Posted on: Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Letters to the Editor

View of Kanno/Rouse story is encouraging

Praise is due The Honolulu Advertiser for its news coverage and editorials regarding the alleged abuse of power by state Sen. Brian Kanno in the Leon Rouse affair.

It was refreshing to read a decisive, fire-in-the-belly editorial, "Sen. Kanno should be held accountable" (April 10). And, by shining some light on Sen. Kanno's track record, columnist David Shapiro added historical context to the issue (April 13), and we see a pattern.

As one who has often been critical of your paper, I am encouraged.

Don't take away funds to fight our drug war

I am writing in response to the April 13 article "Anti-ice task force may be in jeopardy." I find this extremely disturbing, being a single parent on the Big Island with two children who are directly affected by the ice epidemic here.

My children's father, who once supported them at home, at church, in school, sports, hula and choir, now chooses to make ice his priority instead. Luckily, we no longer live with this man, but we've had to call 911 several times due to his threats and physical aggression against us.

It is extremely sad that our kids have to live in fear of this danger.

President Bush, wake up to our situations here in Hawai'i and around the Mainland. You love to fight everyone else's wars, but how about our wars here at home?

I hurt for my children every day, and for the other innocent children who live among these drug addicts who roam our community. Please, I beg of you, do not take away our monies that fight the drug war in Hawai'i.

University of Hawai'i must get full funding

The University of Hawai'i Board of Regents is planning to double tuition fees over the next five years. It may accomplish this in the weeks to come. Our governor, Linda Lingle, appointed this Board of Regents, which wants to increase tuition 115 percent at UH. Linda Lingle ran for office on a pro-education platform and will be up for re-election next year.

Teacher raises were settled in negotiations between the state and the UH teachers union. Is it fair that the state negotiate increased funding for UH and then attempt to pass the cost to Hawai'i's students, making it even harder for them to get an education?

The state government accumulated a cash surplus this year and still holds back from adequately funding Hawai'i's schools. What is our governor doing? Why would she not invest the state's surplus money into funding the education of Hawai'i's people like she led us to believe in her previous election?

This is our community, and we have the power to influence what will happen here. The education of our family and citizens is the best solution to improving Hawai'i. We can read our situation and can write our future. The power is within us to let Linda Lingle's Board of Regents know that passing the costs to the students and excluding lesser-advantaged people from attaining an education is not a wise decision.

Please contact the governor and our elected officials and help secure the future of Hawai'i's continuing education.

Recycling program is worse than none at all

The recycling facility at the law school closed early on April 10; posted hours are 9 to 3, but the actual closing was more than 10 minutes earlier. Upon my pointing out that it wasn't 3 yet, a crewman said if I was going to the bank, I wouldn't get there so late.

Banks, etc., generally stay open during their posted hours; tellers and clerks are not usually empowered to close early to suit themselves. Those tellers and clerks who cannot conform to this are typically not tellers or clerks much longer.

So far the over-ballyhooed recycling program is worse than none at all. Indifference to the public the program supposedly serves works hardship on some and insults all. The contract should be given to a company that will honor the material terms of the agreement, including staying open during the designated hours.

Meanwhile, a (permanent?) recycling facility might be erected on the State Capitol grounds, in the space now (disgustingly) occupied by the "reflecting pool"; even piles of bottles and cans and dumpsters or containers would be an improvement.

Please join me in insisting the Legislature and the City Council address this shameful mess.

Designated driver makes great sense

That recent Dick Adair cartoon about the need of a designated driver while yakking on the phone hit home with me because last year a lady knocked me off my bicycle as she sped out of an alley with a cell phone in her hand.

Because she was nice enough to hold my hand while the ambulance came, I restrained from mentioning the cell phone to the police, but when it came time to collect, her insurance company found a witness saying I was going fast on the bicycle while I couldn't find any witness saying she was going at least three times as fast exiting the alleyway, cell phone in hand, and I ended up with nothing.

It is my opinion that all cell phones should be banned from cars because even if someone else is using it, it can be distracting.

'Silence' participants were courageous

I want to commend the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students, friends and family who participated in the National Day of Silence on April 13. By not speaking in their schools and workplaces, these courageous individuals called attention to the harassment they face in our schools every day.

For several students, this was a chance to find their individual voices and to reap the support from the more than 60 supporters who attended the event. There were all-too-frequent stories of rejection, hate-speech and physical abuse just for being "out" at school, but there were also stories of love, acceptance, alliance, empowerment, friendship and strength.

These youths embody the spirit that drives all movements striving for justice, equality and acceptance.

Please join us in the fight against infant birth defects

On April 12, we celebrated a historic milestone: the 50th anniversary of the announcement that the Salk polio vaccine was "safe, potent and effective," putting an end to a disease that crippled and killed generations. The March of Dimes initiated a partnership between volunteers and scientists to battle this disease and put polio behind us.

