Letters to the Editor
IWI
FORMER ARCHAEOLOGIST IS CALLED ON FOR HELP
Over the Labor Day weekend, I received two alarming calls on my private cell phone. These phone calls came from the Honolulu Police Department and the Department of Conservation and Resource Enforcement. They needed me to identify remains, bones, iwi, possibly human, maybe even Hawaiian.
I used to perform this service as state archaeologist. I even gave out my private number in case of emergencies. I used to regularly assist HPD, DOCARE and the medical examiner to identify remains. I took this task very seriously, with the utmost of respect and sensitivity for the deceased, the ancestors, the iwi kupuna.
But I haven't worked at the State Historic Preservation Division since June 2006, when Melanie Chinen failed to renew my contract, stating that she "had just made a decision that David Brown's services are no longer needed."
Out of 22 professionals who resigned from SHPD since Chinen took charge, I'm the only one who did not quit. My position has gone unfilled ever since.
Apparently, SHPD wasn't answering phone calls over the holiday weekend.
After all this time, I got the calls. And, apparently, my "services are no longer needed."
David Lawrence BrownWai'anae
SUPERFERRY
EXAMPLE OF HOW NOT TO HANDLE A RISKY BUSINESS
As a resident and business owner on Kaua'i, I believe I speak for all of us in expressing my hopes that this whole Superferry controversy does not divide the Islands.
For those of us opposed to the ferry, our concerns about the situation are not a personal attack directed to the people of O'ahu. Rather, our opposition stems from a deeper desire to protect the land we love so deeply, our clean ocean and our keiki. Surely the people of all Hawaiian islands can relate to this.
The state and the Superferry investors have argued against abandoning the project at this point because millions of dollars have been poured into it. I wonder who would really suffer the most financially if this were to happen — the investors?
Maybe this fiasco should serve as a textbook example of how not to handle a risky business venture in the state of Hawai'i. Maybe it should play out as a case study of how not to take on a huge transportation project in an area with significant social, environmental and cultural considerations without first taking the time to research the possible ecological concerns, to seriously question the communities involved and to consult with respected leaders on all the islands.
Maybe the next time, the project would actually have a chance of success.
Maggie McCannKilauea, Kaua'i
OAHUANS NOT WELCOME ON MAUI AND KAUA'I
Let's face it, Maui and Kaua'i don't want people from O'ahu visiting "their" islands.
So since O'ahu pays almost 85 percent of the taxes required to run our state government, maybe we should stop sending our money to these islands.
Seems they want our money, just not us.
Neil WilliamsHonolulu
FERRY UNDERESTIMATED RISK OF ITS DECISIONS
"Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive." This phrase can easily be applied to the Superferry.
Among other things, the Superferry folks knew three or four years ago that:
The Superferry folks decided to take the political route instead.
In an Aug. 29 story in The Advertiser, the governor's quote is quite revealing: "So there's a lot of harm that could occur if we're not allowed to continue to move forward and let them use our harbors and if they're not allowed to continue to operate."
Hawaii Superferry knew an environmental review was necessary to analyze the impact of the project on our fragile resources.
The Hawai'i Supreme Court ruled that an environmental review must be done.
But in defiance of our Supreme Court, Hawaii Superferry moved up the start date and flaunted our laws — the company underestimated the risk when it challenged our laws.
Kat BradyHonolulu
VOTE ON WHO CAN USE FERRY IS JUST NONSENSE
What nonsense about letting each island vote how and who they restrict to their 'aina.
From what we understand, most people who will be using the ferry service are people who live in Hawai'i and have families on the Neighbor Islands.
We may as well let O'ahu residents decide who uses their island for connecting flights to the Mainland, major hospitalization, major sporting events, more selection in shopping ... and the list goes on.
As for plant viruses, weed seeds in tire treads, pest, drugs, guns, homeless people or the other hallmarks of beautiful Honolulu/O'ahu as stated by Mr. Oswald of Kaua'i — wow, never knew Kaua'i and Maui don't have that there. Get real, that's all over the place, not just in Honolulu.
