RECYCLING BUTTS

CHARGE AN EXTRA TAX ON CIGARETTE PACKAGE

Smokers should be charged an extra $2 tax per cigarette pack. To get their refund, smokers would need to bring back the 20 butts and the packaging to any tobacco retailer to be shipped back to the senders for destruction.

This bill would allow the cleanup of our beaches, our streets and our parks thanks to the needy and others willing to harvest the butts. Easy money!

I still believe that an extra dollar for a pack of cigarettes should go to health insurance to treat lung cancer patients.

State legislators, let's get out of your cocoon and become wonderful innovators who would give Hawai'i a reputation of a modern state ready to change for the better. King Kalakaua always loved innovations.

Guy Belegaud | Honolulu

VACANCIES

LIBRARIANS' STARTING PAY SHOULD BE RAISED

As the parent of two sons who use the public libraries, I was very interested in your July 6 story on the state library problems of reduced hours, fewer workers and unfilled vacant positions.

After reading it, I have even greater respect for the library's hardworking employees. I appreciate the staggered schedules, online services and other inventive solutions they have implemented to help as many patrons as possible.

The state has to do more to help these dedicated professionals and increase their numbers. If the state wants more people to become librarians, increasing their low starting pay is a good way to start.

Harry Gima | Kaimuki

CLOSURE THREAT

NO MORE EXCUSES FOR SHIPYARD INEFFICIENCY

Pearl Harbor appears to have weathered closure. But can it survive the next time?

During the recent closure consideration, Pearl Harbor was challenged on the basis of efficiency. The records show that, in fact, it is far less efficient than other installations. If you are unconvinced, just ask any knowledgeable employee of Pearl Harbor; they know. They are aware that, on occasion, groups of Portsmouth employees were sent to Pearl Harbor to bolster the local workforce in efforts to improve efficiency, correct shoddy work and meet production schedules.

"Business as usual" at Pearl Harbor is no longer acceptable. Excuses don't count. Now is the time for Pearl Harbor to reinvent itself.

Pearl Harbor management, employees, unions, etc., must realize that the old cliquey ways and self-complacency need to be put behind them. They must attend to production, efficiency and the essentials of their mission. This will require the Pearl Harbor management (especially lower and middle management) to end catering to the present "status quo" network and the petty ethnic oligarchy and other cliques that now affect limited production. Management must redirect and reorient the shipyard and insist upon maximum reasonable performance. To be successful it will require union self-realization and cooperation.

Unwillingness of management, workers or union to make the necessary changes now can jeopardize the future of Pearl Harbor. The potential effect of its closure on Hawai'i is incalculable.

D.H. Worrall | Honolulu

ANCESTRAL LANDS

PROPOSED SUBDIVISION MUST HAVE CLOSE LOOK

Saving Nu'uanu Valley from cultural destruction is everyone's kuleana, for the Hawaiians as well as non-Hawaiians.

As Native Hawaiians, our family has resided in Dowsett Highlands for 41 years. The proposed 50-acre subdivision is located on a steep, verdant mountainside where our ali'i and po'e Hawai'i once lived, toiled and died.

This subdivision threatens the existence of precious and historically significant cultural ancestral lands, all of which are protected by our state Constitution. This is a living valley, where the spirits and edifices of our kupuna dwell.

We and other residents have seen and inspected ancient rock walls that resemble a heiau, a place of worship, constructed unmistakably by Hawaiians. Undoubtedly, the iwi or bones of some of our ancestors must be nestled here in cool, lush Nu'uanu Valley. All of these cultural elements must be protected and remain intact.

Because of these cultural concerns, our state Department of Land and Natural Resources has deferred the progress of the permitting and planning process until compliance for this subdivision is met. As a result, knowledgeable Hawaiians and the DLNR Historic Preservation Division should initiate a comprehensive cultural impact study.

LeRoy Kalanihekili Akamine and kumu hula Leina'ala Naipo-Akamine | Dowsett Highlands

DEMOCRAT

A HARRY KIM RUN FOR GOVERNOR IS WELCOME

The recent statement by Big Island Mayor Harry Kim that he is seriously considering a run for governor is good news indeed.

Kim's further statement that he would run as a Democrat is even better. Kim resigned from the Republican Party some time ago and has since considered himself an Independent. Moreover, his background and political philosophy have always been in tune with the Democratic Party.

Kim grew up in Kea'au of hard-working, poor immigrant parents. His roots were always of blue-collar Democratic values and beliefs where hard work and caring for people were very important. As a candidate for Big Island mayor, he never took more than $100 per person for his campaign fund. He is untouched by any hint of corruption or scandal, and he became a true folk hero during his tenure as Civil Defense administrator.

Kim is a popular island mayor who governs by common sense and is known to be a people's mayor who solves problems rather than avoiding them as we see so often here on Maui.

In the last election, he took 63 percent of the vote for his second term, which is a demonstration of his grass-roots popularity. Democrats are enthusiastic about his candidacy and are ready to help him as soon as he announces his candidacy.

Ry Barbin | Wailuku

GO SEE IT

'FAMOUS PATTER TRIO' WASN'T FROM 'PIRATES'

I read with interest Ms. Ruth Bingham's review of Hawaii Opera Theatre's production of "The Pirates of Penzance" on Sunday, prior to seeing the performance later in the day.

