FIREWORKS

CREATE FUND TO TAX USERS, HELP VICTIMS

It would seem that if our legislators will not outlaw fireworks, the least they can do is add a tax to the fireworks to compensate the people who lose their homes to fireworks-related fires. This tax money should be put into a fund to be used only for fireworks-related damage.

Not only should homeowners and residents be compensated, but they should receive double the value of their homes and belongings to compensate for the grief, inconvenience and loss of irreplaceable personal property.

Those who insist that they have a right to use fireworks should be more than happy to pay this extra tax for the pleasure that they get in causing grief to others. Unfortunately, this would not compensate for the potential loss of life, but those lives should be on the conscience of the legislators who fail to outlaw fireworks altogether.

Ken Plummer | Honolulu

CANS FOR CANINES

HERE'S ONE MORE RECYCLING SUCCESS

I'm glad The Advertiser is presenting recycling success stories rather than focusing on the perceived failures of the bottle law ("Recycling initiatives demonstrate creativity," editorial, July 3). In order for recycling to become as natural as breathing, we all need to be creative and make a conscious effort to separate our trash. It's great that the city is jumping in to help.

I also applaud businesses and organizations that have taken the initiative to recycle.

A few months ago, I approached the Topa Financial Center management about collecting cans and bottles in the lobby of the building for the Hawai'i Dog Foundation. Not only did Topa approve Cans for Canines as an ongoing recycling/fundraising effort, it provided a large, new recycling bin for this purpose. Fort Street Bar & Grill owner Colin Nishida also supported the effort by designating a Cans for Canines recycling bin inside his restaurant.

The Hawai'i Dog Foundation is grateful for the redeemables, and the lunch patrons appreciate being able to recycle, so it's a win-win situation.

And over at the state Capitol, Rep. Glenn Wakai put a Cans for Canines bin in his office, showing his commitment to recycling while helping man's best friend.

It is this kind of integrity and conscious participation that will ultimately make recycling successful in Hawai'i.

Betty Kamida | Hawai'i Dog Foundation

HAWAIIANS

SELF-DETERMINATION IS THE ONLY ANSWER

Years ago, nothing was wrong in being called Hawaiian. Today the word "Hawaiian" or the words "Hawaiian blood" are considered racial.

What is a Hawaiian? Hawaiians have accepted changes only to find that non-Hawaiians have their own agenda. We have kept our genealogy of our own families, doing research through the churches, library, archives or other sources.

There have been too many complaints about the Akaka bill, activists, Hawaiian blood, racism, stealing Hawaiian lands, two sets of laws. Self-determination is an American phrase, and so is civil rights. We do live under two flags, the Hawaiian and the American. We want things to be pono. Too many complaints, too many problems. Create a vision, work on that vision and bring that vision into reality. Don't forget the past — where we came from, today in planning for a better tomorrow. Self-determination is the only answer.

The Akaka bill, which could be amended later, is a cry for attention to what is happening to the educational system, the health and welfare of the Hawaiians. The aim of this bill is to recognize and bring our histories into an understanding of our culture. Since the Hawaiian Homes Act was recognized by the Congress of the United States, why can't all of the Hawaiian Islands be recognized?

Lucy M. Akau | Waimanalo

TRANSIT DEBATE

WE NEED TEMPORARY TRAFFIC FIX RIGHT NOW

Good grief! Ice crystals have been observed forming in hell while all the "Alice in Wonderland" tea party behavior goes on about traffic congestion and what to do about it.

While this confusion is going on, how about a simple, stopgap Band-Aid job? Won't cost too much, either.

How about alternate-day driving? License plate numbers ending in even digits, drive only on even days; odd numbers, drive on odd days. Vanity plates without a number? Last letter has a place in 26 letter-ordered alphabet.

Warner King | Waikiki

YOKOHAMA BAY

PUBLIC RESTROOM AT KA'ENA POINT IS FILTHY

I have traveled in Third World countries, from mountain areas in China to rural locations in Thailand, and I must tell you that the restrooms in those countries are far better than the one at Yokohama Bay, Ka'ena Point.

Recently I was there for a photo shoot with out-of-town clients and there was a need to use the restroom. I was totally disgusted at the condition of the restroom. It was filthy and shocking.

Imagine tourists driving all that way to see the beautiful beaches Hawai'i has to offer and then attempting to use this restroom. I believe this is on state property, and if so, the people of Hawai'i are wasting their tax dollars, as the only thing flushing is our dollars.

Joe Carini | Honolulu

TOLL SYSTEM

RAIL TRANSIT NO GOOD UNLESS IT CAN SERVE ALL

As a car owner and bus commuter for the past 15 years, I have experienced the ups and downs of riding the bus. For the most part, it is pretty good compared to major cities on the Mainland.

But to have a rail transit system that costs so much money and will not serve everyone on this tiny island of approximately 900,000 just does not make sense to me. There are about 200,000 bus commuters from all over the island, but not all of them will be riding the rail, which, by the way, will probably be running in 10, 20 or 30 years from now.

