HAWAIIAN CLAIMS

SETTLEMENT WITH OHA RESOLVES NOTHING

The $200 million "settlement" of OHA's claims for ceded lands "rent" would settle nothing. We've repeatedly been told the lie that all 1.8 million acres of ceded lands belong to ethnic Hawaiians communally.

The Legislature has passed resolutions supporting the Akaka bill. Should the Legislature now give away money and land even before negotiations begin against the anticipated Akaka tribe to chop up the State of Hawai'i?

Our governor, attorney general and Legislature have an absolute duty to defend all Hawai'i's people against the rip-off of our money, land and jurisdictional authority by powerful institutions allegedly acting in the name of one racial group.

Neither the crown, nor government lands, nor the kingdom itself belonged to Native Hawaiians as a racial group. Yet the current "settlement" and future tribe are for ethnic Hawaiians exclusively.

There is no historical, legal or moral justification for race-based claims to ownership of ceded lands or to the revenues they generate. The current settlement and future Akaka tribe are steps along a terrible path.

BOE

FULL BOARD APPROVED 2008 MEETING CALENDAR

In her Jan. 29 letter, Board of Education member Lei Ahu Isa claims that only seven of the 13 BOE voting members were present at the Jan. 24 meeting in Kahuku.

Ms. Ahu Isa claims the meeting date "was changed at the last minute to the fourth Thursday of the month."

The 2008 BOE general business meeting calendar was approved by the full board in October. In fact, Ms. Ahu Isa voted for it. The January meeting dates did not change.

On Jan. 24, two members were representing the board at national meetings and one was on a business trip. The BOE Maui member came late and left early. Two members were absent without excuses, Ms. Ahu Isa being one of them.

At the meeting, the BOE vote was 7-0 against using school funds for drug testing. It was a unanimous vote by those BOE members present.

ADMINISTRATION SHOULD PAY FOR DRUG TESTING

At the Jan. 24 meeting, Board of Education members voted 7-0 against taking money from the Department of Education budget to fund drug testing of teachers, counselors, librarians and others in HSTA Unit 5.

For some, their vote came down to opposing using money from schools and students to pay for drug testing. For others, the vote came down to the philosophical or practical merits of drug testing. There may be other reasons as well.

If we're going to have random drug testing in our public education system, let it be for all employees, not just teachers. As a 33-year military veteran, undergoing random drug testing was part of the job. It comes down to ensuring the safety of others and self. My granddaughter's third-grade reading teacher recently pled guilty to possession and distribution of drugs. I believe the focus should be on the safety of students.

The administration should stand by its commitment to include drug testing in the contractual agreement with HSTA. The administration should fund drug testing. Drug testing should not be an unfunded mandate.

More importantly, the money should not come from schools.

ABUSE CASES

NOT ENOUGH PROTECTION FOR NEGLECTED KIDS

Having been a foster parent for 10 years, I have hoped that our community would become aware of the lack of protection provided to children in harm's way.

Over the years, I have witnessed social workers and judges seemingly having a hard time believing that children can be neglected and abused in unimaginable ways.

The truth is not acceptable to anyone who recognizes the value of life. Most moms in these situations, even with the greatest amount of care from our broken system repeatedly fail, while their children continue to suffer the long-term consequences of abuse. Children develop post-traumatic stress, learning and emotional disorders and brain damage from pre-birth drug exposure.

Don't turn away in a grocery store when you see a young man shouting obscenities at his 2-year-old. Don't ignore the scene of the neighbor leaving her young children alone at night. Don't pretend a child with routine bruises or burns is accident-prone.

UH NICKNAME

KEEP WARRIORS, DON'T RETURN TO RAINBOWS

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with Keith Haugen and his suggestion that UH should return to the Rainbows nickname (Letters, Jan. 15).

I, too, am a UH alumnus and was a student athlete when we were still referred to as the Rainbows. I used to get kidded so much by family and friends about being a Rainbow that I always hated it.

The name change to Warriors alone was one of the few things that I liked about June Jones.

As for the uniqueness of the Rainbow name and why no one else can lay claim to such a mascot, I can only say it's probably due to the same reasons that no one else lays claim to the mascot of the University of California-Santa Cruz. In case you are wondering, they are known as the Banana Slugs. Go Slugs! And long live Warriors.

