Posted on: Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Letters to the Editor

Lessees knew going in about the leases

"In this increasingly rancorous debate over leasehold conversion, one point appears to be getting lost: Landowners inherit property they didn't pay for," wrote Ralph J. Mitchell in his Nov. 14 letter.

One point the lessees don't seem to get is that when they bought their units, they received full disclosure of the conditions of the lease, and they signed anyway.

What I believe is inherently wrong about Chapter 38 is that it uses the power of government to pit two private parties against each other, using taxpayer dollars to defend and to take the side of a want-to-be buyer against a landowner who never intended to sell his land. Landowners don't get the same benefit and must rely on their own financial resources to defend their right to choose if and when they will sell.

Further, and perhaps much more important, is this: Lessees are outnumbered by the tens of thousands of children and families served by the Kamehameha Schools and the Lili'uokalani Trust every year.

Public education in Hawai'i is progressing

As a newly arrived permanent resident alien here in Hawai'i who has been a teacher and administrator for more than three decades in the public schools in the Philippines, I have been intently and zealously monitoring the progress of the Hawai'i Department of Education in pursuit of its mandate to attain a higher level of quality and excellence in its public schools.

In my association with longtime friends who are now teachers in Hawai'i, information from the Internet and news in The Honolulu Advertiser, I find it eminently convincing that the DOE is on the right track. Further, the performance of students in Hawai'i public schools has been considerably sustained and improved compared with their previous performance over the years, based on statistics shown in The Advertiser. Their performance is at par with or much better than those on the Mainland.

Many aspiring teachers, indeed, would want to be part of the pool of dedicated teachers, specialists, staff and officers of the Hawai'i public school system. To be in the system is an honor.

Palestinian refugee problem still remains

Yasser Arafat is dead. Some might cheer at the news. Others of us wonder about the "Promise ... unfulfilled" headline over the article about his passing. It makes me wonder what "promise" he made that could possibly have been kept given the relationship among Israel, the United States and the Palestine Authority.

Did he savor power? Yes, as do all leaders, I assume. He also, as the article mentioned, brought to the world's attention the "forgotten" plight of the tens of thousands of people displaced by the creation of the state of Israel.

Arafat was a participant in several rounds of peace negotiations, those at Camp David, Oslo and, most recently, at Taba in Egypt. But it seems the more reactionary elements within the Palestine Liberation Organization were correct in not supporting Arafat's participation in these talks as Jewish settlements increased greatly during the talks, and as many as 100,000 Israelis settled in new townships built on disputed lands. If one also looks at the "road map" of a Palestinian state at the last rounds of talks, it is incomprehensible to me that this collection of "bantustans," or cantons, could comprise a viable Palestinian state — cut off, as they would be, by Israeli-only roads connecting the settlements, and the plethora of checkpoints dotting the bordering regions of Israel.

It all goes back to a fundamental question in my own mind: Is it the intention of Israel to ever honor the United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 194, passed in 1947 after Israel's creation, calling for the right of return of all Palestinian refugees, who number nearly three-quarters of a million? This would mean, of course, there would probably no longer be a Jewish majority in most of Israel. Is this something, in the name of democracy and inclusion, that Israelis could envision in the name of peace?

Schoolchildren should fund-raise right way

I'm writing to voice my disapproval of something I've witnessed at least three separate times at three different locations around the island: the recent "fund raising" by the cheerleading squads of our local middle schools. Instead of conducting a true fund-raiser, these young athletes are approaching stopped cars at busy intersections asking for donations — aka panhandling.

Putting aside the obvious argument over the danger of allowing children to walk about in busy intersections, I disagree with the message it sends and the lesson it teaches.

I fully support the chili, cookie and Huli-Huli chicken sales and the car washes. I don't support the idea that we teach our children that they don't have to earn (via work) their money. Many in society already suffer from the "something for nothing" attitude; let's not pass it down to the children.

Many parents back drug testing program

When a community faces a serious issue like drugs, our children's future demands the best that our critical thinking skills can offer. It was with much dismay then that we read the Nov. 12 article "Mid-Pac parents object to drug test." Reporter Timothy Hurley chose a day to discuss the proposed voluntary drug testing program when the administration was unavailable for comment.

So, let's be clear: Our society has a drug problem, and hiding behind rhetoric is no longer an option. The Mid-Pacific Institute Board of Trustees is very much behind the school's efforts to be a leader in this critical area. We encourage continued public discussion, which enhances not only the educational focus we support, but also the American social ethic of a free and open society. If you admire these qualities, your children will love MPI.