In the meantime, a toll system would be most efficient while our politicians bicker with each other and find the best solution to the problem. It should be much cheaper than the rail system to set up with microchips. You buy the chip and deposit money into the system and you can add or renew it.

This system has been done in many major cities on the Mainland as well as in other countries — and it works! Of course, if you do not want to pay the toll, you have the choice of going through secondary highways, such as Farrington or Nimitz, or other side streets.

Rosita Sipirok-Siregar | Makakilo

REPLACE STADIUM

HAWAI'I COULD HAVE COOLEST EVENTS VENUE

It seems that Aloha Stadium has failed to live up to its expectations over the years, causing people to ask for a replacement.

I'd like to propose for consideration building a stadium into a valley. Imagine seats built onto the sides of a valley, the echo of cheers bouncing off the mountain walls, nicknaming our stadium "The Valley."

Teams from the Mainland and the world would be wowed by the experience of playing in paradise, and television media would get the best of both worlds, an energized athletic event with paradise in full view.

There's definitely a concern about location and adverse environmental impacts; I know we can find a way.

Bradley Pang | Kuli'ou'ou

HUMAN TSUNAMI

IMMIGRATION BEHIND MANY OF OUR PROBLEMS

Housing crisis, water shortages, traffic collapse and tax increases to build a mass transit system. What do they have in common? Overpopulation caused by a human tsunami called immigration.

Who is benefiting from historically record-high immigration? Not the inhabitants but the companies that can sell more to more people.

We have now reached a population density in which more immigration will just cause more misery.

Volker Hildebrandt | Kane'ohe

SUPPORT 'OHANA

THANKS FOR SHARING ABOUT BABY HUI DADS

"New fatherhood model finds kindred support" (June 19) struck a chord with me. I was delighted to see you take notice of the role dads play. As a member of The Baby Hui, I was even more delighted to see them recognized for the role they play in our community. Mahalo for printing this article and enabling other parents to discover the magic of The Baby Hui.

Thanks mostly to The Baby Hui, I have many friends whom I call my 'ohana.

I recommend calling to join The Baby Hui (735-2484) to any new parent. Parents can gain knowledge and support that makes them less likely to neglect their children.

The Baby Hui has provided me with resource materials that will help me raise a smart, confident, loving keiki.

For 20 years, The Baby Hui has been building a community of strong families. I hope that you will continue to share the stories of the moms and dads who are a part of The Baby Hui 'ohana.

Larisa Majors | Mililani

SOVEREIGNTY

AKAKA BILL IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

I am writing on behalf of several Hawaiian citizens who have reached out to Citizens Equal Rights Alliance to clarify a misconception over the Akaka bill. CERA educates and monitors events concerning the protection of constitutional and civil rights of citizens, both tribal and non-tribal, who reside on or near federally recognized Indian reservations. Our organization has affiliated community education groups and citizens in 25 states — 26 now with Hawai'i.

There seems to be a belief that S.147 is benign and merely gives to Native Hawaiians the same opportunities to establish a sovereign government that is similar to existing Native American governments. Unfortunately, this is not accurate and will lead to the state of Hawai'i becoming liable for the racial discrimination it is promoting by supporting federal legislation that will separate and segregate the Native Hawaiian people from all other citizens of the state of Hawai'i. The Akaka bill as proposed would have significant political, legal and economic impacts upon citizens throughout the United States, as well.

CERA submitted an amicus brief in the recent United States Supreme Court case that questions the very existence of historically separate Native American sovereignty in City of Sherrill v. Oneida Indian Nation. The court decided that the sovereignty of the United States cannot be unified with tribal sovereignty.

According to the majority reasoning in Sherrill, Congress itself does not have the constitutional authority to restore long-dead claims of sovereignty. And yet, S.147 would pursue exactly what the U.S. Supreme Court has declared, as recently as March, cannot be constitutionally done. State citizens cannot be deprived of state citizenship to create a separate sovereign or governing entity by a state or our national government.

The recent Sherrill decision supports the Supreme Court's earlier ruling in Rice v. Cayetano (2000). If there is no constitutional authority to reassert long-dead claims of sovereignty, then by definition a federal or state government acts beyond its scope of authority when it promotes such a sovereignty claim on behalf of a single racial entity. To hold otherwise would be to agree with the infamous Dred Scott v. Sandford decision of 1857, which was one of the primary factors that precipitated the Civil War.

The premise, spirit and intent in S.147 to separate and segregate the Native Hawaiians from all other citizens of the state of Hawai'i are not benign. This legislation would embroil the state of Hawai'i in extensive civil rights litigation that Hawai'i cannot win. CERA hopes Gov. Linda Lingle will reconsider her support of S.147 and promote a solution that preserves full citizenship rights of the Native Hawaiians.

Failure to uphold a republican form of government by way of ensuring a single plebiscite signals a governance shift to monarchical mentalities that may set the first cause of action for citizens denied their constitutionally guaranteed right to participate in a republican form of government. The governor should reconsider her position on S.147, or at least guarantee Hawai'i citizens the plebiscite to which they are constitutionally entitled.

Elaine D. Willman | Chair, Citizens Equal Rights Alliance; Toppenish, Wash.