TAX INCREASE

CITY COUNCIL SHOULD NOT BUY A PIG IN A POKE

A poke was a sack or bag, and to buy a pig in a poke indicated that the purchase was made without being able to examine the merchandise. A person who bought a pig in a poke was considered to be unwise at best and, more commonly, a little weak in mental capacity.

It seems that if the City Council approves the proposed tax increase, without benefit of the requisite preliminary studies, it will, on behalf of the taxpayers, be buying a pig in a poke.

Many proponents of the increase, notably Rep. Neil Abercrombie, claim that if the tax increase is not approved at this time, proposed federal funding assistance will be lost forever. I remember that the same claim was made the last time the city was in a similar situation (in 1992, I believe). Well, the city funding was not approved at that time, but the federal funds were not lost "forever." Seems that the present hue and cry in that respect is an example of the Boy Who Cried Wolf.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!

Louis H. Trigg | Pearl City

SELFISH SUIT

KAMEHAMEHA SHOULD BE ABLE TO FOLLOW WILL

I grew up in Hawai'i and, while not of Hawaiian descent, I always admired and supported the spirit of the Bishop bequest to provide a first-class education to the children of Hawaiian ancestry. The schools were set up with a private endowment and thus should have the prerogative to follow the benefactor's wishes despite the fact that they serve a narrow, though deserving, population.

It is highly selfish and shortsighted of "John Doe" to try to change the execution of the Bishop will for his personal benefit. It is further galling that for one year of education, he will forever hinder the ability of the Hawaiian children to access a level of education and opportunity that they might not ordinarily have.

If "John Doe" is so set on having a first-class private education for his senior year, why not look to Punahou or Iolani, which do not have a mandate to help an underserved ethnic group and yet offer outstanding college preparatory education?

Shame on the parents for supporting this lawsuit. What message are you sending to your child? This is the wrong platform to stake a position on.

The Hawaiians have had so much taken away from them. This significant and generous gift should be allowed to serve this group. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision is overreaching and an inappropriate application of civil rights protection.

I hope that we can put this matter to rest in a way that can allow the Kamehameha Schools to continue to serve the children of Hawaiian ancestry as Bernice Pauahi Bishop intended.

Stephen S. Paik | Berkeley, Calif.; Punahou School alumnus

SHORTAGE

BLAME THE DOE, NOT SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

Short 400 teachers, the DOE's Gerald Okamoto responded by slapping substitutes' faces. So subs can't provide "stability in the classroom"?

Again, the DOE blames a problem, discipline, on others — substitute and regular teachers and principals — while diverting attention from the real cause: failed DOE management. If the DOE established responsible statewide disciplinary policy and curriculum and enforced both, there would be discipline and learning in the classroom.

For "fill-in" teachers, the DOE's "focus now is on finding appropriate openings for the candidates it has not yet placed." Where did these candidates come from? Are any experienced subs listed — or just friends or relatives? Hawai'i is filled with highly qualified teachers. They either quit, or won't or can't work for the DOE because of personnel policies.

Okamoto states: "The last push is to get principals to commit or not to certain names." (Red flags!) If principals won't commit, "then we circulate those names to other schools." By reinventing education, weren't principals supposed to be in charge, spend funds, work with school complex councils and find "emergency fill-ins"? Our reinvented wheel still goes in circles.

John Hoff | Substitute Teachers Professional Alliance; Lawa'i, Kaua'i

POWER PLANTS

WE MUST CRACK DOWN ON MERCURY POLLUTION

Mercury pollution is so pervasive that many Americans cannot safely eat fish caught in local waters. Hawai'i has a statewide warning for mercury in marine fish. Mercury is especially dangerous to children and developing fetuses, causing learning disabilities, developmental delays and other serious problems.

But rather than crack down on the largest U.S. source of mercury emissions — power plants — the Bush administration recently issued rules that give polluters a pass for years to come, delaying even modest reductions until 2018 and even then allowing companies to buy and trade the right to pollute.

We can, and should, do better. We applaud Sen. Daniel Akaka for supporting a joint resolution, led by Sens. Patrick Leahy and Susan Collins, to reject the administration's mercury rules and send EPA back to the drawing board to write a rule that complies with the law and protects public health.

We call on Sen. Dan Inouye to support this critical effort.

Jonathan Mendoza | Campaign coordinator, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Washington, D.C.

INSPIRATION

GOLFER MICHELLE WIE IS THE BEST OF THE BEST

Michelle Wie is a tremendous athlete. Her composure, her grace, her stamina, her steadfastness is telling. Whether trailing or in the lead, she demonstrates the qualities of the best of the best. She is and should be an inspiration to us all.

In a day when many in sports are deviating to drugs, sex, violence, etc., Michelle shows us what an athlete is and how she regards sports as a privilege.

I say keep her in the paper, let her inspire others to be better. Let's just hope her demeanor rubs off on others.

Dale Dudas | Moanalua

FOOD DRIVE

'STAMP OUT HUNGER' AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS

It was truly an amazing event — the 2005 National Association of Letter Carriers 13th annual "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive, on May 14.

