Posted on: Tuesday, May 18, 2004

Letters to the Editor

Police must cease sweeps on homeless

On April 30, a meeting was held at McCoy Pavilion. Participants included a representative from HPD and residents of Ala Moana Park. Within two weeks of this meeting, HPD began arresting residents of Ala Moana Park.

Using police sweeps to "clean up" Ala Moana Park is a complete waste of city funds. Arresting people who do not have any other place to live ignores the systemic causes of homelessness.

One might as well attempt to keep the Pacific Ocean away from Ala Moana Park's shoreline by means of sending out all the naval ships from Pearl Harbor and anchoring them one hundred yards from the shoreline.

Housing is the solution. Having a place to live gives people a sense of ownership and of belonging instead of being treated as second-class citizens.

Being swept up by the police, as if the police could sweep people under the proverbial rug, must stop.

It was a tough week for a composed Jasmine

What a hard week for Jasmine Trias. Having to endure brutal criticism coming from all the judges, including revered guest judge Donna Summers.

Even Paula Abdul, who has, throughout the "American Idol" competitions, been the soft one when it came to critiquing the contestants, was at a loss for any kind words, other than "the audience will forgive you, Jasmine."

And then, to be booed by the audience because a few did not agree with LaToya being voted off. If those people spent a fraction of their energy voting for LaToya, she might have still been in contention. Jasmine must have felt completely humiliated, and yet she was still able to remain on stage, as composed as could be, given the circumstances. Hats off to you, Jazz!

A few weeks ago, LaToya had found herself in the doghouse with Fantasia and Jennifer but was shortly sent back to the safe zone with the others. What did not sit right with me then was that LaToya just turned and walked right back to the safe area without even showing an ounce of concern for her fellow divas. Like she knew that she did not belong with them. Where were the heartfelt hugs we'd seen every other week?

In my opinion, LaToya deserved to be voted off, not because she was any less talented (everyone knows that she is the most experienced performer in the group), but because LaToya has been coasting for several weeks. This is simply another example of the "tortoise and the hare," and as always, the one who takes things for granted usually finds herself on the outside looking in.

No matter what, Jasmine has nothing to be ashamed of. She has made it this far, and if this turns out to be the end of this chapter in her life, it's not the end of her story.

Stop all this whining about 'American Idol'

All right, enough with all this whining and complaining about Jasmine and "American Idol."

Hawai'i does not have enough votes to make a big enough dent to affect the "Idol" results. If the entire state of Hawai'i didn't vote, LaToya still would have been eliminated. If we could make that much of a dent, Camile would still be in. So stop crying — LaToya's gone.

The show is "American Idol," not "American Musician." Everyone knows Britney Spears isn't all that great a singer, yet she is a superstar. Madonna isn't all that great of a singer either. So although Jasmine hasn't been singing her best (and we know she can sing better), it doesn't necessarily mean she doesn't deserve to be up there.

"American Idol" is about the entire package. And remember, it was America that voted for Jasmine, not just Hawai'i.

No one asks council members to seek seat

Your May 16 editorial hit the nail on the head when you mentioned the gamesmanship the City Council is playing in dealing with a pay raise. Act like you're doing something but in reality do nothing. But isn't that par for the course in nearly everything that goes on in the council?

You correctly reminded the council members that they are not full-time legislators and therefore shouldn't seek the compensation of a full-timer. I would like to add that no one is making them serve as council members. They actively sought their positions, knowing full well the pros and cons of the job, including pay.

To accept this raise while at the same time telling the public that we are in for another round of budget-cutting, belt-tightening and increases in various fees is the epitome of hypocrisy and avarice.

Surfboard confiscation doesn't match 'crime'

Agents of the DLNR confiscated the surfboards of those found surfing in an area designated for body surfing only. Additionally, the accused were also issued citations. Hmmmm.

We don't confiscate the cars of speeders or drunken drivers. Companies that owe hundreds of thousands of dollars in state taxes are often given deals where they pay pennies on the dollar. What's up with that?

Let's make the punishment more appropriate for the "crime."

Beloved doctor was a friend, inspiration

Tucked away in the Obituaries section Saturday, beyond the stories that are the headlines, was the notice of the passing of Dr. Michael J. Inada. Understandably, private services were held, otherwise crowd control would have been an issue. Dr. Inada was loved.

Dr. Inada was my medical care provider. He was my friend. And a more gentle, soft-spoken, caring man you would be hard-pressed to find. He was the consummate professional, yet he made his patients feel as if he were their personal childhood friend, simply "talking story."

