SEWER FEES

WHY ARE RESIDENTS ASKED TO PAY MORE?

I am confused. Last year, a significant increase in sewer fees was implemented. Along with the increase, future year increases were also approved and will go into effect without further action.

The already-approved increases are compounded and will significantly increase the resulting fee. The sewers have been neglected for a long time, and a long-term remedial solution was supposedly implemented last year.

Waikiki had a catastrophic failure and required an immediate solution. The mayor has a rainy-day fund for immediate problems. Why am I being asked to pay more for sewers after last year's increase with the long-term solution of built-in future increases?

It seems this is a problem with an apparent solution.

SHOPPING MECCA

LUCKY KAPOLEI, RAIL LINE STRAIGHT TO ALA MOANA

I am thrilled that the residents of Kapolei and Salt Lake will have their own private rail system to shop at Ala Moana Center.

Fighting traffic, frequent accidents, and rush hour to get to a big sale are unacceptable and unfair to these communities.

Although I haven't actually been to Salt Lake since Costco closed 10 years ago and I've never had any reason to visit Kapolei, I'm sure these communities are deserving of this rail system.

However, I'm just not sure why I'm expected to pay for it. I do visit the university, airport, and Waikiki with some regularity, but I rarely shop at Prada, Gucci, or Versace at Ala Moana.

Perhaps it would be cheaper to build new shopping malls for Kapolei and Salt Lake and build a rail line that actually goes some place the rest of our island might actually use. Just a suggestion.

VISITOR'S VIEW

Why doesn't O'ahu ban mopeds, fix signs?

As a visitor to O'ahu, I can understand why people here in this beautiful place are (seemingly) concerned about environmental issues.

So why don't you ban mopeds? They pollute more than a Humvee and make more noise than a Harley. Two-stroke engines are terrible polluters.

Your signage also needs to be addressed. If your street signs were improved, tourists would find their destinations without getting lost and driving more than needed.

And since you're building a train to move the masses, why not add a bicycle lane along the track?

Maybe someday you'll get serious.

WAIKELE BEATING

INCIDENT OFFERS CHANCE TO REFLECT ON VALUES

I do not wish to enter the debate on "hate crime or not" in regard to the Waikele beatings. I believe there is a combination of factors that fell into place at the wrong time and my thoughts are with everyone involved. What we must consider from this episode is of a greater importance.

There is no doubt that an underlying racial tension exists in Hawai'i. Most sensible people in the Islands would have a hard time disputing the notion that all ethnic groups might harbor some slight prejudice or ill will toward those of other ethnic groups.

To have university faculty shy away from the idea that these tensions exist is not healthy.

As with any problem that arises within societies or our personal lives, acknowledgement and recognition of problems are what lead to eventual resolutions.

To not discuss our shortcomings as humans would be to err, and this episode provides a backdrop for us all to evaluate who we are and what we believe in.

Let's not ignore what has just happened; let's find ways to make ourselves and our communities stronger by reflecting on our values and rethinking how we treat others.

AKULE

DLNR SHOULD NOT OPEN PUPUKEA TO FISHING

As a North Shore resident, I am shocked and concerned about the proposal to allow fishing for akule in the waters off Pupukea. This area falls squarely within the Marine Life Conservation District, whose supporters have been unselfishly protecting the one-mile stretch of coastline for five years.

This is the only mile of coastline on the entire North Shore that is protected. Its worth is nested in its complete preservation. When we sacrifice the resources, we sacrifice yet another strand in what has become symbolic of an impacted and deteriorating Hawai'i.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources now has the opportunity and responsibility to demonstrate foresight in this decision by not opening Pupukea to fishing.

As there is honor in conservation, let's hope that the DLNR secures this wisdom out of respect for our ancestors and for future generations — as well as for the residents and visitors who frequent the area.

COMBAT TROOPS

VA MUST PROVIDE BETTER CARE FOR INJURED

I am a combat veteran. Frontline troops do not appreciate phony "support" from flag wavers.

