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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, August 12, 2005

Letters to the Editor


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EDUCATION


WHY DID REP. BERG DEFEND SCHOOL CUTS?

Rep. Lyla Berg's passionate defense of the Reinventing Education Act (Aug. 8) was both insightful and surprising. While her arguments in favor of the bill were well-thought-out, I cannot understand why she is an ardent supporter of this legislation.

The Reinventing Education Act of 2004 stripped more than $2 million from schools in Rep. Berg's own district ("BOE plan raids some schools," June 30). Niu Valley Middle School lost 27 percent of its entire operating budget.

As vice chair of the House Education Committee, Rep. Berg should have the power to stop these cuts. Why is she defending them?

Nolan Y. Kido | 'Aina Haina


HOME RULE


DON'T BLAME LINGLE FOR TRANSIT TAX LAW

I am amused, though it certainly isn't funny, by Mr. Jim Henshaw's Aug. 3 letter concerning Gov. Lingle and the so-called transit tax and other bills. His criticism of her for not vetoing more bills is laughable. Where was he after the session ended and the legislators overrode 12 vetoes? Any more vetoes would have simply meant a few more minutes spent voting for more overrides and would have been pointless.

The governor did not allow a transit tax to become law. The bill allowed counties to increase the GET. She has always been in favor of more home rule for the counties, and any other action would have truly been hypocritical.

I have serious doubts about rail transit helping traffic congestion, and I think an increase in the GET is a terrible burden on everyone. However, the Democrats in the Legislature came up with this bill, and a majority of those legislators voted to give that option to the counties. The City and County of Honolulu is apparently going for it. Let us put the blame on those who are truly responsible and quit faulting the governor for things beyond her control.

Shirley Hasenyager | Kailua


EXPENSES


EXCISE TAX INCREASE IS A LOSS FOR THE PEOPLE

The passing of House Bill 1309, authorizing an increase in the general excise tax, was a sad day for Hawai'i. Most disturbing was watching our elected officials' display of joy over the idea of taking more of our money.

The mayor complained it would be a burden for the city to collect the tax, as if a 12.5 percent increase in the general excise tax won't be a burden for the taxpayers.

House Speaker Calvin Say said building a rail transit would solve our traffic problems and improve our quality of life. How about the quality of life for those who can't find affordable housing, or for those who will lose their homes to make way for rail?

Senate President Robert Bunda said we might not realize the benefits of rail transit in our lifetime, but our children will. If you really want to help our kids, fix the schools!

Gov. Lingle stated this was a compromise, not a win or lose. The people of Hawai'i lost because now we will have to pay more for everything.

Doug Sutton | Kane'ohe


DR. MIYASHIRO


MANY WERE BLESSED TO HAVE KNOWN CLIFFORD

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose.

You never know who these people may be, but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.

Dr. Clifford Minoru Miyashiro was that person.

Clifford had a heart filled with joy and love that was true. He was trustworthy and faithful and was always there to help people.

Sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles, you would have never realized your potential, strength, will power or heart.

Clifford would say, "Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Let yourself have fond memories of times past and not allow tragedy to change your love. Don't be afraid to tell people that you love them."

Many people, especially Vietnam veterans, were blessed to have Clifford come into their lives. He himself was a Vietnam veteran and truly understood the difficulties that many experienced in combat. He was a very special person, and even though he may have passed from this Earth, he will always remain in our hearts.

Bob, Betty and Billy Johnson | Kapolei


STEM CELLS


PREGNANT WOMEN CAN GIVE LIFE SECOND TIME

With all of the recent news about stem-cell research and advances, I think that people need to know that there is a way for normal, everyday people to help in this very important field of study.

Women who are pregnant can easily donate their placental cord blood for research and in the process give life a second time, once to your baby and the second to someone whom you do not know who suffers from an injury or disease that needs those embryonic cells for research.

After you contact the Hawai'i Cord Blood Bank, you fill out a question packet and they take care of everything else. The process could not be easier, and you would be helping to further scientific research on a curable illness.

Pregnant or soon-to-be pregnant women, call Hawaii Cord Blood Bank at 983-2265.

Michelle Lee Bradley | Makakilo


MORE REACTION ON KAMEHAMEHA


KAMEHAMEHA TRULY IS A GLOBAL MELTING POT

I would like to comment on the issue of Kamehameha Schools being recognized as a racial institute, only accommodating Hawaiian descent.

I don't know if you realize that Kamehameha has embraced not only the Hawaiian bloodline, but also the bloodline from all sorts of different countries, such as: China, Russia, Africa, Tonga, Armenia, Japan, Italy, Puerto Rico, Portugal, England, Korea, Germany Tahiti, Ireland, India, Scotland, Philippines, Canada, Spain, Samoa, Mexico, France, Guam — and the list of countries can go on.

