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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Letters to the Editor

HAWAI'I

RACIAL DIVERSITY MUST ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY

Something has been missing in the discussion about the brutal beating of the young service couple in Waikele. Whether or not the attack meets the legal definition of a hate crime is a surface issue. The more important question is not whether the law malfunctioned, but whether our community malfunctioned.

It has been suggested that to stop hate crimes we must have more aggressive law enforcement, increased bail requirements and longer maximum punishments.

These options offer little help. Hate-crime offenders are not deterred by the possible consequences of their conduct. Considering the possible consequences of one's conduct requires rational thought. Even if an offender is aware of the possible consequences of what he is doing, hate and passion trump rational thought.

In governing ourselves, we should be looking for ways to live out the image we offer to the world — an integrated and harmonious multiracial community.

Yes, we should identify and celebrate our different ethnicities, but we should do so to enrich our community, not to divide it.

This means that ethnic cohesiveness should not morph into racial intolerance or separate camps seeking power and resources based on race. Let's stick with the American model of "...one nation, indivisible...."

Joe Gedan
Honolulu

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES

ON-TIME RANKINGS ARE AN UNFAIR COMPARISON

Every time I read about Hawaiian Airlines' on-time performance, I wonder how that conclusion is reached.

Airlines are compared nationwide. Hawaiian is a sunshine airline; other airlines have to deal with snowed-in airports, freezing weather, etc.

Once planes are backed up, obviously it is very hard to get back on schedule.

I consider this a very unfair comparison. Almost ridiculous!

Hendrik Kaarsgaren
Honolulu

NEW FACILITY

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS SHOULD GO TO WAI'ANAE

It is amazing to me that the there is an educational institution run by a select few who have seemingly turned a blind eye to the needs of the very community it proposes to protect and educate. I am speaking about Kamehameha Schools.

With recent headlines and continuing articles regarding the vast numbers of homeless adults and children on the Leeward coast, why is KS silent? It is a well-known fact that the Leeward coast has the highest population of indigenous people on O'ahu. Why doesn't Kamehameha Schools build a school where the Hawaiians are?

Building a school in Wai'anae would create a win/win situation for Kamehameha Schools as well as the community.

A school with dormitories would address the problem of homeless children, and create jobs.

A school would address Kamehameha Schools' image problem by promoting Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop's will, which provided for "educating the indigenous peoples."

Tyler Villamil
Kapahulu

PEDESTRIANS

CAR TINTING MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE DRIVERS

Many letters to the editor have reminded pedestrians of their responsibility to be proactive by crossing only in crosswalks, and by checking to verify that the driver sees them in the crosswalk.

It is common sense for pedestrians to make eye contact with drivers. But what of those vehicles with tinting so heavy that it is barely possible to see the driver at all?

I suggest that the traffic division establish a hot line at which citizens can report the license numbers of vehicles with excessive tinting.

To limit false accusations, requirements should include that any call should be made from an unblocked line, and the caller should provide a number at which he/she can be reached to verify the information being provided.

Police would then have the option of tagging the vehicle for special attention at its next safety inspection, or following up sooner. Both the licensed vehicle's owner and the safety inspection station (if it can be shown that they passed a vehicle whose tinting was excessive) would be fined.

Jean Manly
Honolulu

INATTENTION

CELL PHONE BAN WOULD INCREASE TRAFFIC SAFETY

You note in your editorial, "Let's maintain focus on pedestrian safety" (March 8), that "our roadways are dangerous places to approach inattentively. " I couldn't agree more.

I see examples of inattention every single day.

In every instance, drivers are navigating with one hand on the wheel with a cell phone planted on their ears.

This priority of yakking incessantly on our cell phones while driving is compounding the inattention. It's time to take away this privilege.

Carl Wheaton
Honolulu

COLT BRENNAN

SPARE NO EXPENSE IN PROMOTING UH FOOTBALL

Does anyone remember the size of the crowd of the first two Warrior football games last year?

The only reason there will be more than 25,000 people attending this year is Colt Brennan. After Colt?

An incomplete schedule just months before the beginning of the most exciting thing ever to happen to University of Hawai'i football is a shame.

UH sports is the only game in town. Promote it. Give incentives to go see the football games live.

Open the gates earlier. Get the students more involved. Let them in free. Pay-per-view is so non-spiritual. Get rid of it. Fill the stands.

Money drives the program. Money can solve these problems. Spare no expense.

Finally, Bob Nash deserves his chance in Hawai'i. No question.

Philip McInerney
Kailua

TAX BURDEN

GOVERNMENT SHOULD STREAMLINE, CUT COSTS

With all the reports about increases in the consumer price index, Hawai'i having the largest increase in inflation, and stagnant personal income growth, why do state and city officials continue to raise taxes?

Property taxes have almost doubled. Retirees on fixed incomes may soon become homeless because the tax to continue to own their homes is too high.

Sewage fees are increasing and middle-income residents will barely have enough to meet the needs of their families.

It's about time government looked at reducing expenses rather than generating income.

There are agencies and offices that handle the same work. There are staff that sit around doing very little during work hours.

Government needs more automation and less paper. There is equipment that was purchased and has never been used. That equipment should be sold.

The state auditor has found discrepancies in the handling of the government funds. What corrections have been made?

The general fund is abused. I pay taxes for the upkeep of the roads when I register my car; that money should be ear-marked for that particular endeavor, and not moved over to pay for the councilmembers to get salary increases.

Run the government like a business, and you will find that you can make a profit and help to save our economy.

Debbie Soares
Honolulu

WASTEWATER SYSTEM

CITY SEEKING SOLUTION FOR KUALOA PROBLEM

Contrary to his statements in your March 8 article, Wayne Panoke knows why it's taking so long to replace the wastewater system at Kualoa Regional Park.

While he gripes about inaction, Panoke opposes any work that involves digging more than two inches below the park's surface. Because of community objections, the city abandoned an above-ground replacement that required a thick concrete pad to support the weight of a holding tank.

There is no question that Kualoa is an important cultural place. Any work there would be done with appropriate measures to protect Kualoa's dignity and the remains that lie beneath the surface there. Work would be done in compliance with state law and in cooperation with the O'ahu Island Burial Council.

We do not believe the existing wastewater facilities at Kualoa are the source of high bacteria levels in nearshore waters.

Nearby homes all have active cesspools, while Kualoa's leach fields were capped more than a year ago and the wastewater is removed by pumper trucks.

Bacteria counts declined to acceptable levels last summer, then rose again in January during the rainy season, prompting the state's latest closing of the beach.

We know that the public wants us to replace the park's wastewater system. We are diligently seeking an acceptable alternative that's technically feasible.

Wayne Hashiro
City managing director