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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, June 1, 2005

Letters to the Editor

User fee for park is double taxation

Can we ask the elected municipal decision-makers to stop with the user fee increases? Case in point, the increased park photography user fee. The explanation provided is that the current fee applied for use does not cover the cost of issuing the permit. So they want to raise the fee to cover the cost.

Perhaps a better solution is to ask why we need the permit at all. If you do away with the permit requirement, you won't have the cost of issuing the permit. We all pay for the parks, so why charge people to use them?

While the administration and council address that issue, perhaps they can explain the logic in park user fees. As an example, why did they take away our public park at Hanauma Bay, turn it into a sanctuary, then charge us to visit our park? What happened to beach access?

Enough with the user fees; they are just another hidden tax on a service or facility we have already paid for. Could we ask our government officials to look at reducing the cost of government?

Vernon Hoo
Kane'ohe


Environmental pluses

Because I have criticized Linda Lingle's environmental record in the past, I need to commend her administration for taking bold action to protect the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. If she also signs the Legacy Lands Act into law, she will create a remarkable record of environmental achieve-ment.

David Kimo Frankel
Volcano, Hawai'i


Genetic engineering isn't the best option

Your editorial opinion supporting genetic engineering of taro and other crops misses the point.

It is true that farmers — especially small farmers — need help in producing good quality crops, not to mention simply making ends meet. Genetic engineering is by far the riskiest and most expensive way to go about this.

There are already well-known and proven ways to improve crops through selective breeding, increased diversity and healthy polyculture farming. These methods have been successful for thousands of years all over the world.

The problems that genetic engineering claims it is trying to solve are in large part problems created by how we farm, not by the crops themselves or the "pests" we have invited to decimate them.

Large-scale monoculture cropping, especially with heavy use of chemical poisons and synthetic fertilizers, in no way resembles how natural systems create their abundance.

If we pay more attention to how nature creates abundance, and return to those models for growing our food, there will be no need for genetic engineering's high costs and high risks.

John Schinnerer
Kea'au, Hawai'i


Higher taxes OK if used for transportation

Do you want safe roads that move traffic? I do, and I think it's wrong and wishful to think cow paths and gridlock will stop growth.

I believe there is no correlation to having safe roads and the number of vehicles on Kaua'i. I do know that being stuck in traffic pollutes and wastes precious expensive fuel, and the productive time lost forever is an astronomical cost to everyone on Kaua'i.

If you agree with me and want roads that are safe and move traffic, then our only recourse is political. Only the politicians representing us can do the job.

There would be plenty of money if the fuel taxes collected by the federal, state and county governments were dedicated funds to be used for transportation. Probably there would be a big surplus. If not, I'd be willing to pay more fuel tax if all the fuel tax collected would be dedicated to transportation only and not get lost in the general funds.

Charles Armstrong
Kapa'a, Kaua'i


Sidewalk ban for bicycles is limited

Howard L. March's May 24 letter, "Pedestrians shouldn't be treated third-class," is all wrong, and he should have done a better job researching the facts.

Bicycles are allowed on the sidewalk, except in a business district with businesses having frontage of 300 feet or more where the door for ingress/egress opens into the public right-of-way, i.e. the public sidewalk. This leaves bicycles prohibited in downtown Honolulu (Capitol, financial and Chinatown districts) and Waikiki.

Yes, several bicyclists do give the rest of the bicycling community a bad name by riding illegally and breaking every traffic law; the same goes for vehicles and pedestrians, especially those who jaywalk.

Delwyn Ching
Honolulu


Kailua beaches have gone to dogs, sharks

The good reputation of Kailua is finished. It won't be long before our land values go down and our businesses start to seriously suffer.

Why? Because our beaches have literally gone to the dogs — with pit bulls, rottweilers and other aggressive dogs roaming the beaches without leashes. This has made it impossible for families with children to peacefully enjoy the beaches.

And the water has gone to the sharks — tiger sharks, that is. There have been countless sightings of a 10- to 12-foot tiger shark and numerous smaller tiger sharks from Kailua Bay to Bellows Beach. These sightings started in February and have continued until, most recently, this past weekend at Kailua Beach.

The so-called state Shark Task Force has done nothing about it. Why?

Because the so-called leaders in our state government are too lazy to do what needs to be done.

Scott Hanson
Kailua


Slot machines would solve our problems

Attention, politicians: Instead of raising property taxes, or allowing booming prices to cause the increase and forcing all the older people to sell or lose their homes, all you have to do is one little thing:

Make slot machines legal and put an annual tax on each machine owned by anyone, with no exceptions. You could pay for the railway and fix the roads and solve all the other problems we have.

