WE CAN'T AFFORD RISKS OF INVASIVE SPECIES

Seventy-five percent (50 of 67) of the Department of Agriculture's general funded agriculture inspectors —who protect us from incoming invasive species and approve Hawai'i farm produce for export to out-of-state markets — have been given layoff notices.

The 118 total layoffs currently proposed for the Department of Agriculture is a 55 percent reduction in general funded positions. With 61 positions already eliminated last year, that's a fully 64 percent reduction over two years. Proposed layoffs at other state agencies this year range from 2 percent to 28 percent.

When the new state-federal agriculture inspection station opened at Kahului Airport in February 2008 with more inspectors and better facilities, pest interceptions jumped fivefold in the first month of operations. Kahului, and a similar joint inspection facility planned for Honolulu International Airport where 95 percent of air cargo enters the state, are now at risk of being woefully understaffed and ineffective, letting countless damaging new pests slip into Hawai'i.

The reduction of 50 inspectors will save approximately $3.8 million per year. Studies indicate that the damage from and cost to control red imported fire ants would exceed $200 million per year. While not established here yet, Hawai'i agriculture inspectors have detected and destroyed these swarming stinging ants in past shipments to Hawai'i from the Mainland.

State agencies should share fairly in balancing the budget and preserving critical services. For invasive species, we can't afford to lose our first line of defense.

Suzanne D. Case | Executive director, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i

HEALTH CARE

WHERE'S PRICE TAG FOR PUBLIC OPTION?

With all the talk about health care reform, why cannot anyone come up with the price tag for the public option? Or, is this because they do not want to scare the taxpayers?

Phil Robertson | Kailua

KIDANI CRITICISM

LOOKS LIKE DJOU RAN OUT OF REAL TROUBLES

Auwe! Poor Charles Djou. He's troubled. He's troubled about mass transit and he's troubled about a straight-shooter state legislator who works, off session, for the Neighborhood Commission.

You'd think that with his years on the City Council, Mr. Djou would have attended at least one neighborhood board meeting and know what the Neighborhood Commission does. He works at Honolulu Hale, so you'd think he'd know that the commission is the clerical arm of these neighborhood boards.

The commission prints, posts and distributes neigh-borhood board agendas and provides the clerical staff to take, transcribe and distribute the minutes of these community meetings. Facilitating clerical support for community meetings hardly, by any stretch of the imagination, constitutes a conflict of any interest.

Mr. Djou is troubled by so many things, you'll find his mug before any available TV camera (practically weekly) to tell us he's troubled by something.

I've just learned Mr. Djou was running for Congress. Oh, dear! Haven't we got enough troubles?

Ellen Pelissero | Kula, Maui

ENERGY SUMMIT

NATIONS, COMPANIES TO CONVERGE IN ISLES

Hawai'i will once again fulfill its role as the ideal meeting place at the crossroads of the Pacific as we host the inaugural Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo, which runs through Thursday, to focus on the development of clean and renewable energy resources. This meeting, in conjunction with the seventh Korea-U.S. Economic Conference, will enhance economic and energy security and environmental protection throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Hawai'i's success in achieving an economy based on 70 percent clean energy, through the Hawai'i Clean Energy Initiative, will be a model for other states and nations. The summit highlights the progress Hawai'i has made in charting a new course to energy security and independence.

The summit sets the stage for the continued sharing of ideas, experience and technical solutions among nations and regions that face the same global energy and environment challenges. It features speakers from the U.S., Canada, Japan, Korea, China, Philippines and Taiwan, among others.

The Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo is sponsored by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism in cooperation with the Defense Logistics Agency and U.S. Pacific Command. To learn more, go to www.asia pacificcleanenergy.com.

Ted Liu | Director, Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism

COMMUNITY LEADERS

CITIZENS PLUGGING IN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

I'm inspired by two community groups, profiled by The Honolulu Advertiser, who are actively making a difference in their communities. The first is a Hawai'i Kai group saving their reef ("Communities Key to Reef Protection" Aug. 23). This remarkable effort started off as a conversation among friends over coffee. They lamented watching the deterioration of their reef and probably asked: "Why doesn't someone do something?"

The way they answered this question is what makes them unique — they opted to do something themselves. They launched Makai Watch and mobilized their neighbors to help protect their reefs.

Meanwhile in Kalihi, a remarkable group of residents is confronting crime in their neighborhood ( "Tenants reclaim housing project," Aug. 6). These citizens are making regular patrols through the area to report potential trouble to police before anything escalates into crime or violence.They're taking back their neighborhoods and making a brave stand against lawbreakers.

In both cases, I see something that's truly encouraging — members of the community rolling up their sleeves to improve conditions in their neighborhoods. It's so simple, yet so powerful.

This is just the type of effective leadership that Hawai'i needs. We need everyday heroes. We need people to plug in without worrying who gets the credit.

Their selfless engagement is the secret to transforming the world around us. They are doing more than good work. They are inspiring others to make similar choices.

Julie Ford | Honolulu Advertiser Community Editorial Board member