EDUCATION

Where's the outrage over public schools?

Four years ago, the people of Hawai'i were justifiably angry about the substandard quality of public education and they were vocal about it.

Test scores of Hawai'i's students were among the lowest in the nation and the leadership of the Department of Education (DOE) was seemingly unable to make improvements.

Today, the test scores of Hawai'i's students are still among the lowest in the nation. And the DOE leadership has now demonstrated that it is incapable of making improvements.

Why are the people silent? Where is the outrage?

RACE ISSUES

DIVERSITY IN HAWAI'I COMES WITH A PRICE

I wish to voice my opinion to attorney Rosen in response to his guest commentary Sunday, May 27. I admire his courage and conviction.

It took years of struggle before President Kennedy in 1963 gave birth to the civil rights movements. Hawai'i is undergoing a lot of pain and challenges. Our multicultural existence is one of the most challenging passages to equality, acceptance and co-mingling in peace.

The determination of the remaining Native Hawaiians and their legacy, the maturation of plantation baby boomers with mixed parentage and the influx of haoles who have their rights to a place in the sun have grown like a wound that has not healed — yet.

I have been in Hawai'i for more than five years from Arizona. I lived in the Mainland for more than 30 years.

I was born in Manila, a pinay. I was educated in Pennsylvania. I am one of those still struggling to understand and coexist. I will not give up.

STATE POLITICS

GOVERNOR'S ACTIONS PROVE CALDWELL WRONG

It's extremely disappointing to read Rep. Kirk Caldwell's criticism of the governor's fiscal policy, comprehensive planning and willingness to cooperate. An objective view clearly shows these to be among her greatest strengths.

When the governor entered office, she worked hard to curtail state government overspending. Hawai'i had a $250 million budget deficit in 2002, yet it now benefits from a $750 million surplus. This is in large part due to the governor's conservative fiscal policy. Her belief that the Legislature could have provided millions more in tax relief is a wise investment in our people and economy.

Rep. Caldwell also questioned the governor's ability to lay out a detailed legislative plan. At the beginning of the 2007 session, the administration released a 56-page book outlining initiatives addressing every area, from affordable housing and healthcare to transportation and the environment.

This comprehensive plan included the Hawai'i Innovation Initiative, designed to reshape our economy. It also featured several proposals to support agriculture, such as protection for important agricultural land and a dramatic increase of agricultural loan limits.

Perhaps the most stunning accusation by Rep. Caldwell, however, was that Governor Lingle does not want to work with lawmakers. Irrespective of the fact that the governor is a Republican chief executive in a Democrat-dominated state, she has made it a priority to work across the aisle.

AIR TOURISM

PAPER'S PHOTO OF OLD ACCIDENT A DISSERVICE

A reader of The Advertiser's Wednesday edition would have had to assume that the paper originated from a state other than Hawai'i.

Why else would a paper, situated in the only state that depends almost solely on tourism for its economic health, choose to use the entire front page to rehash details of an unfortunate helicopter accident that occurred more than four years ago?

Ironically, the air tour industry of Hawai'i, which contributes significantly to the state's healthy tourism industry, statistically enjoys one of the best safety records of any other state in the U.S.

This safety record is enhanced by strong industry self-regulation, as well as frequent and stringent oversight by federal and state regulatory agencies.

Due to the sheer volume of aerial flights in our state, it is inevitable that an accident will occasionally occur. It is heart-rending to learn of injuries or death from any cause.

One has to wonder, then, why a paper which should be serving our local populace by presenting the positive side of tourism, consistently goes out of its way to dig up old news that reflects negatively on our most vital industry?

ANIMAL CRUELTY

MAN'S 'PUNISHMENT' DOESN'T FIT THE CRIME

I was sickened to read the article about the Kaua'i man who abandoned his 20 dogs, three of which were found dead and the others severely malnourished.

According to The Advertiser article, no jail time was proposed, only a fine and after a year, his criminal record would be erased!

What kind of justice is this for those poor animals? His lame excuse about miscommunication is questionable, especially in light of the fact that a veterinarian believes the dogs were abandoned for much longer than two weeks.

Why would anyone need to keep 20 dogs for hunting? The idea that this man also must own guns is quite unsettling.

As for the prosecutor in this case, why aren't you doing your job?

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM

COUNTRY HAS HAD LONG HISTORY OF INJUSTICES

I want to respond to Mr. Oswald Stender's op-ed piece and commend him on his forthrightness in showing how the Hawaiian legacy has been plundered over the years through disease and suppression.

