WORLD CHAMPION WAIPI'O LITTLE LEAGUERS DO US PROUD

As the father of two young sons, and as the state representative of the Waipi'o Gentry and Mililani district, I am doubly proud of the phenomenal achievement of the Waipi'o Little League team.

This team and their coaches showed us all two important things:

1) Never give up; even when you're down, miracles are possible and you must make them happen.

2) Even though we come from a small state in the middle of the Pacific, we can compete with anyone in the world. These young boys are role models for us all; they exemplified persistence and motivation to their dreams and devotion to themselves, their family and the game of baseball.

So, thank you to the boys of the Waipi'o Little League for your great lessons and big hearts.

You played excellent games, displayed good sportsmanship, and extended to the rest of the world your aloha spirit. You are not only baseball players or world champions, but you are also extraordinary ambassadors for the state of Hawai'i and our own Waipi'o community. My congratulations go out to you players, your coaches, and your families.

EDUCATION

MEANINGFUL RESULTS NEEDED FOR SCHOOLS

Thanks to Jim Wolf for responding to my letter because he expresses misconceptions that should be dispelled about the quality of public education in Hawai'i.

His letter indicates that he lives in Nu'uanu, where schools are better than average. So his view may be limited if based solely on personal experience. For a broader view, he might consider hard data that show the overall low quality of education delivered by the public schools — even in Nu'uanu.

At Nu'uanu Elementary School, the most recent test scores show that 73 percent of third-graders met or exceeded the standards for mathematics set by Hawai'i's Department of Education. That means that slightly more than one out of four students failed to meet the standards.

Nu'uanu Elementary students later attend Kawananakoa Middle School, where only 51 percent of eighth-graders met or exceeded the standards for mathematics. Then they attend Roosevelt High School, where a scant 49 percent of the students in the 10th grade achieved the standards. In other words, more than half of the students failed to meet the standards.

As alarming as these statistics may be, these schools are better than average.

At Kaiser High School, for example, only 45 percent of the 10th-graders achieved the mathematics standards. At Pearl City High School it was down to 37 percent, and at Kailua High School it was a measly 30 percent. And these aren't even the schools with the lowest scores. By the way, all figures may be confirmed at: doe.k12.hi.us

Also evident from the test scores is a trend that is common to the entire school system. The highest test scores are found at the elementary schools. But as students advance through middle school and high school, the scores get progressively worse.

Perhaps Mr. Wolf's children are among the lucky ones who received a decent education in the public schools. The great majority, however, are not so lucky.

He cites an article quoting politicians and educators who say that public schools are going to get better. Unfortunately, they have been talking like that for the past three decades — without any meaningful results.

RAIL

SUPPORTERS MUST FIND THEIR WAY TO THE POLLS

I am in agreement with bringing the rail transit program to a vote for all the voters of Honolulu. However, like anything else that happens in our state, the ones with the most vocal voice are the ones that win. Those on the 'Ewa side of the island need to vote that they want rail, if they want it.

On the other hand, the Stop Rail Now group should change their name and reorganize once rail is killed and come up with alternatives. It is not enough to rally against something. That's just complaining. They need to help find a solution. That's maturity.

MILILANI TRAFFIC

BETTER PLANNING WOULD HELP EASE TRAFFIC MESS

I realize that road work is much needed, particularly since nothing has been done for 10 to 15 years. However, the DOT engineer responsible for the mess we face on a daily basis, needs to be replaced.

The plan for rerouting traffic, if there is such a plan, is a total mess. There is no control over traffic at the Ruby Tuesdays intersection at Lanikuhana Avenue and Meheula Parkway. Vehicles are permitted to fill the right lane for the space of two blocks, although there is no place for them to go. So they cut into the middle lane, causing those drivers to sit.

More forethought and better planning would go a long way toward easing hard feelings. Also, a little common sense on the part of drivers wouldn't hurt.

PARKING WOES

MULTIPLE EVENTS IN WAIKIKI STRAIN PARKING

We attended a wonderful C & K concert last night at the Waikiki Shell. Unfortunately we missed the first few acts of the evening because there was no parking in the area. We arrived at Kapi'olani Park well before the concert was to begin, only to find out that not only was there a nearly sold-out concert at the Waikiki Shell, but also Sunset on the Beach and some big event at the Honolulu Zoo.

Each of these events alone would tax the minimal parking in the area but all three combined made an unbearable traffic situation. Since we had traveled from Hale'iwa (and had already spent $65 on tickets and lots of fees) we felt like stalkers waiting for folks to pack up their beach gear so we could pounce on the rare parking stall. And after all that, we had to dump the iced tea we'd taken to drink with our picnic so that we could pay outrageous prices for something to drink once we finally got into the Shell.

Why does the city schedule multiple events that they must know will create gridlock? They obviously knew there would be problems because there were police cars all around, just waiting to ticket any misparked vehicle.