While director Henry Akina may be guilty of taking a few liberties with Gilbert and Sullivan's score, dropping the "famous patter trio" ("It Doesn't Really Matter") is not one of them. For Ms. Bingham's information, this trio is from Gilbert and Sullivan's opera "Ruddigore," and not from "Pirates."

Someone took the liberty of interpolating it into the score of "Pirates" for a production in New York's Central Park, a sin that fortunately was never repeated and quickly forgotten, quite rightly.

For anyone who hasn't yet seen this production, I urge them to get down to the Blaisdell this weekend. You won't be disappointed.

Morton L. Brown | Hawai'i Kai

GAY MARRIAGE

BIBLE VIEW NOT FOR ALL

Once again a letter writer has used a biblical basis to deny equal rights for gay marriage (Keith Ahina, July 22).

What about all of us who look on the creation story in the Bible as an "old wives' tale" and believe that evolution was the basis of all life forms? Evolution has no prohibitions on sexuality or religions.

James L. Thomas | Kane'ohe

SMOKING

CITY LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO GROW A SPINE

I was appalled at reading in The Advertiser July 21 about smoking at The Shack in Mililani and management snubbing its nose at the nonsmoking law. Even more shocking was to read that our police are encouraging this behavior by saying if there's a problem with enforcing the law, we should work to change it.

In addition, not one citation has ever been given for breaking this ordinance!

This tells me the whole issue is a joke to both lawmakers and enforcers. It would be easier to enforce if a change were made that would allow citing management or the owner of the restaurant for each offense. Three citations within a month would result in losing their liquor license. That would get their attention.

Consider the law-abiding managers and owners who do respect and adhere to the law. I'm sure not all of them were happy at the introduction of this ordinance, yet they comply.

Shame for this blatant disrespect to our laws, and shame on the rest of us for not enforcing those laws that are beneficial to all of us.

M. Gipson | Mililani

TIES IN WAR

COAST GUARD WAS NEVER PART OF THE U.S. NAVY

Please allow me to correct Mr. Harry Boranian's misconception (Letters, July 22) that the Coast Guard should be reunited with the U.S. Navy, whence he believes it was created.

The U.S. Coast Guard can trace it roots to 1790, when the Revenue Cutter Service was formed to combat smuggling. Aiding mariners in distress also became part of its duties, and in 1915 the Revenue Cutter Service and the U.S. Life-Saving Service were merged to create the U.S. Coast Guard. The U.S. Lighthouse Service was transferred to the Coast Guard in 1939. In times of war, the Coast Guard served alongside the Navy and under Navy control, but the U.S. Coast Guard was never a part of the U.S. Navy.

Mr. Boranian and your editorial are correct that in the ever-increasing role of the U.S. Coast Guard after 9/11, it requires adequate funding to build and maintain new surface and air assets. Therefore, Congress needs to provide proper funding so Team Coast Guard (active duty, reserves and auxiliary) can accomplish its missions.

Tom Rack | Kane'ohe

TERRORISM

IT'S TIME TO RETHINK WAR AND PEACE

War, as we knew it when we were younger, has changed. But change in our preparedness for war has lagged behind, and we are in trouble.

Except for the occasions when we attack, invade and occupy other countries, we may no longer need a huge standing Army, a powerful and mobile Navy, or ever-increasing air power in the Air Force.

We already have more WMDs than all of the world combined, and the capability of destroying all of mankind in a matter of hours without ever sending a soldier to the battlefield. We may always need the Marines, or a comparable special strike force of highly trained, brave troops to retrieve hostages, and we certainly may need to beef up our Coast Guard, which is currently unable to guard our coasts and to protect us from terrorists in this new kind of warfare.

Perhaps we should redirect the hundreds of billions of dollars we spend on waging old-fashioned, more conventional war, such as the George W. Bush Iraq War, and use that money to fight terrorism, the new type of war that confronts us. Maybe we should pass a law making it illegal to start a war, to keep future presidents from doing what Bush did — attacking the wrong country after the Saudi-led terrorist attack on our country on Sept. 11, 2001.

We should have gone after the terrorists instead of attacking a small, militarily weak, oil-rich country that posed no threat to ours. Now, 2 1/2 years after Bush attacked Iraq, most Americans and most of our former friends around the world recognize that fact. And the head terrorist is free, with our president refusing to testify under oath, and at the same time telling us that capturing or killing him is no longer a high priority.

So, let's take a new look at the problems we face today. Instead of spending millions of dollars advertising for recruits for the Army, hoping to snare unemployed young men and women with minimum education, we should use that money to hire highly skilled, older professionals with experience in following a paper trail, or with computer and Internet skills and intellect to match.

Considering the often sullied reputation of both the CIA and FBI, I never thought I would say this, but just maybe those types of operatives are the solution. Maybe we just need more of them, with higher standards, to ferret out terrorists and traitors.

While we're at it, let's seriously consider a Department of Peace, and see what we can do to further the cause of world peace and nonviolence. We know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Perhaps we should be spending our money teaching the children of the world that war and violence are bad and peace is good.

Call it a "pre-emptive" peace movement.

C. Keith Haugen | Army veteran, Honolulu