REAL ESTATE

WILL O'AHU SEE MORE OUTSIDE INVESTMENT?

"...My focus in Hawai'i is not about making money. My real business is in Tokyo. Hawai'i is a place for me to release my creativity." Thus spake Genshiro Kawamoto.

Born of a reversal of fortune of the dollar some 20 years ago, Mr. Kawamoto's foray into real estate investment in Hawai'i has been largely profligate.

How thoughtful that our local government should be so accommodating of his creative energies. Once again, we are witnessing a devaluation of our currency relative to that of most foreign countries. How many more Genshiros might we expect to find Hawai'i a place for the release of their creativity?

It was more than 30 years ago that Frank Fasi proposed legislation that would have placed restrictions on investment in residential real estate on O'ahu. He wasn't listened to.

Fortunes have been made as a result by those who chose to sell and leave. Those who have chosen to stay have been faced with massive increases in their property taxes.

It has been said that those who fail to learn from their mistakes are bound to repeat them. Make that into a plaque and mount at the entrance to Honolulu Hale.

PRISON SYSTEM

IT IS WRONG TO TREAT PRISONERS LIKE TRASH

Thank you, Ronald Becker, for your article (Focus, Jan. 20) on prisons.

There is no comparison between federal and state prison. The federal prisons treat their prisoners with respect and visitations are pleasant compared with our state's treatment of visitors to Halawa.

The transfer of prisoners to Saguaro Correctional Center in Arizona when the facility was ill-prepared to receive them was typical for Hawai'i.

SCC has four classes operating with 20 students each. What are the remainder of the 1,732 inmates doing? The classes are not open to all inmates in low/moderate classification. Computers can only be used by inmates who are taking classes.

The trend seems to be put more restrictions on prisoners to make their lives more unbearable. The recreation area is too small, there is no incentive program.

Our inmates have only one catalog or one store list to order from, so they pay exorbitant prices for limited selections. There are very few job opportunities, with average pay of 25 cents an hour.

More programs should be available so prisoners can be released sooner. There are people who are willing to form support groups to help the inmates integrate into the community. There are also great Christian programs within the prisons with tremendous success in other states.

If we continue to consider this segment of our community as trash, our prison population will continue to grow, as statistics have proven.

KAHEKILI HIGHWAY

AESTHETICS SHOULD NOT TRUMP FUNCTION, SAFETY

Spending $4.08 million on plants and trees? It's not worth the price. ("$4.08M project will add some green to Kahekili," Jan. 19).

Pedestrians must now share the sidewalk with cyclists, roads are much narrower and no longer straight, and cars will now have a difficult time moving aside for emergency vehicles — especially during rush hour.

It's upsetting to see my tax dollars wasted on a project that seeks aesthetics over function — especially for a highway.

OHA

BEFORE ANY SETTLEMENT, AUDITS ARE NEEDED

Regarding OHA's attempt to settle claims with the state on ceded lands, this is one beneficiary's objection and reasons why there should be no settlement.

First, there has never been a gross revenue audit done.

Second, there needs to be an assessment completed on and by Native Hawaiians.

Third, with all the financial woes facing the state, from inadequate UH facilities, mass transit, to the ever-present pothole in the road, can Native Hawaiians believe that this is a viable deal?

What really needs to be done is a forensic fiscal audit of OHA, something the state auditor has recommended now twice, but the Legislature has ignored despite the call for oversight from the residents.

Once all this happens, informed and supported negotiations can occur. Until then, no secret deals!

SPORTS

LOSS OF UH TRADITIONS HAS BEEN TOO COSTLY

Now that June Jones has left UH for SMU, I think in the long run that it's all for the better for everyone.

Jones' tenure at UH has been too expensive for the tradition of UH athletics. The loss of the school colors (believe me, it isn't black!), the logo (rainbow), the nickname (Rainbows), introduction of a non-Hawaiian "mascot," and the banning of the playing of "Hawaii Five-0" at the games in the end was too costly.

The nickname, Rainbows, had a long tradition behind it and shouldn't have been discarded so readily.

UCLA has a friendly-looking bear, not a ferocious grizzly. Why the color black? More macho? Ohio State: red; Boise State: blue. For heaven's sake, it's just a game.

Hawai'i will get better. Go 'Bows!

KAUA'I

KOLOA MONKEYPODS SHOULD BE PRESERVED

Over the past six years, my partner and I have spent three seasons visiting and enjoying Hawai'i. We come primarily for the nature and the culture, and are saddened to see the destruction of the monkeypods on Kaua'i.

Once again it feels like those with the money rule over the common good. If this goes ahead, you will not see us visit again.

GARBAGE

CURBSIDE RECYCLING SHOULD BE ISLANDWIDE

Do our city leaders think a fairy godmother is going to come solve our garbage problem?

Garbage is not going to go away, and shouldn't go to the Mainland.

It is only going to get worse with increased development.

The whole island must have curbside recycling now, and our garbage should be burned to produce power now.

We can't wait for some "confidential" process. Who knows if it will work and how much it will cost!

SMOKING LAW

HAWAI'I'S SMOKING BAN IS IMPROVING HEALTH

Hawai'i's smoke-free law is essential for improving the health of Hawai'i residents.

Two published studies in reputable medical journals demonstrated a connection between the establishment of smoke-free laws and reduction in hospital admissions for heart attack in those communities.

In Helena, Mont., and Pueblo, Colo., where the studies were conducted, up to 40 percent reduction in heart-attack admission rates were observed within months of the law enforcement.

Preliminary data from a similar before-and-after review of heart-attack admissions at Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center in Honolulu tell a similar story.

In conjunction with published results of basic science research, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that individuals with or without a prior heart condition can increase their risk of heart attack after only 30 minutes of exposure to secondhand smoke.

The public may not be aware or take seriously their casual secondhand smoke exposure because they may not realize its connection to serious health risks. As with other risk factors for heart disease, cumulative effects of exposure can accelerate and bring on a heart attack insidiously, as happened to me six years ago.

Recent findings that the smoke-free law has had a positive impact on Hawai'i's businesses is good news. Health benefits alone for our workers, residents and tourists are compelling reasons to continue our efforts to improve the quality of our air.

WWII

STAMP WOULD BE FITTING HONOR FOR NISEI VETS

I am writing in support of a nisei veterans commemorative stamp, which would honor those who served so exceptionally in World War II.

It is hoped that this honor will recognize the sacrifice of those who served in the European, the Pacific and the China-Burma-India theaters.

We are grateful for your support.