Posted on: Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Letters to the Editor

Arctic refuge vote was filled with irony

The obvious vote-trading that went on when our senators voted with the Republican oil interests to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is filled with irony. Not only did our senators strike a blow against the environment, probably the most sensitive issue among Native Hawaiians, the vote also pitted Native Americans against Native Americans. At least that is the official designation Native Hawaiians are striving for in the Akaka bill.

It is ironic indeed that to further our Hawaiian Native American cause, we must do it on the backs of other Native Americans who are only trying to protect an ancient lifestyle that Hawaiians can now only dream about.

The Hawaiian word for shame is hilahila. That is a terrible price to pay for a spot at the federal pork barrel and a potential Indian-style casino.

Votes were appalling

As a former Island resident born on Kaua'i and graduated from Punahou, I find the votes of Hawai'i Sens. Akaka and Inouye to cross the aisle and support drilling in Alaska appalling and obnoxious. It isn't often that I'm ashamed of my former home, but I am now.

Clean Elections bill should be scrapped

A misunderstood bill moving through our Legislature cynically titled Clean Elections campaign finance reform has a good chance of being enacted.

Many people support a change from the manner in which monied interests affect electoral politics through campaign contributions. A bill that calls for full public funding of campaigns seems like a good answer to these folks. Indeed, I have found strong supporters among people whose dedication to neutralizing the power of special interests is beyond reproach.

However, the clean-money bill likely to be passed bears no resemblance to such a system. The system to be created would open a Pandora's box of political action committees and pressure groups that would wield almost complete control over the choice of candidates.

A core group of individuals who drafted the bill stands to see more of their supporters elected to office. This is the real reason, and I believe the only reason, the bill has been written.

Those who do not want to turn over the electoral process lock, stock and barrel to groups like unions, churches or political party bosses should never go along with this.

Better ways exist to ease traffic mess

Regarding the March 22 article on the proposed rail tax debate: I am offended by Neil Abercrombie's comment, "The Flat Earth Society may be against it, but everybody else that got any brains is for it."

I'm against any rail plan because there are a lot of things we can do to improve the traffic flow without building a rail. Almost everyone from the Leeward side of the island has commented on how much better the traffic flow has been during the days in which the University of Hawai'i and other schools have been on break. So one way to help reduce traffic would be to go ahead with plans to build the West O'ahu campus for UH. Not only would fewer students need to commute to Manoa from the Leeward area, but these same students may have many more hours to study every week because they wouldn't have to spend so much time commuting.

Improving our public schools would be another. If we improve the public schools, maybe fewer parents would feel compelled to send their kids to private schools, thereby reducing the number of parents driving their kids to school. We could also offer tax breaks and other incentives to those organizations that want to build private schools in the Leeward area.

Staggered work hours for government workers could also be implemented. An added benefit with this plan would be longer office hours, allowing people more time to do government business.

Mr. Abercrombie, don't tell me the emperor is wearing a beautiful robe when I can see him standing naked right in front of me.

Road construction truly a work of art

There is a work crew moving down St. Louis Drive that is marvelous to watch. They are a well-honed team of true craftsmen of road construction. A fourth-generation son is teamed with his father.

Weather permitting, the crew excavates, grades, compresses and paves an average of 125 to 150 feet of roadway in a seven-hour day, which does not include servicing the equipment and setting up and taking down signs and detours. They use five machines: an excavator, dozer, backhoe, roller and spreader. And then there are the trucks — down the hill with debris and up the hill with materials.

Communication is by hand signals or eye contact. Shouting is very unusual. The men work quickly and in a confined space, and it is a wonder they don't collide.

The entire process was educational for me. But what I appreciated most was how neat and careful they were at each stage about the debris, gravel and asphalt. Each night our street was as "neat as a pin" with newly painted lines.

I received a letter from Harry Takiue, the project engineer, early in December alerting me to the reconstruction and need to use alternate routes and to expect delays, etc. None of the anticipated resident problems manifested themselves for me, including noise or parking.

It's a long way down the hill to Wai'alae Avenue. My compliments to Jas. W. Glover Ltd. for its choice of the work team — craftsmen of road construction — for this old neighborhood.

Voluntary drug testing shouldn't be allowed

While I applaud some of Lt. Gov. Aiona's anti-drug proposals, I am against even voluntary drug testing of presumed-to-be-guilty students, private or public. It has been shown that the greatest deterrence to drug use is preventive education.

It is very questionable whether voluntary drug testing is effective, except in demonstrating that individual rights and liberties are further being eroded by a government that more and more takes on the characteristics of Big Brother. I find it morally odious and repulsive to think of having my child urinate in a cup. Perhaps we should not limit this to just students. How about testing for every citizen for every job — even as a condition for collecting public assistance?