All during World War II, every club in the service had slots wall-to-wall and it paid for all the services the troops got and no one was harmed by any of it.

A simple solution that would save the old folks and harm no one.

And don't tell me that this idea would only lead to total gambling. You could write into the law that no other form of gambling would be allowed.

Don McDiarmid Jr.
Kailua


Just-enacted pedestrian law requires that drivers stop

A new traffic safety measure that I was proud to enact into law this past week will help protect Hawai'i's pedestrians, especially our keiki and kupuna. The law requires drivers to stop — not just yield or coast — when a pedestrian is in a crosswalk on the vehicle's half of the road.

Too many drivers in Hawai'i get behind the wheel with the mindset that the car has the right of way. Under this new law, every driver will need to be more alert and respectful to pedestrians who are in marked crosswalks. It will mean changing our driving habits so we are more cautious when approaching crosswalks. It will mean giving pedestrians the right of way by coming to a complete stop when we see someone crossing the street in a crosswalk.

This change in behavior will not happen overnight. I know this firsthand because shortly after signing the new law, my driver failed to stop for a pedestrian who was in our half of the crosswalk. His action was not intentional, but it did point out how important it is for all of us to be more attentive to pedestrians.

Over the next few months, the state Department of Transportation and partners such as the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services and the Honolulu Police Department will use the "Walk Wise Hawai'i" program and public service announcements to help educate drivers that they now must come to a full stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk.

The fine for violating the new crosswalk law is $97. That pales in comparison to the suffering and anguish of pedestrians and their families who are injured or killed while crossing the street. I should note I have sent a personal check to the "Walk Wise Hawai'i" program for $97 to assist with public awareness and education of drivers and pedestrians.

I cannot stress enough that all motorists need to show greater respect for pedestrians. We must be patient and courteous, rather than rushing to make the next traffic light or to turn a corner.

By acting responsibly and obeying the law, we can prevent accidents and save lives. And that's far more important than shaving a few seconds off our drive times.

James R. "Duke" Aiona Jr.
Lieutenant governor


Don't fall for crusade of hatred

As the delegate to Swains Island in the American Samoa Legislature, I am compelled to respond to Betty Pedro Ickes' letters to the editor (May 1, The Honolulu Advertiser; May 15, The Samoa News) regarding Swains Island.

First, the matter with ownership of Swains Island has been challenged and settled in every venue possible. It has been in the courts, U.S. Congress, international treaty and United Nations. Subsequently, to continue to beat this dead horse serves no other purpose than to fuel hatred and encourage defiance to the rule of law that governs both the United States and the international community.

Second, in recent discussions with the ulu of Tokelau (head of Tokelau), Pio Tuia, the Tokelau government expressed no interest in reclaiming Swains Island. Instead, it is more interested in working with the Swains Island delegate on improving relations and pursuing trade with the United States through American Samoa. This may eventually provide more education and professional opportunities for our people, plus open the U.S. market to Tokelau — the same privileges that Betty now enjoys because of the Jennings family. Which brings to mind my final point: the recent Swains Island 80th Flag Day celebration that started this recent firestorm.

On May 13, the American Samoan government celebrated 80 years of united sovereignty over Swains Island. The Legislature of American Samoa recognized that day through a concurrent resolution passed earlier in both houses. The governor acknowledged it with a proclamation declaring it a holiday of festivities. The Swains Islanders and Tokelau community, as well as local entertainers in American Samoa, came together to celebrate this milestone event with traditional Tokelau and Samoan song and dance.

But the most poignant part of the celebration was recognizing the many descendants of Swains Island who served in the U.S. armed forces, some giving their lives for the precious freedom and prosperity we have enjoyed for 80 years. Four of our children serving on active duty honored us by raising the United States and American Samoan flags during the opening ceremony.

Even Betty celebrated our special day with her freedom of expression. She publicly denounced the event and criticized both the American Samoan and U.S. governments, which is like music to the ears of a democratic society like ours.

I humbly call on the Tokelau community and Swains Island descendants everywhere not to fall for Betty Pedro Ickes' crusade to divide our people with hatred, but to support the path that I, the Honorable Pio Tuia, the rest of the Tokelau community in American Samoa, Hawai'i and the United States are trying to pave. Our direction is to bring our Tokelau families closer together and execute better education, professional and economic opportunities for all Tokelau people throughout the United States.

I, too, am a very proud Tokelauan and am committed to do everything I can to help our people.

Alexander E. Jennings
Swains Island delegate, Legislature of American Samoa