OPPORTUNITIES

AKAKA BILL WILL HELP ADVANCE HAWAIIANS

Hawaiians who oppose the Akaka bill as "not enough" should ask themselves realistically what they expect will happen if the Akaka bill does not become law.

Will the U.S. leave Hawai'i? No.

Will the monarchy be re-established? No.

Do they think that anyone in the federal government beyond our own senators and representatives is actually concerned with what happened to the kingdom of Hawai'i 112 years ago? No.

The bill gives Hawaiians a legal framework within which to build the nation of Hawai'i. It also protects Hawaiian-first and Hawaiian-only programs, institutions and organizations from attack by those who say they are race-based. Status as indigenous people would forever end those attacks.

Those who say it is "not enough" should realize that the U.S. is under no obligation to recognize Hawaiians as indigenous people or to give them special consideration in any way. The Akaka bill is on the brink of becoming law. It would create real, positive opportunities for Hawaiians to move forward.

KAMEHAMEHA

LEAVE RACIAL ATTACKS OUT OF THE DISCUSSION

The past weeks have been emotional for all Hawaiians. Since the ruling in the John Doe v. Kamehameha Schools case, sadness and anger have been expressed by many. It's likely that you'll come across discussions and even Internet bulletin postings about this touchy subject.

But over the course of those weeks, some discussions and postings have become hostile and sometimes very heated. Many have been racially influenced. While my emotions run just as high, to me, this shouldn't turn into a racial attack on either haole or Hawaiian.

My grandfather and mother both attended Kamehameha, and the school has always been a part of my life. I am very proud to have graduated from Kamehameha. I left with a deep respect, aloha and appreciation for not only the school, but mainly for Ke Ali'i Pauahi Bishop.

It deeply saddens and hurts me to know that the princess, and her wishes, are being disrespected and violated. She was very smart and careful with her intentions for the school, in "giving the preference to pure or part aboriginal blood." How could someone who is not pure or part aboriginal attend the school knowing that it wasn't intended for him? No one, Hawaiian or haole, deserves to attend the school if he is unable to respect and appreciate the reason he is there.

BUSINESS

LET SUPERFERRY ROLL

Why so much humbug you making from Maui? Consider the dollars this venture will generate for all the Islands. Every time there's a new business that will be successful, there are always vultures who want to take a bite of it. Let the ferry roll!

DON'T SPEED

TALK TO YOUR FOOT, IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES

The key to speed is the foot; how one uses it on the gas pedal determines how fast the car will go; that is the logic. The trouble is there are too many of us who are going beyond reasonable speed — like 20 mph or more over. It shouldn't be only nostalgia to get people to drive not more than 5 mph over the speed limit; it should be a daily occurrence.

It's terrible to get that gnawing feeling when one drives on the freeways — that "each man for himself" mentality whereby you drive the way you feel like and not drive within the safety of the road rules.

Let's get with it and ease up on the accelerator. Talk to your foot, if necessary, if that is what it takes to slow down and drive safely. The key is your foot; control it!

RAIL CRITIC

ONLY DRASTIC MEASURES WILL CUT DOWN ON TRAFFIC

Don Rochon's Aug. 18 letter accusing Bill Brennan, the mayor's press secretary, of "PR obfuscation and misdirection" was a gem of obfuscation in its own right.

Rochon argues that a new transit line won't eliminate traffic congestion for O'ahu's commuters. Once again, he's attacking transit for doing something it can't possibly do: turn the morning freeway commute into a fast ride.

It's time we all realize that slow highway commutes are here to stay. Only drastic measures — limiting the number of cars a household can own, capping car imports, imposing high road taxes — would actually reduce traffic.

So if Rochon personally wants to contribute to reducing traffic, he can do something drastic himself: He can designate one car in his Hawai'i Kai household as a keeper and junk every other vehicle. Selling them wouldn't do the trick; just junk them once and for all.

Drastic proposals aside, the only rational way to shorten commute times is to provide alternatives to driving on already overcrowded highways. That's what an efficient transit system will be for O'ahu — the alternative that currently does not exist.

CENTERS

STATE HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO RECYCLE

The state has to improve and make its recycling program more convenient and efficient.