We have conducted a war not on drugs but the people who use drugs. This war now includes a war on the liberties of people (students) who might be, and probably are not, using drugs.

Leasehold housing needed as alternative

J.D. Nielsen, with a Diamond Head address, must have been educated by the lessee political activists.

It is a fact that the long-term fixed-lease rents were originally set at market values. The only lower ground rents, if such leases stipulated, were during the time the buildings were under construction, before purchase or occupancy. Unfortunately, the long fixed terms did not predict skyrocketing land values, benefits that were reaped by greedy lessees who sold without sharing those profits with their benefactors.

Of course, after 25, 30 or 35 years, land values traditionally have increased. If you compare the original prices of those leasehold homes, you can pretty well estimate what the percentage of increase should be on the lease rents, given the current selling prices of those homes. So who is responsible for the prices rising? Additionally, lessees have the upper hand as the lease rents are based on only 6 to 8 percent of the land values — and then are fixed at 10-year increments.

Considering the benefits of leasehold housing and looking at it as an affordable alternative or steppingstone to fee simple, we need to encourage landowners to create leasehold developments so residents don't have to pay for the expense of Hawai'i land.

It sure would be nice if the U.S. Supreme Court decides (it declined to make a decision in the past) that taking private property for private use is not considered a "public purpose."

Cartoon is outrageous

Dick Adair's cartoon of March 24, depicting President Bush as a hypocrite for supporting Terri Schiavo's right to life and having approved of the death penalty in Texas, is outrageous. Terri Schiavo is an innocent soul worthy of compassion. Those executed in Texas were punished for horrendous crimes against humanity. It is dishonest to compare the two.

Legislature should support Superferry

The environmental impact statement was never intended to serve as a weapon. Now the Sierra Club, Maui Tomorrow and the Kahului Harbor Coalition can lose the battle and win the war, can lose the suit and kill the Superferry.

This is not justice.

I recommend that the state Legislature, before adjournment, declare by joint resolution that the hearing and action of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Government Operations are confirmed. The governor's administration has already made its position clear.

Is it time to get rid of coach Riley Wallace?

The 'Bows are barely over .500 in winning percentage over 18 years under head coach Riley Wallace. There have been more unpleasant surprises and disappointments than memorable moments for the University of Hawai'i's fans over those years.

This past season was no exception — and it wasn't due to lack of talented players. With every loss, Wallace continued to fault his players instead of taking coaching accountability.

Wallace's coaching style has been the subject of loyal but disgruntled fans for years who endlessly clamor for a change, but to no avail. Until some coaching changes occur, I suggest that UH basketball will never reach the winning plateau where it rightfully belongs. Instead of renewing Wallace's contract, which just ended, might this finally be the time to implement a much-needed and overdue head-coaching change?

Good luck in order for Lion Coffee founder

I see where the founder of Lion Coffee, James Delano, is starting up a new interisland airline.

Mr. Delano may be crazy, given the history of "third" interisland carriers in Hawai'i. But who would have predicted that he would turn a coffee called "Lion" into one of Hawai'i's top brands?

I admire his vision and courage. Hawai'i needs a new interisland airline and more entrepreneurs like Mr. Delano, and I hope he succeeds once again.

Recycle state bottle law with a system that works

The Advertiser reported several weeks ago that the recovery rate for bottle deposits was less than 7 percent. Yet in her recent letter to the editor, city recycling coordinator Suzanne Jones states that she expects the system to achieve an 80 percent recovery rate. What Jones doesn't explain is how she proposes to achieve this dramatic turnaround. She says "give it time to settle in and mature."

What? How often does abject failure become success by doing nothing? It's time that the supporters of the bottle deposit system quit making excuses. Come up with a proactive solution immediately or admit that this well-intentioned program has failed.

The deposit program isn't working in Hawai'i because of our uniquely crowded circumstances. In states with successful deposit systems, you can redeem the containers almost anywhere they are sold — it is convenient. In Hawai'i, stores don't have the extra space for storage. On top of that, consumers don't have enough storage in their homes to save up enough cans and bottles to justify a long wait in the redemption line. This may come as a shock to the supporters of the bottle law, but Hawai'i has a little less elbow room than say, Iowa.

I agree with Jones that curbside recycling will be a success here as it has been in other cities. I support it. I also recognize that the large number of apartments, condominiums and tourist facilities present unique challenges. But where I disagree is that the deposit system addresses any of these challenges.

My idea is to replace the bottle deposit with a nonrefundable fee of 1 to 2 cents on every type of retail container that is made from recyclable materials. Use these funds to support a statewide curb recycling program.

To be comprehensive, the state should also support the placement of recycling receptacles in tourist areas and give tax incentives for apartments and condominiums to provide separate receptacles.