There is a small group of MPI parents who have voiced their opposition to the program. You should know that the school has provided meeting space for these parents, as well as neutral coverage in school publications. Many more parents are on record supporting this program, specifically because it protects the student and family and takes the punitive nature of drugs out of the school's hands. This program will help students deal with peer pressure.

It is time for our media to join us in this effort, rather than foster the divisive illusions voiced in the article.

As with drugs themselves, parents and students are welcome to "just say no" to the program. I hope they join us in saying yes.

Too many days off for students in November

What is happening with our schools?

This month my kids will have nine school days off out of 22 days (excluding weekends). They will be in school for 13 days.

First for no school there is teachers' institute (five days off), then there is Veterans' Day, the day after Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving day, the day after Thanksgiving. Makes you think maybe the teachers would be happier if they did not need to have any classes at all.

This is on top of Wednesdays — go home at 1:20 every week.

I would like to see a private school with that many days off and see how many students would remain in the school.

Try to find a business that is closed for nine days in a month and see if it is still in business.

I think I found the answer to our entire education problem in Hawai'i. Our kids are not learning because they are not in school.

Lingle should answer election wake-up call

Your Nov. 5 editorial "GOP setbacks call for more cooperation" hit the nail on the head. It's clear that voters in Hawai'i rejected the strategy of the Lingle Republicans. John Kerry won handily, their handpicked BOE candidates lost badly, and they lost one-third of their members in the House.

Having BOE candidates simply parrot the governor's line that what the Legislature did on reinventing education was "shibai" went nowhere. Having House candidates have as their main platform their support for the governor was rejected. Having the Republican Party assert that electing more Republicans would result in more "balance" simply made no sense.

The governor should take this as a wake-up call to work with the Legislature rather than rely upon press conferences and public opinion polls and threatening Democrats. Otherwise, it may be the beginning of the end of the New Beginning.

Conversely, the Democrats should use this as the leverage they need to work collaboratively with the administration. It was less a partisan vote and more that voters wanted independent, critical-thinking policy-makers no matter which party they represent.

Hiking down Moloka'i cliffs for volleyball

For years now I've enjoyed watching UH men's and women's volleyball. It brings back fond memories growing up in Kualapu'u, Moloka'i, and attending every game that my father, Florentino Virgeniza, played. He was honored as an outstanding setter for the pineapple plantation team.

Because our St. Theresa's Church encouraged people to visit Father Damien's cured Hansen's disease patients in the 1940s, someone suggested playing volleyball with the wahine in Kalaupapa. So, my mother and others were encouraged to hike down the treacherous cliff trail and back. We kids anxiously waited several hours for them. Upon her return, my mother was exhausted but reported it was worth the fun. She described looking through the net and into the faces of happy, giggling patients. They were just overwhelmed to have visitors.

Perhaps the Warriors should be in Division 2

I watched the painful slaughter of our Warriors in Fresno. Never have I seen such an inept group of individuals trying to play Division 1 football with the big boys. What excuses can we now expect from June Jones?

The fact is, we were ill-prepared, out-manned and out-coached in every facet of the game.

Maybe we should look at Division 2, or how about a new coach who is more open to discipline and a game that covers every aspect, not just offense?

June Jones, earn your salary or get another job.

Hawaii Opera Theatre a boon to our schools

This last week I was privileged to attend an opera workshop for teachers put on by Erik Haines of Hawaii Opera Theatre. We were provided the terms and background of opera in general and for the 2005 HOT season in particular: "The Flying Dutchman," "Susannah" and "Turandot." We were given a sample of the resources and speakers that teachers may draw upon from HOT for the benefit of their students — over 5,000 of whom attend the opera each year.

Hawaii Opera Theatre programs benefit the entire community: the young artists' studio, residency programs, touring program, arts and communications academy at Roosevelt High School and much more. These provide opportunities that either don't exist or supplement the poor state of arts programs in our public schools.

Three cheers for the staff at HOT, who go far beyond the performances they present in Blaisdell Concert Hall to provide opportunities and experiences for the youth of our community. And let's not forget the many enlightened teachers and administrators who bring these programs to their schools. Bravissimo!

Pitts has nailed it

Thank you for running Leonard Pitts' columns. He is saying what has become almost dangerous or at least uncomfortable to say in public: "We've been had by the 'moral' majority."