And during these days of celebrity, of "American Idol," of millionaire sports and media stars, I trust that someone is inspired to "be like Mike," to be like Dr. Michael Inada.

My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends.

Iraq prison humiliation seems pretty humane

I am sick of reading (Advertiser, May 16, A3) how some prisoners in Iraq were cruelly "tortured" by being stripped naked. How hideously painful. Even atrocious, to be held "naked for 19 days." Oh, the shame of it all.

Give me a break!

These were prisoners who, for the most part, had been killing Americans. Knowing the Iraqis' cultural obsession with modesty, nudity seems like a perfect interrogation technique: harmless and bloodless. Compared with Saddam's shredders, drills and acid baths, humiliation seems pretty humane.

Let's instead weep for Daniel Pearle and Nick Berg, beheaded in the name of Allah.

What if it hit home?

What if Gallup polled this question: If gathering intelligence could save your son or daughter, would you agree with interrogating a terrorist by threatening humiliation?

What shall we do?

We had better get a gas price cap in place soon. The price of gasoline is rapidly approaching that of bottled water — and we may not be able to feed our SUVs.

Rusti should take over running Honolulu Hale

Rusti

Mufi, Duke or Rusti for mayor? Reasons for Rusti:

• He already has name recognition and is in the newspaper almost daily.
• He is homeless, so he can empathize with our homeless population.
• We don't have to worry about him being a crook because he is already behind bars for life.
• He does not need a staff (except to feed him and clean his cage, and we have volunteers to do that), so the city can save millions by deleting the whole mayoral system.
• He may not have gone to Harvard or medical school or even graduated from a private school, but he cares about every man, woman and child in Hawai'i. Just look in his eyes and you will know this is true.
• There will never be any doubt about him being nonpartisan or owing favors to relatives, contributors or unions.

I think it's time for the city to stop monkeying around and hang in there with Rusti for mayor. He has my vote; how about you?

Farmers need Schools' help

On-edge Hawai'i Kai residents crowded into the Hawai'i Kai Marina Association meeting last week to hear the Kamilonui farmers' plans for Kamilonui Valley.

Lilly Wong, representing the majority of the farmers, knew and worked with Henry J. Kaiser when he first planned and built Hawai'i Kai. She told of the commitment the farmers made in 1950 to Kamehameha Schools and to Kaiser to farm Kamilonui Valley. Their farm leases run until 2020, as does the East O'ahu Master Plan.

The Marina Association Board listened quietly, then questioned Ms. Wong about the long-overdue and very-much-needed repair to the Kamilonui Valley drainage system owned and maintained by the farmers. This system is required to protect the eroding farms and the marina waters from silt runoff from the farms. Ms. Wong responded softly, explaining the dire straits the farmers are in.

Like her, most of the farmers are old and want to sell or trade their farms to new farmers who will do what is necessary to fix the roads and drainage system, which is estimated to "cost millions." She said she knows how much the community wants the farms to continue in the valley. She said that because the farm lease terms are short and the last period of rent is unknown, this uncertainty has reduced the value of the 23 three-acre farms and lessens the willingness of new farmers to buy. In order to fix the roads and drainage system, the farmers need to each pay their share of the necessary farm community improvements.

Livable Hawai'i Kai Hui, a community group dedicated to preserving Hawai'i Kai, has been assured by its government representatives that there will be no change in agriculture use or zoning in the foreseeable future.

Therefore, the solution for the farmers is at the door of Kamehameha Schools. If Kamehameha offers new long-term farm leases to the farmers and their buyers, or, better yet, offers to sell the farms in fee simple at farmland values, new farmers will be lining up to buy these three-acre farms in Kamilonui Valley. Kamehameha Schools should make it a requirement that any sale or new lease is predicated on the new farmers contributing to the building of a superior drainage system to protect their farms and the marina waters.

The housing developers who have been drooling over developing Kamilonui Valley should know by now that the Hawai'i Kai community and some of the current farmers will not allow Kamilonui Valley to leave agriculture use until after 2020, even if nothing else happens.

Many hope that Kamehameha Schools will see the cultural and community value in doing the right thing for the farmers and the Hawai'i Kai community. Preserving agriculture in Kamilonui Valley is valuable for Kamehameha Schools, too, as it will add value to all of Hawai'i Kai and those zoned residential lands that are still owned by Kamehameha Schools.