This ferry service is for all of Hawai'i's people, not just the guys from O'ahu. I look forward to taking my truck over on the weekend and tailgating at Aloha Stadium before a University of Hawai'i football game.
If they (Maui and Kaua'i) no like the ferry over there, send um here to the Big Island, we use um.
Naka KekahunanuiKurtistown, Hawai'i
RON PAUL
PEOPLE DESIRE HONESTY IN THEIR GOVERNMENT
The trend for the Hawai'i GOP has been to follow wherever the national GOP trends on national candidacies. This has been a kind and diplomatic way to deal with differences in ideologies. This has also been a weakness in standing up against the status quo party of economic oppression, the Democratic Party, on the state level. Mike Gabbard's voting record and desire to switch party is evidence enough.
This year there is a presidential candidate on the GOP ticket who is energizing not only Republicans for his stances on traditional GOP issues like smaller, less-intrusive government and prosperous free-markets, but also energizing activism from many Democrats, independents, Libertarians and disenfranchised citizens here in Hawai'i because of his consistent and proven stances on foreign policy and civil liberties.
Ron Paul's message of freedom is a uniting message. Look him up on youtube.com. His campaign is on a momentous upswing that is garnering solid support (no soft-money).
Honesty in government is what people desire, and will be the first step in restoring our ailing state and republic.
Dan DouglassHonolulu
WAIKIKI
GREAT IMPROVEMENTS MADE BY HANNEMANN
When Mayor Mufi Hannemann was first elected, I believed he would hurt tourism. I have since changed my mind and have seen vast improvements in Waikiki.
There are no longer people camping out on the mounds of grass by the beach, the selling of drugs appears to be vastly diminished and tourists are safer.
Good job, mayor. Now, if you can just get all those Harley-Davidson motorcycles to put on decent mufflers and stay off Kalakaua on Sundays, we would all be very appreciative.
John MulderWaikiki
GROWTH
KAILUANS WORRY ABOUT INFLUX OF NEW STORES
Kailua's population cannot increase, as there is no vacant land upon which to build and existing laws ban structures over 40 feet high. The only way to increase retail income is to turn Kailua into a tourist destination. Do you want that? In the past, Kailuans very definitely said, "No!"
Why is Kane'ohe Ranch so determined to bring in Mainland stores that will require a larger customer base in order to thrive?
Kane'ohe Ranch says it needs more revenue so it can make more charitable contributions to our community. If it ruins our town in the process, is that a desirable tradeoff?
Jane MorrisKailua
HEALTH
ISLE OBESITY NUMBERS MUST BE RECALCULATED
A recent report, published in the Advertiser on Aug. 27, ranks Hawai'i 47th among all states and the District of Columbia in percentage of obese adults (20.1 percent) and next to lowest in percentage who are overweight or obese (54.5 percent).
Obesity was probably defined by a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater and overweight by a BMI of 25 or greater. However, many researchers believe that for Asians the BMI for obesity should be 25 and for overweight 23.
More than half of the population of Hawai'i identify themselves as Asian, according to the U.S. Census. Thus, in reality, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Hawai'i is much higher than given in this report, if these lower criteria are applied.
The practical importance of this is that since being overweight or obese increases one's risk for many diseases — for example, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer — we need to take a closer look at the prevalence of overweight and obesity after adjusting for the large Asian population of Hawai'i.
Wilfred Y. Fujimoto, M.D.Kailua, Kona, Hawai'i
O'AHU
RENT CONTROL WOULD STEM HOMELESS CRISIS
As a retired military person born and raised in Hawai'i, every day I see three different worlds on a daily basis: the homeless, people trying to make ends meet and people complaining about those who cannot help themselves.
Well, my friends, this may be a wakeup call for some of you.
There are two-income families with several children who cannot maintain a roof over their heads because there is no rent control here.
The state or the city needs to establish rent control before our beaches, parks, bridges and underpasses become O'ahu's "third city."
Saba PeraltaKane'ohe