Following the success of the polio vaccine, the March of Dimes turned its attention to birth defects and other infant health problems, including premature birth. Prematurity is a common, serious and costly problem. Nationwide, nearly half a million babies are born prematurely each year. In Hawai'i, more than 800 babies are born with a birth defect, and more than 2,100 are born prematurely each year. Some don't survive; many who do have lifelong health problems.

The March of Dimes' major fund-raiser, WalkAmerica, will take place in over 1,100 communities nationwide in April and May. In Honolulu, Walk-America is this Saturday at Kapi'olani Park.

This year, our fund-raising goal for the state of Hawai'i is $400,000. With the support of our many local sponsors, including our title sponsor, Central Pacific Bank, we are confident that we will meet and hopefully surpass this goal. Since it was first held 35 years ago, WalkAmerica has raised more than $1 billion nationwide to fund innovative programs and cutting-edge research that have saved millions of babies from death and disability.

Please join us in the fight against prematurity by taking part in this year's WalkAmerica. For more information call, 1-800-525-WALK or visit walkamerica.org. You can also stop by any of the 37 Central Pacific Bank branches to pick up a registration form or make a donation.

Walk for someone you love, so all babies will have a chance to be born healthy and full-term. Thank you.

• • •

Readers weigh in on rail transit

Our traffic problems will only get worse

I was extremely upset when the City Council voted down the rail system in 1992. I hope the Legislature votes for the much-needed rail system tax this time around.

A rail system is crucial for the well-being of this island. Just look at the traffic gridlock at all hours during the day. We are building thousands of new condominiums and homes on O'ahu. New condo owners will drive their automobiles. Our traffic will get worse by the day.

Honolulu has one of the lowest taxes in the country. A 1 percentage point rise is not outrageous, especially if this increase is essential for the well-being of this community for generations to come.

Coming rail fiasco will leave us bereft

The proposed rail tax is a bad idea.

In March, I heard Gov. Lingle say that she supports this tax increase because it allows counties more "home rule." However, the law specifically allows O'ahu to spend the tax increase only on fixed rail. It is not home rule — it is the state manipulating O'ahu to pay for and put in a railroad.

Notice that the proponents refer to it as "light rail." It is a heavy, fixed-rail system.

The "money circulating through the economy" argument is even more untrue. The feds can only put in only $500 million of the $2.5 billion-plus construction cost. However, over $1.5 billion would immediately leave Honolulu in purchase of rolling stock, rail, wire and all the things we don't make here. Over $1 billion would leave the O'ahu economy in a very short period — with more going out later. A local economic and construction recession would surely follow.

The tax will never expire. As Rep. Neil Abercrombie said in the state Senate hearing, the tax must run forever to cover operating and maintenance costs.

There are real traffic solutions and alternatives that have been swept under the carpet by the previous Honolulu administrations for years. After the coming rail fiasco, there will be no money left to fix the traffic problems.

Save our money and use what we have

The morning traffic seems to flow fairly well with the zipper lane; it does help the commute to town. So my question is, why not do it during the afternoon as well?

Also, a lot of people feel paying a billion dollars on the rail system would be a great idea. Well, I think we should save our money and use what we have — the bus system by making the zipper lane just a bus lane and the contra-flow lane a two- to three-passenger car lane. Just for the early morning and afternoon commute. It would at least be worth a try.

If I were in a car and saw the buses flowing smoothly through traffic hour, I would seriously consider changing from my car to the bus.

Multiprong approach must be considered

After reading your article on the proposed transit system, I wanted to respond with these facts and ideas:

• Although increased traffic congestion is a major problem in other cities such as Houston or Boston, Honolulu is unique because of the limited entries and exits that are mostly confined to the shoreline.

• In order to increase the amount of people going into and out of Honolulu, there must be more than just one alternative.

• The transit system will only succeed in reducing the traffic flow minimally because not all will be able to access it conveniently.

• A bridge from 'Ewa Beach to Ford Island should be considered.

• Parking lots for express buses could be set aside.

• Change the minimum passengers from two-to-three to four for using the HOV lanes.

• Offer ferry service from strategic points into the harbor.

If we are going to be serious about the predicted traffic growth and its solution, we must consider all avenues.

Government hours should be staggered

The traffic situation is now desperate.

The city, state and federal governments must stagger their work hours significantly while Hawai'i obtains a rail system. Office hours can be early morning through late at night; for example, 4 a.m. to noon or noon to 8 p.m. This is for all major offices.

There is no reason for City Hall and satellite city halls to open only from 8 to 4 p.m., for example. Why can't those offices and other offices that receive major public clients open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. with staggered shifts?

As for the need for a rail system, that is a given. But the bus system must be coordinated with that system so that people who get off the train can get on a bus to take them to school or work.

I work on a military base, and even today I cannot take a bus to work or back because the bus stop is several miles from my office building.

The excise tax can be raised, providing all proceeds go to the rail system. I recommend that the excise tax be completely eliminated for all medicines and food, as such items are a necessity.

Excise tax hike OK

O'ahu needs a rail transit system badly. It's OK that the Legislature approve a plan to allow counties to raise the excise tax to help fund it.