Give teaching subs full-time contracts

I am intrigued by Jeff Rogers' March 31 letter "Numbers don't add up for substitute teachers." The Hawai'i Government Employees Association informs us that teachers need a pay raise because Hawai'i does not attract applicants and the cost of living in Hawai'i is high.

Yet substitute teachers like Mr. Rogers have been working on the sidelines for 10 years. I know of several substitute teachers who would love to continue to live and teach in Hawai'i, regardless of its cost of living. Why not simply give full-time contracts to the eligible substitute teachers at present pay rates and solve the problem?

Northwestern isles must be protected

Two recent Advertiser articles about fishing in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands disturb me. It seems that most of our attention is being focused on the commercial exploitation of that remote area by a handful of people. The stories make no mention of the spectacular submerged archipelago that lies beyond Kaua'i and Ni'ihau.

From reading the insert paid for by the Fisheries Management Council and Jan TenBruggencate's articles last weekend on bottom fishing in the Northwestern Isles, it would appear that the only things at risk in trying to provide enhanced protections to this world-heritage resource are fishing interests. This is far from true.

Coral reefs around the world are in severe decline. Australia has closed a third of its Great Barrier Reef to fishing in a desperate move to save what is left.

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands contain one of the last, truly wild, large-scale predator-dominated coral reef ecosystems on Earth. These marine ecosystems remain relatively untouched and are of great importance to the people of Hawai'i in learning how to protect and restore our own coral reefs in the main islands, reefs that have been damaged by years of overfishing, pollution and development.

Let's get over the narrow focus of fishing and look at the Northwestern Hawaiian Island chain for what it really is: a special place of unique natural character as precious as any national monument. Those remote islands and marine environments represent the greatest natural heritage that Hawai'i has. Let's give them the protection they deserve.

Nonprofit cockfighting needs better details

In her March 28 article, Eloise Aguiar told us of the volunteers who removed unwanted birds, and volunteerism is a noble calling. I'm sure they're overflowing with the poor creatures. We have to ask, "Why breed?"

The Hawaii Game Breeders Association sounds like the deep-pocket cockfighting lobby that we're faced with every year at the Legislature, where we're trying, once again, to get an animal cruelty bill passed. When there's $200,000 riding on one cockfight, that's high-stakes gambling, and the Game Breeders Association was referred to as nonprofit.

If you do a follow-up article, I hope you'll include HPD narcotics/vice input and a little more description of nonprofit cockfighting.

Sen. Inouye should represent Hawai'i

I appreciate Sen. Inouye's willingness to write to us here in Hawai'i and explain his disappointing vote in favor of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Island Voices, April 3).

Especially since he doesn't seem to care what his constituents here in Hawai'i want.

As he says, most of the mail he received was against drilling, but he voted for it anyway because that's what he thinks Alaskan Indians want. So I'm confused. Is he the senator for Alaskan Indian tribes or for the citizens of Hawai'i?

Mopeds are not only hazards but polluters

You appropriately point out the safety hazards of mopeds — but that is not the only reason they are not ideal transportation. Their two-stroke engines are a major polluter of both air and noise.

On a per-mile basis traveled, they spew much more pollution than modern cars, and their nuisance factor is huge. If you've had the unfortunate experience of riding a bicycle near a moped, you know it isn't only the global environment they're harming but your personal respiratory health as well.

No, the ideal transportation for the warm climates is not a moped but a bicycle, which has the added benefit of addressing some of our obesity problems.

It's not about heritage

For too long, cockfighting, a form of gambling, has masqueraded as a "sport" and "cultural" part of one's heritage. Politicians and the community were afraid to bring it to the table for discussion. Call it what it is: illegal.

Water board should follow its own advice

I'm tired of hearing the Board of Water Supply remind us of the need to conserve our water resources. The board needs to quell its tongue until such time as the city itself becomes serious about saving water.

Go to Kapi'olani Park on any evening and see for yourself the abundance of water being wasted by over-watering of the grass. Many areas are literally saturated, and I'm sure there are many more examples of waste by the city.

I have contacted the board on this matter many times and always received lip service without action. To the City & County: When you decide to get serious, others may follow. The first step in gaining compliance is to practice what you preach.

Coverage of culture sometimes lacking

The April 2 letter regarding the Kamehameha Schools song contest evoked some mixed emotions for me. Fifty-plus years ago, our Kamehameha School for Girls' class of 1954 won from our eighth grade through senior year. In those days, there were separate junior and senior division contests for both boys and girls. For many years, the next day's news would carry a picture of the winning song leaders and contest judges, and a brief story, often on the front page.

