ECONOMY

HIGH-TECH JOB GROWTH REPORT DISAPPOINTING

It was disappointing to learn that, according to a recent report by the American Electronics Association, only 1,328 new high-tech jobs were created in Hawai'i from 2000 to 2005 (Advertiser, April 24). That is an average of fewer than 275 per year.

Hawai'i's workforce increases at a rate of about 15,000 per year, so if all the high-tech jobs created in any particular year go to new workers, fewer than 2 percent of them would have high-tech jobs.

The disappointing rate of high-tech job creation occurred at a time when Hawai'i offered one of the nation's most generous technology industry tax incentives.

The state has given out an estimated $311 million in tax credits since 2001. Those tax credits proved to be very inefficient, because many of the new high-tech jobs might have been created anyway, even without the tax credits.

Now we know that there is more to creating high-tech jobs than simply offering tax incentives.

Hawai'i's public schools are not educating our children well enough to make them competitive in the emerging global economy. Without a substantial improvement, an economic disaster is inevitable. It won't happen all at once, but it will occur slowly over decades.

RACISM

TRAFFIC INCIDENT SPARKS ANTI-HAOLE COMMENT

On Wednesday morning, I was taking my 3-year-old to school when I was cut off and yelled at while trying to merge into traffic.

This forced me to hit my brakes to avoid a collision. I was then allowed to merge behind the driver who had been so rude.

He began hitting his brakes and looking back at me with his head out the window calling me out to fight. He even pulled over to get out. I passed him and he chased me and yelled, "(bleep) haole, go back to the Mainland. You don't belong here."

This scared my son and, of course, hurt me.

I have lived here for 23 years and am married to a part-Hawaiian. I wish this wasn't something I would have to explain to my son, but I guess it is inevitable. How do I tell him that his daddy is not wanted, by some, here in Hawai'i?

Is there a way we can curb this senselessness?

The driver had a cross hanging from his mirror. Does this mean he will forgive me for my sin of being a haole?

SPORTS

UH SOFTBALL TEAM MAKES HAWAI'I PROUD

With all that is going on in this world, what a performance by the Rainbow Wahine Softball team to lift the spirits of the people of Hawai'i.

Those of us who were fortunate to watch all three final home games of the Rainbow Wahine softball team last weekend against perennial WAC champions Fresno State were treated to softball at its finest.

There is no question Bob Coolen and his staff have prepared the team to peak at the right time.

Seniors Tyleen Tausaga and Alana Power showed courage by performing at the highest level even when playing with injuries.

The games drew the largest audience in the history of UH Wahine softball.

This team has great chemistry, and is having fun. Isn't this what sports is about?

The team makes Hawai'i proud.

JAYWALKING

Is emphasis put in wrong part of town?

Does anyone else see the irony in police spending their time and our money cracking down on jaywalking in one part of town while pedestrians are injured and killed in other parts of town?

It seems to be a clear case of high-profile politics and revenue enhancement versus saving us from ourselves.

The Advertiser reported on April 24 that 1,759 jaywalking tickets have been issued since March 6, as well as 1,550 tickets for speeding.

Using the most conservative of estimates, that comes to $123,000 in pedestrian fines and $155,000 in speeding fines.

That's more than a quarter of a million bucks.

However, in Liliha, where apparently there are no undercover jaywalking enforcement officers, and along the Wai'anae coast, people continue to get struck, and even killed, by cars.

Are we really serving the public? Or is the city merely serving itself to more of our money, while presenting a media blitz to quench the public's thirst for something to be done?

SPEAK UP

POLITICIANS DON'T LISTEN OR CONSIDER FUTURE

Two City Council members are removed from the transportation committee because they don't agree with the "railroad" (pun intended) but are using their intelligence to back the lower-cost, more-efficient system like an improved bus system.

The chairman of the Department of Land and Natural Resources is raked over the coals and denied confirmation in spite of overwhelming testimony in favor of his confirmation.

Local politics is, to say the least, egregious. Isn't it time that they thought about the citizens and future generations instead of themselves?

Citizens, you'll only have yourselves to blame if you don't send your voice loud and clear to the media. Sending it to the politicians (with exceptions) is worthless, because they don't listen to you.