I went to a Waipahu redemption center recently and was dismayed at the problems I observed. People were being turned away less than one hour after the center opened; they were told that the container was full so they had to go to a different site. The center also was not taking any green bottles.

This was my first visit to a redemption center, and I learned after arriving that each individual is limited to a maximum of 700 cans or bottles per visit. I arrived before the center opened and still had to wait in line for 90 minutes.

The state is getting 5 cents for every can, plastic or glass bottle purchased, but not enough effort is put into helping consumers get their money back. With our taxes, medical costs and gas prices continuing to rise, people are recycling not only for the environment but also to recoup some of the money the state is taking from them.

The state is very quick to take my 5-cent deposit but makes it very difficult for me to get my money back.

GAS CAP

IT'S A GOOD IDEA, BUT ...

Will Rogers once said, "Communism is like prohibition; it's a good idea, but it won't work." Ditto gas price caps!

OUTREACH I WONDER, HAVE YOU BEEN HELPED BY KAMEHAMEHA?

I have read and heard from many in the Hawaiian community that they don't support the Kamehameha Schools during these trying times because they, or their children, have not been admitted into one of the K-12 campuses, and it makes me wonder.

I wonder if these same people have keiki attending any of the more than 25 preschool sites that KS runs or supports through its Pauahi Keiki Scholarship program.

I wonder if they have attended or taken advantage of any of the programs offered, or sponsored, by KS through its Extension Education Division, including Explorations, Kamehameha Scholars, the 'Ike Pono traveling van and the kupuna programs, Family and Child literacy programs, health and wellness seminars and workshops, and career development planning services.

I wonder if they or their families have been to Paepae o He'eia (a Hawaiian fishpond), Waipa on Kaua'i, or any of the other land-based educational sites that KS has developed and supports through it 'Aina Ulu program within its endowment group.

I wonder if they have 'ohana who attend Hawaiian charter schools, new century charter schools, and Hawaiian immersion schools that are supported by KS through Ho'okako'o, Ho'olako Like and other programs.

I wonder if these folks have ever received any benefits and support from other Hawaiian agencies and organizations (Alu Like, QLCC, etc.) that KS has supported over the years.

I wonder if they understand that this ruling on the admissions and preference policy will jeopardize not just admissions to the campuses, but to all of these other programs as well.

It is time to stand beside an institution, though far from being perfect, that has the potential to prepare a nation for the challenges that lie ahead economically, socially and spiritually.

OUTRIGGER HOTELS

ALOHA BESTOWED ON TINY VISITORS

It's not easy being a tiny white tern chick, precariously balanced on a tree branch without even a nest. But it's even harder when progress requires the removal of the tree.

Thanks to several goodhearted people, including local residents, officials with Outrigger Hotels and Resorts and construction workers, little Eric the tern and some of his cousins were allowed the opportunity to grow up safely and securely on their perches.

It started in April when Liz and George Neroutsos contacted the Fish and Wildlife Service about white terns nesting in a banyan tree outside their Ni'ihau Apartments window. The tree was slated for removal as part of the Waikiki Beach Walk project.
White terns (often called fairy terns) are the only native Hawaiian birds that nest in Waikiki, and Honolulu is the only city in the United States where white terns can be found. They are protected by federal law, but their delicate beauty and charm usually touch people's hearts and souls without the need of a legal threat.

And so, when contacted, Outrigger Hotels' Eric Masutomi, vice president of planning, immediately agreed to protect the nesting site by delaying removal of the tree. In his honor, the little chick who hatched in late May was given the name "Eric." When a construction worker later found another chick wandering in the construction site — this one named "Pila" for Outrigger Hotels' community liaison Pila Kikuchi — he and his fellow workers made every effort to return it to the tree from which it fell. In doing so, another pair of white terns incubating an egg was found, and once again, Outrigger delayed removal of the tree.

Eric has now successfully fledged, and his nest tree has been removed. The second tree will remain in place until its chick also learns to fly. At considerable expense and effort, the staff of Outrigger Hotels has demonstrated their aloha for Hawai'i's native species.

On behalf of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and all those who share our affection for these little Honolulu residents, we offer our heartfelt mahalo to the corporation that took these tiny birds into their 'ohana and helped ensure their survival.