American imperialism has never been recognized for what it is. We not only did it to the Hawaiians, but to the Native Americans on the continent, African Americans, Chinese and Japanese, and have made it difficult for any immigrant group.

However, the Hawaiians are indigenous people, but unlike Native Americans they did not have a treaty to secure their rights.

Now a new crop of plunderers want to seize the Hawaiian legacy using the trumped-up charge of racism to negate the princess's will.

Another example of American imperialism is the treatment of Filipino war veterans who were promised veteran benefits for their necessary participation in defeating the Japanese. What did they get? Nothing. Today, though the promise is known, it is said to be too expensive, even for the paltry 7,000 men and their families living today, while many, many thousands have already died.

As an American, I am appalled and ashamed that this country, which preaches freedom and justice all over the world, should treat its own people so miserably, and with such insensitivity.

Auwe.

SENIOR HOUSING

KAPOLEI PLAN TOO GOOD, AND PRICEY, TO BE TRUE

Your recent front-page story about a huge village for seniors at Kapolei immediately drew my interest.

What greater need does our island have than a large pleasant living environment for seniors? After reading a couple of lines, I was ready to sign up. But then I read the rest of the story. It seems these developers are going to build 650 units for millionaires.

With initial prices ranging from $300,000 to $800,000, the senior must then pay a fee of $3,500 to $5,000 each month. How very special.

The chairperson of the Maka-kilo board remarked, "We have nothing like that and our community has lots of seniors," and then went on to say, "Unfortunately, I don't think its going to be affordable for the local people." You think?

Whatever happened to the good old days that required developers to put aside a certain percentage of their units at reasonable prices so the locals could afford to move there? Or was that just an ancient dream?

HELMET LAW

LACK OF ENFORCEMENT BOILS DOWN TO MONEY

In response to Chubby Bruhn's recent letter to the editor (May 31): I would suggest to Mr. Bruhn that the reason Hawai'i has a seatbelt law but no helmet law is the age-old favorite: money. States with a seatbelt law receive $3.7 million in federal funding. A helmet law is not needed to receive those funds.

This is the same reason that despite a seatbelt compliance rate of over 90 percent in the state of Hawai'i, we still have ridiculous "Click It or Ticket" campaign. Last year, Hawai'i received $75,000 in federal funding for the campaign in addition to revenues generated from fines. I would suggest that, given the high compliance rate in Hawai'i, public safety would be far better served by posting officers at intersections that are known (I could supply a few suggestions) for people running red lights and other dangerous driving maneuvers.

Yet alas, there is no federal money available for that.

FORT WEAVER ROAD

EXPANSION A SENSELESS WASTE OF TAX MONEY

I was just about to turn out the lights and go to bed when I heard on the night news about the reported plans to widen more of Ft. Weaver Road. I cannot believe this! What good will this do?

Do Scott Ishikawa and Tom Berg seriously think that this will alleviate the congestion problems of the 'Ewa community? The cost of this insanity was also mentioned. This has to be the most outrageous waste of money since I-don't-know-when. This will just turn a four-lane "parking lot" into a six-lane one. How can anyone justify this much stupidity?

May I be so bold as to suggest rethinking this project and perhaps considering something that won't still bottleneck at the usual areas? Might I suggest someone rethink this whole mess before we wind up with another worthless project, which will only serve to waste more taxpayer money?

NOISE POLLUTION

AIRPORT, MILITARY BASE PREDATE HOMEOWNERS

Here we go again — residents of an area complaining about noise from an airport or a military base who moved in well after those places were established.

First of all, I have visited friends and family who live in 'Ewa Beach both during the day and night. While outdoors, one can just hear the aircraft making approaches to come in for landing. Indoors — rarely if ever did I hear planes coming in to land. Ocean Pointe homes are especially quiet and they are right under the approach pattern.

Second, all of the homeowner's disclosures make note of the fact that the houses are in the path of an airport's approach and occasional takeoff runways and that as a potential resident, one may be subjected to the necessary noise associated with an airport.

Third, those jumbo jets are usually bringing tourists into our state to bolster the economy, so I consider this all to be part of the price of living in "paradise."

Finally, Rep. Kimberly Pine, I'm not sure what your Ocean Pointe home is made of, but none of my friends who live in Ocean Pointe have ever had their house "rattled" by an airplane. Even if it was a military airplane shaking things up a bit, well, that's the sound of freedom and it is music to my ears.