From Reading and Writing to Public Education." They will represent Hawai'i at the national competition in June at the University of Maryland. Waipahu Intermediate School took second place and will also be going to the nationals. Our third-place team consisted of Franalyn Galiza, Kanani Taaca and Tiana Kealoha. Their video was titled "A British King in the Hawaiian Monarchy."

The coaches for our teams were Luane Higuchi, Linda Ginoza and Lee Matsumoto. (Five years ago, Ms. Higuchi and Ms. Ginoza coached our team to first place and they went on to the nationals.) This year, the coaches worked with the students many afternoons after school since October to assist, guide and challenge the students to do their best. The students worked hard and diligently in doing their research, writing their narratives and producing the videos. It was an outstanding team effort.

Congratulations to these winners. They will never forget this learning experience. The trip will be an added bonus.

Mel Nakagawa
Teacher
Wai'anae Intermediate School


Water conservation is important to Hawai'i

I am a second-grader from Hokulani Elementary School. Our class is studying about water conservation and how important it is to Hawai'i. Mr. Arthur Aiu came from the Board of Water Supply to teach us about how to save our precious clean water and told us how there will be no more of it if we don't start saving it.

I have some water-saving tips for the people of Hawai'i. Fix your leaky faucets and water your plants when it's not hot outside, like in the early morning or early evening, so the water won't just evaporate and be wasted.

Are you people doing any of these things to help? If you're not, please start. It's the right thing to do.

Zachary Woo
Honolulu
(Similar letters from teacher Anne Harrison's class were received.)


Gay housing bill death defense is badly flawed

I read that the "Gay housing bill deserved death" (Letters, May 5). I really don't care either way that the bill is dead. What I do care about is former state Rep. Cam Cavasso's comments as to why the bill should be dead.

Cavasso makes five arguments for killing the bill, and they are all lousy. They are arguments I'd expect to hear from some down-South conservative, not from a (former) representative of the Aloha State. I would like to personally rebut two of his arguments:

• Cam says, "The bill violated the right of those with deeply held religious beliefs to exercise their beliefs relating to their private property ... "

Deeply held religious beliefs are not excuses for discrimination, and they are not excuses to make or break laws. If deeply held religious beliefs were excusable, it is possible that slavery would still be legal. Terrorism as we know it today would be legal because of some people's "deeply held religious beliefs." (I'd actually prefer it if it were illegal to have "deeply held religious beliefs.")

• Cam says, "Sexual lifestyle or behavior is changeable and correctable."

I agree behaviors are modifiable. We can even predict them. But sexual behavior, which is directly related to and dictated by one's sexuality, is not merely a behavior like doing the dishes or walking the dog. It is much more than that; there are suggestions that it is genetic. It is as changeable as Cam's own sexuality. I know Cam or any other Bible-Belting morality preacher is repulsed and disgusted by the mere thought of his heterosexual self being gay (not that he is and I am not saying he is), but the fact that he is repulsed by the mere thought of being gay is proof enough that sexuality is not changeable. Given the way the morally-upstanding-Bible-toting-do-gooders attack gays, I don't see how anyone would want to stay gay, yet there are still gay people — and not by choice.

Sexuality is not changeable; behaviors are, but not sexuality.

With Cam's "deeply held religious beliefs" being trampled by the "morally objectionable," it is no wonder and a great relief that he is not in office today.

Chris Kuhn
Honolulu