The NALC, in conjunction with the United States Postal Service, would like to extend its deepest appreciation to the valued customers of the state of Hawai'i for their generous donations of nonperishable food items. Together we have all made a difference in providing core nutrition for the 30 million people who face hunger every day in America, including about 118,000 people in Hawai'i.

The totals have been updated and this year the more than 240,000 letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns collected a record 71.3 million pounds of donations — more than 400,000 pounds over last year's totals. Our state total was 366,863 pounds — 30,159 pounds more than last year. We would also like to extend a special mahalo to the patrons on O'ahu who brought in a record 291,003 pounds of nonperishable donations.

Bruce McDowell, John Simbahon and Adele Yoshikawa | Hawai'i state co-chairs, NALC Food Drive 2005

KAMEHAMEHA REACTION TO COURT RULING IS DISMAYING

It's sad to see the reaction from Kamehameha Schools' board, alumni and faculty in the recent decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Here we see that they want to exclude non-Hawaiians to the school, yet they have non-Hawaiians who rule the school and board. If they are so true about this type of admission to the school, then it should be that way all the way through. This should include the faculty and staff as well.

I hear on the TV and see in the paper that they want their 'aina back. Well, I also see so many of these same people who do not take care of the 'aina. I see them around at gatherings smoking and tossing their cigarette butts on the ground. I'll bet some of these same people have property that is littered with junk and trash. How many of them illegally dump and dispose of items on back roads or places where they shouldn't?

Another similar group that cries foul is the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. It insists on lending and funding or giving grants to Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian businesses or Hawaiian nonprofit organizations only. But, it has staff who are not Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian. In fact, it has a white Mainlander who oversees the revolving loan program for Hawaiian business entrepreneurs. Why not a Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian in this position who knows what is good for the local business climate?

As a part-Hawaiian islander, I believe that you get what you give out. If you show racism or favoritism, you will receive that in return. If you open your arms to all, you can achieve all. Remember, the princess' s will does not specify that only Native Hawaiians can enroll in the school. But it says a portion of the trust's annual income should go to "the support and education of orphans, and others in indigent circumstances, giving the preference to Hawaiians of pure or part aboriginal blood."

Tom Aki | Kane'ohe

MOLOKA'I RUMOR

EXPERIENCE BODES ILL FOR GAS CAP

The TV news reported very briefly on the false shortage of gasoline on Moloka'i recently. Most of those who noticed the story probably passed it off as strange. Although an isolated incident with no real basis, it should send a strong message throughout the state as the Public Utilities Commission prepares to fulfill its legal obligation to implement the now-infamous Gas Cap Law.

The message is this: It doesn't take much to disrupt supplies of gasoline.

The Moloka'i scenario was brought about by a mere rumor. With a couple of days until the arrival of the scheduled gasoline barge, our manager informed the island's two gas stations that they would be getting a little free premium gasoline blended into their deliveries of regular to stretch inventories, due to an unusual late-month demand. Within an hour, this led to the following rumor: Moloka'i was out of gas, and the next barge wouldn't be coming for a month. By the next day, all the available gasoline was sold, moving it from the storage tanks to car tanks. The Moloka'i gas "shortage" became a self-fulfilling prophecy on a Friday afternoon. On Saturday, the barge arrived on schedule, as usual. The gas stations were empty because all the cars were filled up.

The gas-cap law provides ample opportunity for mixed messages and actual shortages. Repeated warnings by every consultant and professional who has weighed in on the subject have been ignored.

No other state has chosen to emulate this law, yet everyone everywhere complains about high gas prices. The ultimate irony of the law is that it sets no limit on retail prices, just wholesale, yet risks major disruptions and price volatility. Again and again, the experts have all said there is no guarantee the law will lower retail prices. In fact, the preamble to the law itself says lowering retail prices is not its objective, a statement I find absolutely incredible and irreconcilable.

The petroleum industry is complex and not reducible to a simplistic formula. The wheels keep turning in Hawai'i because the industry participants take risks and figure out ways to make sure everyone everywhere is supplied; it's not an easy job. Gasoline does not exist in a vacuum; it is inexorably tied to jet fuel, diesel fuel, propane and other fuels.

Consider this: No one knows whether refinery prices controlled by the gas cap will be above or below what our two refiners could sell gasoline for in California. If they have better financial opportunities to export gasoline into the often-short California market, wouldn't you expect them to do so? Don't you think that will have an effect on Hawai'i supplies? How do you think O'ahu drivers will react to a mere rumor that a refiner is exporting gasoline?

A situation that may have been tolerable will become a snowballing shortage, gas lines will form and O'ahu will quickly be on empty. The Neighbor Islands will get what's left. This is but one scenario under the gas cap, but the people on Moloka'i can sure identify with it.

The PUC quotes testimony from Kaua'i and Maui by dealers pleading that they will go out of business under the gas cap. The PUC wrote the governor recently, warning of the impending damage, but vowing to still do its assigned task. The governor has one last chance to stop this. Let's hope she uses it.

Brian Barbata | Island Petroleum, Moloka'i