I am sure the quantum of Hawaiian descent is but a drop within a student's assortment of legacies. Kamehameha Schools truly is a melting pot for all nationalities, accepting all races.

Naomi Correa | Kuli'ou'ou


BLAME THE TRUSTEES FOR SCHOOLS' PROBLEM

I blame the trustees and people running the school for the entire problem. Did the princess say in her will to make a huge bunch of jobs for an overpaid, top-heavy administration? No, she wanted education for the children of Hawai'i. So why isn't there a campus in Wai'anae and places where the need is the greatest?

I am sure the princess would have been embarrassed at the angry ranting I saw on television from a trustee and student. In this time of world conflict, filled with hate and bombings, it is most important that we teach our children kindness.

When the trust was written in the late 1800s, there were children of pure-Hawaiian ancestry. Now they are all mixed with other races and it is almost a joke what passes for Hawaiian ancestry. We all know people who are adopted or not even Hawaiian who get into the school. Besides which, the original trust states the children of Hawai'i.

Does it say highly paid trustees must be Hawaiian? Wake up and get with the times over there.

Barbara Williams | Hale'iwa


PRINCESS PAUAHI DIDN'T SAY 'HAWAIIANS ONLY'

The lie: Bernice Pauahi Bishop's will establishes the Kamehameha Schools with a Hawaiian-only admissions policy. The Kamehameha Schools trustees have perpetuated the lie for many years.

The truth: Pauahi's will says nothing about a Hawaiian-only admissions policy. Read the will for yourself. You can find it on the Kamehameha Schools Web site at www.ksbe.edu/pauahi/will.php.

Here's what the 9th Circuit judges have to say about the will in their recent decision: "The Will is notably devoid of any mention of race as a criterion for admission into the Kamehameha Schools. As the Schools' 1885 Prospectus observed: 'The noble-minded Hawaiian chiefess who endowed the Kamehameha Schools, put no limitations of race or condition on her general bequest. Instruction will be given only in English language, but The Schools will be opened to all nationalities.' "

The trustees set the "Hawaiians-only" policy. They have a duty to the people of Hawai'i to make this clear. Instead, they tap dance around the subject and make statements implying that they are following the wishes of Pauahi, when they are not. The will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop establishes the Kamehameha Schools for boys and girls — nothing is said about race.

David Lyman Bigelow | Waimea, Hawai'i


DOES JOHN DOE KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE?

Something to think about, John Doe: The courts ruled in your favor. Worst-case scenario, the decision is not reversed for whatever reason. OK, what's done is done. Have you thought ahead what it's going to be like being in Kamehameha yet? They don't identify you by name, but it's not going to take long before the student body does. Do you think the school exists in a vacuum?

It's hard enough just being a teenager in high school. How do you think life will be when 99.9 percent, if not 100 percent, of the students around you will resent you, look down on you or hate you at varying degrees? I don't know how many school days there are in a school year, but is it worth being harassed or being beat down on every single one of them?

I'm not Hawaiian, but I understand their argument. At the same time, no kid should have to go through that. It's something to think about.

Lee Uchiyama | 'Aiea


KAMEHAMEHA SHOULD HELP PUSH AKAKA BILL

Over the years, Kamehameha Schools has been criticized for having billions of dollars but not helping enough Hawaiians educationally. Now, in 2005, Kamehameha, as the institution for those of Hawaiian ancestry, is in danger of being forced to help even fewer children of Hawaiian ancestry by accepting any child from any corner of the globe because of one court ruling.

Now is the time for Kamehameha Schools to help all individuals of Hawaiian ancestry, young and old, by stepping forward to lead its nation to sovereignty. There are those who support the Akaka bill. Then there are so many sovereignty organizations that oppose the Akaka bill because of the influence of the federal government. Since Kamehameha Schools is now threatened itself, can it find some way to use its financial wealth to organize the sovereignty movement independently of the U.S. government to a fair conclusion for all Hawaiians?

I feel it is the only way to save a people, language and culture whose very existence is in jeopardy by those who abuse the word "equality" in order to crush diversity.

David Lee Rogers | Kapolei


ATONEMENT NEEDED

When the late great Gandhian educator and independence movement veteran Dr. G. Ramachandran visited Honolulu briefly in 1975, he was full of detailed questions about the Hawaiian people. How many are there? Where do they live? What do they do? What are their health and living conditions? What are their customs?

Upon departure, he said, "If I lived in Hawai'i, I would dedicate my life to atonement to the Hawaiian people."

Glenn Paige | Honolulu