Ms. Aona has validity in noting the months of preparation and sacrifice going into this exciting event. Yet it brings to mind that other equally noteworthy scholastic or community events regularly occur for a spectrum of people throughout our Islands. Many of these stories get little if any or as well-deserved media coverage.

A feature post-event article such as the very nice follow-up stories on the Merrie Monarch's newest Miss Aloha Hula and winning halau would have been very nice. Yet what is considered newsworthy or front-page material depends on so many other factors. I'm grateful that I and surely scores of others were able to experience such a beautiful event as the Kamehameha song contest in living color via television, a truly lasting and beautiful memory.

Hawai'i's gas cap law doesn't address problem

Much is said about high gas prices. Unfortunately, much less is truly understood. The fact is that Hawai'i's so-called gas cap law will simply not work to the benefit of consumers. It defies logic and ignores the real reasons Hawai'i motorists pay what they pay.

Today, our gas prices would be higher, not lower, because the so-called cap ties Hawai'i gas prices to Mainland markets, which in recent weeks have skyrocketed along with the price of crude oil.

No one should be surprised. In the end we have little to be thankful for except that Americans still pay a lot less than citizens of other countries. The real reasons are really very simple. In the United States, the government, legislators and their policies have caused a reduction of U.S. refining capacity to the detriment of the U.S. consumers, and we now have to import gasoline to meet the increased demand. A majority of our crude oil must be imported partly because we refuse to allow new drilling in the United States, and yet we claim to be victims held hostage by the Middle East.

Here in Hawai'i, experts, including myself, have determined that high taxes, excessive government controls and the small market are the real reasons Hawai'i's gas prices are higher. This is no different from other consumable goods and big-ticket items like houses, cars and interisland plane tickets.

What can we do? First, we must focus our energy on the problems as identified above. Of course, Hawai'i's small market and the fact we are an island in the middle of the Pacific are acts of God. However, the high taxes and intrusive government meddling are acts of our government.

Experts agree: The truth is that our high taxes and government policies that tamper with free-market economics such as so-called caps only lead to higher prices. Why do you think that no other state government in America has done this? I can tell you it's not because they are satisfied with their gas prices. In fact, laws like Hawai'i's gas cap are usually reserved for socialist regimes.

Tax incentives good for Hawai'i

According to Advertiser staff writer Sean Hao, "Tax subsidies for the TV shows 'Lost,' 'North Shore' and 'Hawaii' and other entertainment projects cost the state an estimated $28 million in lost tax revenue last year ..." ("Economy got $161M from TV projects," March 19). Well, nothing could be further from the truth. Some facts:

• Last year, with the advantages of Act 221 tax incentives, we had four pilots, which became three series — two of which ran for complete seasons and one that is considered a major hit. These stats are extremely successful for any location. Did tax incentives play a part? What do you think?

• The film and television industry spent $161 million in the state last year. I'd spend $28 million to get $161 million any day.

• The film and TV industry, at its peak last year, employed 700 actors, directors, camera operators and other industry workers — who all spent money here in the state.

• Hawai'i had near-record numbers of visitors last year to go along with our record amount of production and on-air exposure. Mr. Hao may feel that this is just a coincidence. Well, I don't believe in coincidences.

• Not included in the $161 million that the film industry directly spent here is the untold amount of money that the imported actors, crew and executives spent here.

Although Mr. Hao mentions some of these facts in his article, his story has a decidedly negative angle on tax incentives. Once again, reality paints a different picture.

These incentives don't "cost" the taxpayers $28 million. They are called "incentives" for a reason. When a production company agrees to spend an agreed-upon amount of money in the state (under the bills currently before the Legislature, that amount is over $200,000), the state agrees to credit a portion of that spending back to the production. If no productions shoot here, there is no cost.

Mr. Hao goes on to state, "Critics of movie industry incentives contend Hawai'i's beautiful and diverse scenery, temperate weather and relatively secure environment should be enough to attract productions." All I can say is that for four years after "Baywatch Hawai'i" wrapped, we had no TV series shooting here. You can get sun and scenery and weather in Australia and Southern Cal, too.

We need to support House Bill 1590, which would provide dependable tax incentives and has already been declared to have "no financial impact." Everyone who wants to see more productions shoot in Hawai'i and wants to see Hawai'i diversify its business profile must call his state senators and representatives and demand that they support HB 1590. For the good of Hawai'i — it's a win-win way to go.