TRAFFIC SAFETY

ELDERLY PEDESTRIANS SHOULD CARRY FLAGS

I am a pedestrian. I love walking everywhere possible instead of driving. Not only do I avoid frustrations of being stuck in traffic, I burn calories and enjoy seeing birds, flowers and people's faces.

I know I'm taking a risk, and in light of recent, heartbreaking pedestrian accidents, I can also appreciate a driver's viewpoint.

Honolulu can be a challenging place to drive.

I have a couple suggestions. One is especially for pedestrians who are elderly or know they take longer crossing the street. Carry an umbrella or one of those safety flags you see on kids' bikes and tour group leaders. Second idea, build pedestrian bridges. What if they're painted like rainbows and we had rainbow bridges everywhere? How beautiful would that be, and what a nice view to match our real rainbows! Every person encouraged to walk without fear for his life is one more car off the road.

KUMU KAHUA

ABUNDANCE OF TALENT IN 'PELE MA' PRODUCTION

We value your reviewer's perspective on theater performances, but are pleased we didn't allow his negative review of "Pele Ma" to keep us away.

We found the play both fascinating and an exceptionally wonderful cascade of drama and storytelling.

The young actors brought an abundance of talent in chant, storytelling, dance and drama.

In "Pele Ma," they demonstrated a wonderful versatility in presenting a theatrical challenge not to be found in such richness anywhere else in the country. Honolulu is so blessed with their presence and commitment.

Congratulations to all the actors, the director, John H.Y. Wat, and Kumu Kahua Theatre. Wow!

FACILITIES

WHY HAVEN'T REGENTS RAISED UH TUITION?

There is plenty of blame to go around for the poor facilities at the University of Hawai'i and the loss of June Jones.

But I have yet to hear anyone blame the board of regents.

Years ago, I recall only one regent voted for a significant tuition increase (Everett Dowling). He said something to the effect that we are missing an opportunity to make UH something special. While tuition has gone up some, it is still one of the best deals in America.

Even if we raised tuition only $2,000 per year on top of the current ridiculously low tuition subsidized by taxpayers, it would raise $40 million per year.

And why are Hawai'i taxpayers subsidizing tuition for out-of-state students so much?

If you want a first-class university, demand a tuition increase. A college education is a privilege and should cost more than preschool.

TAX RELIEF

LEGISLATORS MUST START WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE

First, kudos to Gov. Linda Lingle for asking for tax relief that will help working people and especially young families struggling to make ends meet with Hawai'i's high cost of living.

Second, shame on the Democratic legislators who can only think of more, more, more for the government.

Reported quotes such as this illustrate the problem: State House Speaker Calvin Say, D-20th (St. Louis Heights, Palolo Valley, Wilhelmina Rise), said lawmakers would likely meet the constitutional requirement with a token $1 tax refund — as they often have in the past — or modest relief targeted at the poor.

A $1 tax refund is a joke at best, and could even be considered a fraud perpetrated by the folks who are elected to look out for us.

Calvin Say also is reported to have said: "You want cuts in service for the general public? I really don't think so, because government's responsibility is to serve the general public on all the different programs that we have."

I think most people would agree that the government has too many programs. Many have little or no accountability and are often riddled with waste and inefficiency.

Come on legislators, work for Hawai'i's people for a change, not the status quo of more and bigger government.

SOCIETY

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO COMMON DECENCY?

We moved from O'ahu to the Big Island, but we travel back and forth for work. While shopping at Best Buy on Sunday, the rented van my in-laws were using while staying in Honolulu was broken into. The laptop, video phone and two pairs of new shoes were taken.

I've had things stolen before. Crime happens. Even in places with aloha. I fail to see how this could happen outside a busy store on a busy day and no one saw anything.

I wonder what has happened? Where is the decency that used to be expected of people? We as a society have quietly let it evaporate in an effort to have our own comfort.

I am sad that we are so far removed from each other, that it is OK to let your kids roller skate in a store, to not say things like, "Excuse me, sir."

No need to talk story to bank tellers, they are only giving you money. These are not backward traditions; they are manners and everyone can say "please" and "thank you."

So what happened after my in-laws' van break-in? They waited 45 minutes for police who never came. The rental people were only concerned about the car, not about my in-laws missing their plane, so they have filed no reports.

They returned to the Big Island, which is mo' betta for now, but for how long? And I wonder how much was truly stolen? And when will they get that back?