SAFETY

CLEANING PRODUCTS SHOULD PROTECT HEALTH

The stated goals in the Feb. 7 article profiling Deirdre Imus and her "Greening Your School" program to make classrooms safe for students and teachers are commendable. Testing water and replacing older pipes in schools to avoid exposure to lead — a known health hazard — are crucial initiatives. However, the health benefits of Imus' other recommendations to replace "potentially dangerous cleaning supplies" distort the facts about traditional cleaning products.

Independent scientific studies demonstrate that the proper use of traditional cleaning and disinfecting products safely and effectively protects public health, reducing the primary causes of disease and infection. Cleaning and disinfecting products and their use are regulated by several federal and state agencies — including the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and are rigorously evaluated for safety.

Consumers should consider the facts about "green" or "natural" claims, as this is increasingly used as a marketing device. They should choose products that effectively protect against viruses and bacteria including salmonella and e. coli.

Keeping schools safe and clean are essential goals. However, it is important that the cleaning products used actually deliver the intended results.

TENTS

QUICK FIX IS NO ANSWER FOR PRISON PROBLEM

The governor announced recently that the state plans to erect tent prisons to house Hawai'i's growing inmate population rather than lose a federal grant of more than $13 million originally allocated to build a new state prison. The money has been available to the state since 1996.

As chairs of the House and Senate committees with oversight of the Department of Public Safety, we have serious reservations about this idea.

We must address the problem of crowded prison facilities and sending our Hawai'i inmates to the Mainland, but this decision is a quick fix not a long-term solution.

While the fiberglass tents cost approximately $6 million with the rest used for infrastructure, there are rumors another $5 million will be needed, but to date we've not heard exact details from the administration.

The proposed locations for the tents also may be inappropriate for a variety of reasons. We all want the bare minimum for our offenders at the lowest cost to taxpayers but tents may not be efficient nor effective.

It's not good public policy to do anything just to keep federal dollars from lapsing. We need, and Hawai'i's taxpayers deserve, a permanent, well-thought-out prison facility that emphasizes rehabilitation and re-entry programs. This session we expect to work with the governor to make that a reality.

ENERGY

STOP TALKING ABOUT RENEWABLES, JUST DO IT

The 2050 Sustainability Plan states that Hawai'i is "one of the best positioned states for renewable energy potential. Yet, we perform among the worst in terms of using renewable energy sources."

The plan offers an explanation: "a lack of political will and capital investment, a regulatory scheme that seems to discourage renewables, and a not in my backyard attitude that seems to prevent projects from getting off the ground."

The plan does not mention that HECO, MECO and HELCO generators are 99.8 percent dependent on petroleum, that HECO talks renewables and walks oil.

We need less planning. We need doing. What we need is walking, not talking. Hawai'i needs local, clean, low-climate-impact renewables now.

TRANSIT

MUST STUDY COMPLETE PROPOSALS FOR SYSTEMS

I support the commentary of Professor Karl Kim on the Honolulu high-capacity transit corridor project (Focus, Feb. 3).

I agree with his five criteria as listed, and support an open, competitive process that allows the public and City Council to see complete proposals for the advanced systems being offered to solve the long-term transportation problems on O'ahu.

The administration has convinced a majority of council members to let an expert panel select the technology, but the final decision should rest with the City Council. The process should not let the city throw out technologies that best meet environmental and aesthetic factors that are important to the future of O'ahu's economy and quality of life.

It seems the experts have no choice but to recommend steel wheel on rail because multiple suppliers are interested, unlike single suppliers for monorail, maglev and rubber tires on concrete. A maglev or monorail may be more competitive and a better fit for all five of Kim's criteria.

The most important factor will be the price, for without an affordable system the transit may not be approved or built.

We must study complete transit proposals of all technologies, and not assume that particular technologies do not meet our city's needs.

NORTH SHORE

WE MUST PRESERVE BEAUTY OF THESE ISLANDS

I am a landowner in Waialua and strongly support Gov. Linda Lingle's initiative to purchase 850 acres of land around Turtle Bay Resort.

We need to preserve the beauty of our island and stop overdevelopment that will severely tax our water and other natural resources.

MARINES

SEMPER FI LIVES ON, EVEN IN BERKELEY, CALIF.

Free speech is one of our rights in America, and the city of Berkeley chose to exercise theirs in telling the world that the Marines were not welcome in their town.

As a taxpayer and a part of the Marine Corps community, I believe Berkeley's statements undermining our volunteer military and national defense during a time of war should be addressed. The first thought that comes to my mind is that the Marines should change their oath to "I (state your name) do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic — except for Berkeley, Calif., which is on their own — that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and that I will obey the orders of the president of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Fortunately, the Marines are much kinder than I am and they will continue to support and defend all of the United States, including the nuts who live in Berkeley, whether they deserve it or not. They are semper fi — always faithful.

CAMPBELL HIGH SCHOOL

OTHER O'AHU SCHOOLS HAVE AIR CONDITIONING

Campbell High School should have air conditioning.

I don't think that it's fair that the government can support the other schools and put so much money into getting them air conditioning, but when it comes to Campbell they suddenly don't have enough money for it.

James Campbell High School is the hottest high school in the state, and the temperature in our classrooms can get to more than 100 degrees.

When that sort of heat sets in, all we can do is open a door or a window. But most of the time doing so is useless because there isn't a wind or even a slight breeze anyway.

So we're forced to sit in these unbearable conditions, because if we choose not to we risk getting suspended.

Now if other high school students, such as the ones in Kapolei, deserve to sit in a comfortable class where you don't have to worry about the heat affecting your concentration then why doesn't Campbell?

STUDENTS ASK FOR AC TO HELP THEM LEARN

The state spent $90 milion to build Kapolei High School.

Campbell High School needs $12 million for air conditioning. I think that students at our school should have equal education with Kapolei.

Not having air conditioning affects our test scores. Learning without air conditioning makes it difficult to take tests. Campbell's low test scores show that not having air conditioning hinders our progress. We have to open the windows for wind to come in, which allows mosquitoes and other bugs to get into our classes and disturb us while we are trying to work.

Another problem we have is the airplanes and jets that are flying over. They distract us and keep us from focusing on our work.

I think that Campbell High School should get the money we need for air conditioning.

TOO HOT, NOISE LEVEL TOO HIGH IN CLASSROOMS

Campbell High School needs air conditioning because it's hot in our classes.

It can reach up to 100 degrees. Another reason is because of the noise of the jets that pass over the school, and we have to wait till the noise is done before we can continue our work.

'Ewa Beach is the hottest part of this island.

If air conditioning was to be installed in classrooms, students would be able to concentrate more and be more successful.