CONDOS

KUDOS FOR BATTLING KAKA'AKO PROPOSAL

The Save Kewalo's group of citizens is a perfect example of all that is good about Hawai'i. These akamai citizens realize the precious gift we've been given and our responsibility to protect it for future generations.

Hey, wait a minute. Isn't that supposed to be the government's job?

Anyway, hoorays and shakas for the grass roots!

If you look at the city skyline, the last thing we need is another glass and concrete structure full of million-dollar condos. There are enough of those ugly monoliths casting shadows over our fair city. The ocean and the coastline belong to all of the people, not just those who can afford it.

Legislators, please take your cue and put an end to this once and for all.

OVERTHROW

MORGAN REPORT OP-ED DOESN'T REFLECT FACTS

Jere Krischel's Jan. 15 op-ed, "Morgan Report is public at long last," sounds more than a false note; it appears to be part of an orchestrated effort to suggest that Sen. Morgan's report of 1894 about the role of the U.S. government in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy was right and Sen. Blount's report was wrong.

Actually, the conclusions of the Morgan Report without the accompanying documentation have been widely available ever since they were submitted to the Senate.

Why does it matter now? Because Morgan maintained that the U.S. was blameless in the overthrow. His view supports the argument that the Republic of Hawai'i was a legal government and thus entitled under international law to transfer the sovereignty of the Kingdom to the United States.

Thus Krischel states: "In response to the findings of the Morgan Report, (President) Cleveland rebuffed further entreaties by the queen for intervention and recognized the Republic of Hawai'i as the legitimate successor to the kingdom." The republic was never legitimate, however, because the majority of the population opposed it.

Nor was the Morgan Report responsible for changing Cleveland's policy. For an accurate account of that, readers should consult Thomas J. Osborne, "Annexation Hawai'i" (Island Style Press 1998), pp 79-81. Cleveland lost the support of Congress when he tried secretly to reinstate the queen. The Morgan Report reflected a compromise within Congress: It absolved Cleveland for his effort and recommended no further action to annex Hawai'i.

MEMORIES

DON HO GOES BACK TO HONEY'S IN KANE'OHE

My congratulations to Don Ho on his great recovery and return to where he belongs, on stage.

As to his comments about no one still being alive to remember Duke Kahanamoku's with the Ali'is: Sorry, but I remember him even further back from then — many great nights at Honey's tavern in Kane'ohe, where he first started working with his delightful mom, Honey, and dad, Jimmy.

Also in the middle of all that were talented Kui Lee and wife Nani and a whole gang of us rocking and rolling to real Hawaiian music, the very first time Don recorded for Hula Records. Absolutely fantastic to see him looking and feeling great. Thanks for the excellent coverage.

SURPLUS FUNDS

MEDEVAC SOLUTION: BUY SIX HELICOPTERS

As a former military medic and Hawai'i EMT, I understand the importance of the med2vac system here in the Islands. Why not use some of the budget surplus to purchase six EMS helicopters from Bell Helicopter?

Place them as follows: two on O'ahu, one on Maui, one on Kaua'i and two on the Big Island.

I believe that Hawai'i residents would be willing to sacrifice a free check in favor of keeping a vital emergency service operating throughout the state. The benefits of such a system are obvious.

That would also be better than having to pay a private firm to perform the work that the state should be able to provide.

Perhaps the big hospitals like Kaiser, Queen's, Straub and St. Francis as well as the insurance companies like HMSA, HMAA and UHA could also be encouraged to assist in the financial area.

BIOTECHNOLOGY

CROSS-POLLINATION CLAIM IS AN URBAN LEGEND

Regarding the Jan. 22 commentary by Hector Valenzuela on the biotech industry: Hawai'i biotech corporations provide over a thousand residents with jobs, and have done so for over 10 years, with no adverse effects to any of these employees.

An urban legend often used to exert fear of genetically modified organisms and included in the commentary is the term "cross-pollination," Pollen from corn does not cross with guinea grass nor does it cross with dallis grass or other non-corn plants. Different species do not naturally cross with one another in the environment.

So, producing "superweeds" that are resistant to Roundup would be extremely rare. If it did occur, there are many other herbicides available to kill the so-called superweed, and besides, the farmer is more than likely to harrow out the "superweed" long before it could become established.

The often repeated and erroneous statement that "farmers will become more and more dependent on large corporations to maintain their livelihoods" is just not true. No farmer is obligated to buy his seed from a corporation.

I agree with Dr. Valenzuela, that an educated citizenry will be better prepared to make educated decisions regarding biotech issues affecting them and the environment.

However, a citizenry that is constantly being bombarded with unfounded, non-scientific, scare tactics, is bound to have difficulty in making those decisions.