A solution: Superferry pays for inspections

I appreciated the Feb. 23 editorial, "Environmental review of ferry worthwhile," but understand the impatience of those who regard an EIS as simply a hurdle causing delay.

Regarding invasive species concerns: Perhaps a shortcut is possible, learning from the long Kahului airport EIS process. Interisland transport of harmful species such as the little fire ant and the nettle caterpillar could be sharply reduced through state agricultural inspection, targeting high-risk items.

The state plant quarantine branch is capable but severely short-staffed statewide. In my view, the greatest problem is how to assure that it will have enough inspectors for Superferry agricultural inspection.

But how to pay for assuring adequate inspection?

A feasible approach may be one increasingly used by New Zealand. A nationwide discussion occurred in 2001-02 on biosecurity strategy, for "protection of the country's environment, economy and people's health from the risks posed by pests and diseases." The most commonly expressed view was that "sectors that benefit the most from activities with a high level of biosecurity risk should pay a higher proportion of the costs of biosecurity than individual taxpayers and ratepayers" (www.biosecurity.govt.nz).

It may be possible to have the Superferry and still keep Maui no ka 'oi.

'Bong Bong' deserved reception he received

The Feb. 7 commentary by Sherry Broder and Jon Van Dyke, " 'Bong Bong' didn't deserve Isle reception," stated: "The gracious welcome our state officials gave last week to Ferdinand R. 'Bong Bong' Marcos is totally insensitive to the victims of the grave human rights abuses committed during the martial law regime of his father, Ferdinand E. Marcos, from 1972 to 1986. ... it is simply bizarre for our Island leaders to honor him and to treat him as a legitimate political leader."

The commentary is full of bias and does not contain fairness and truth. It deviates from the real issue. Further, it does not speak of the true spirit of aloha.

Ilocos Norte (Philippines) Gov. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. made his goodwill visit to establish a sisterhood relationship between the Aloha State and the province of Ilocos Norte. The state-province relationship would reinforce and cement understanding and mutual assistance between the ethnic Filipinos of Hawai'i and Ilocos Norte and establish exchanges in business, trade, agriculture and industry, tourism, sports, healthcare, social welfare and other fields of human endeavor.

The visit had a noble purpose. It entailed fruitful endeavors and deserved dignity and respect for both parties, the state of Hawai'i and the province of Ilocos Norte. Both signers of the sisterhood memorandum of agreement are legitimate leaders voted into power by their respective sovereign electorates. The goodwill relationship is based on mutual respect of both governments under the tenets of democracy and freedom.

Bob Franco star of KCC service learning

Regarding the Feb. 20 article "Palolo program changing lives": While Beverly Creamer's report beautifully captures the commitment and work of Kapi'olani Community College in the Palolo Valley community, it does contain a significant error: I did not found service learning at KCC. I was among the original group of faculty members at the college who ushered in and helped create service learning at KCC 10 years ago.

Much of the credit for establishing service learning as a solid program should go to Dr. Bob Franco, who brought together and cemented a strong core of dedicated faculty members who have remained committed to service learning.

Service learning, like any other sustained program, is successful because it is rooted in the collaboration and energy of many devoted faculty members.

The college's success in this area is also the result of continued and genuine support of senior administration at the college.

Taxes we pay help build better society

Thank you, Mike Leidemann, for putting down in print ("When it comes to projects like rail transit, it's not all about you," Feb. 15) what should fall under the category of common sense — that citizens in a democracy pay taxes to build a better society.

Many elected officials today act as if taxes are always bad and unnecessary. If the public continues to buy into that, all of us will suffer — the poorer sooner and the richer later.