Instead, the Department of Veterans Affairs must provide better care for the injured. Congress and President Bush have to increase VA funding.

IRAQ WAR

GOP NOT ATTENTIVE TO TROOP PREPAREDNESS

I've been paying attention to the Iraq war since its inception, yet I am always amazed at the Republican inattention to the preparedness of our American troops.

Congressman Jack Murtha is asking for requirements to properly train and rest our soldiers and Marines — and the Republicans oppose that and call the plan "anti-troop."

As a disabled Army veteran of the Korean War, I ask you to help Rep. Murtha stop the Republicans once again.

GLOBAL WARMING

BUSH HAS BAD RECORD ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Laura Bush flew with others to Midway to view wildlife atolls.

Her husband, George W. Bush, has possibly the worst environmental protection record of a president of the United States.

He and the vice president, along with the past Republican Congress, destroyed a lot of the environmental protection regulations.

I hope that Gov. Linda Lingle took this opportunity to speak with Laura Bush about the prospect of a 20-foot increase in water level for Hawai'i as a result of Bush's ignoring and denial of global warming.

Those wildlife sanctuaries will be under water and most of Hawai'i's citizens will never have an opportunity to view them on taxpayer money.

WATER HEATERS

SENIOR CITIZENS SHOULD ALSO GET SOLAR TAX CREDIT

The Feb. 28 Advertiser had an article about HECO raising its solar-water-heater rebate to $1,000, and saying that there are federal and state tax credits for up to 35 percent.

But this is not true for seniors. Most seniors are on fixed retirement incomes, and do not have any way to take a tax credit on state taxes they do not owe.

We need to pass HB 1611, which will make the credit refundable for seniors.

Why can't seniors have the same incentive to install solar water heaters? Let's be fair!

HSTA REPORT

DO TEACHERS NEED TIME-MANAGEMENT TRAINING?

On the surface, your headline claiming that the average teacher's workday lasts 15 1/2 hours seems ridiculous.

The first reaction I had was that teachers are overworked and underpaid. Since teachers are part of the committee that put this "study" together, their conclusions are not surprising.

The average workweek for a teacher is much shorter than the average citizen working in the private sector. Between federal holidays, state holidays, personal days, sick days and school breaks, even if they did work 15 1/2 hours a day, it wouldn't add up vis-a-vis comparative salaries.

Federal mandates were put in place because of DOE and teacher incompetence nationwide. As with their refusal to drug-test teachers, the union is strongly against any attempt to hold their members accountable for anything. The majority of schools in Hawai'i are in the process of restructuring due to poor results. It must be the government's fault, because teachers must not be blamed for anything.

Lastly, time spent driving to and from work, planning what to eat at the next restructuring meeting or talking story on the phone after class is not and should not be counted toward the 15 1/2-hour workday.

I don't doubt that teachers put in a long day on occasion. But it doesn't take 15 1/2 hours (6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.?) to deliver an already-structured curriculum. If it does, I think the first step toward solving the problem is to send our teachers to a time-management seminar.

15 1/2-HOUR WORKDAY RESULTS QUESTIONED

In regard to the March 1 story "Teacher's day: 15 1/2 hours," I have the utmost respect and admiration for our public school teachers. I'm sure there are days that require them to put in "overtime" hours. I have never known a conscientious professional in any occupation who doesn't have to stay late or bring work home on occasion.

However, I do question the 15 1/2-hour days that were reported as routine in a study by the "Time Committee." And I must seriously question the objectivity of a committee whose members are from the Hawai'i State Teachers Association and the Department of Education.

Furthermore, there is nothing in the article that substantiates the headline.

Committee member Randall Miura was quoted saying that "teachers aren't available to the students (after school now) because they're always rushing off to a meeting." Since Mr. Miura is a principal, shouldn't he have control over what his teachers are required to do? And if he doesn't, why not?

Unfortunately, the biggest problem with our school system continues to be the bloated DOE bureaucracy. If it would clean house and decentralize, much more of the $2.3 billion it spends per year would reach the schools and could go toward giving good teachers the salaries they deserve.