OCEAN RESOURCES

HAWAI'I'S CORAL REEFS STILL NEED PROTECTION

The July 8 article, "Isle reefs still fair to good," may lead some to believe that we should not worry about Hawai'i's reefs.

While there are areas in the main Hawaiian Islands with healthy reefs, even those are vulnerable and should be better protected to ensure their survival.

We may be better off than other places, such as the Caribbean, but we're far from adequately protecting our valuable reefs.

Reefs across much of the main Hawaiian Islands have been degraded by heavy fishing pressure, alien species, land-based pollution and development.

Of particular concern are depleted reef fishes in the main Hawaiian Islands. Reef fish catches in the main islands are a quarter of what they were a century ago.

Many reef fishes in the main islands are in poor condition, particularly near populated areas.

Declining fish populations affect more than the amount of food on our plates, they also affect the overall health of the reef.

For instance, we desperately need the big parrotfish and other plant-eating fish to control overgrowth of alien limu that is smothering and killing our coral reefs.

We need to act now to avoid the collapse experienced by reefs worldwide.

PUBLIC ACCESS

IT IS TIME TO GET AT REAL PROBLEM IN DRUG FIGHT

What's wrong with this picture? They close the beach at night so druggies can't hang out. Then they decide to tear down the trellis over some outdoor tables because the druggies were hanging out in the shade. Now they are taking away eight parking spaces in Chinatown so druggies can't do drive-by deals.

It seems like the druggies are winning this war, and the rest of us are losing. Losing access to our public spaces.

When are the Honolulu Police Department and the Prosecutor's Office going to take charge and figure out how to catch the druggies and treat them or put them away? You hear of some crime and they arrest someone and it turns he's had 15 prior crimes and hardly ever been punished.

Are our laws too weak? The police? The prosecutors? Do we need to build a prison?

Somebody needs to turn this around and get at the real problem, so the rest of us can enjoy living here.

CRIME

CAR BREAK-IN RUINS VACATION, ISLES' IMAGE

My mother and I have been longtime Hawai'i-lovers from Canada.

From the first time we set foot on your lovely islands nearly 10 years ago, we have been singing Hawai'i's praises.

And while Hawai'i isn't a cheap place to visit, we still do because we've always felt it was worth it; not only is it gorgeous, but we've always felt very at home and safe there.

However, our opinion has changed quite dramatically after an incident that occurred in our last five hours in the Islands on July 2.

While making a final stop at Ala Moana Center for a bite to eat before catching our long flight home, our rental car was broken into and two full suitcases were stolen out of the trunk.

Not only do we feel horribly violated and upset, we're mad that this one action by selfish people with no regard for other people's possessions has changed our 10-year love affair with the Islands.

I certainly hope that the people who took our stuff value them as much as we would. I'm heartbroken that after years of great memories that Hawai'i has brought me and my family, this is one thing I will remember the most.

FISA

WIRETAPS MEASURE VIOLATES CONSTITUTION

I am appalled by the outrageous capitulation of our Democratic-led Congress.

Essentially what our congressional representatives did Wednesday, when they approved the so-called FISA compromise, was to eviscerate the Fourth Amendment. You may recall from high school civics classes that that's the amendment that says:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

Kiss it goodbye, my friends, because this constitutional guarantee is history thanks to our leaders.

One hopeful note: The ACLU is prepared to challenge this law the moment George Bush signs it.

U.S. SENATE

AKAKA NOT ARROGANT, DID NOT BUCKLE UNDER

I am surprised that Todd Benson says that Sen. Daniel Akaka has buckled under to the Democratic Party establishment (Letter, July 4).

What a travesty. Sen. Akaka was one of a few U.S. senators who voted against the war on Iraq.

When Senator Akaka voted for drilling in ANWR, he was verbally attacked. Did you say he was arrogant? Akaka is a quiet, unassuming man. He is not arrogant.

So, please do some research. Get the facts before saying he gave in. He is definitely not waha nui.

EARLY LEARNING

FEDERAL PLAN WOULD DIVERT STATE FUNDS

I want to correct information in your June 29 editorial regarding Senate Bill 2878, a bill to continue the work of the Early Learning Educational Task Force.

The Advertiser indicated that Hawai'i would not qualify to receive new federal funds unless the Early Learning Council contained in Senate Bill 2878 is established.

These federal funds are contained in proposed federal legislation (HR 3289) pending before the U.S. House of Representatives and have not been approved or appropriated by Congress. HR 3289 would establish a federal grant program that only provides funding for preschools but does not provide money for other early childhood education programs, including home-based programs.

The federal proposal would require states and counties to match the federal grant amount. In Hawai'i, only 25 percent of parents who receive state financial assistance for childcare choose to send their children to a formal preschool. The federal proposal would divert state funds from play-and-learn centers, Tutu and Me, independent day care centers and other family centered programs.

In addition, HR 3289 requires the state to maintain or increase childcare expenditures to qualify for federal funds. Because of this stipulation, Hawai'i cannot qualify since this year the Legislature reduced the Department of Human Services' childcare budget by more than $5,000,000.

Gov. Lingle has made significant investments in early childhood education, including more than $82 million in the Quality Care Program, which is administered by the Department of Human Services. In less than four years, this initiative has enabled 2,400 additional children to attend preschool.

QUALITY OF CARE

DOCTOR QUESTIONS HMSA DIABETES PLAN

I feel my patients and the people of Hawai'i have the right to know some of what goes on behind the scenes at HMSA.

I recently participated in a teleconference about a new initiative program created by HMSA as part of what they call "quality of care."

If you have diabetes, your doctor will be paid more if he or she convinces you to buy a cholesterol-lowering pill. How much more? If I get all my diabetics on these pills, depending on how HMSA weights their payment scheme, I may earn up to $8,000 more next year.

Sounds great for me, and you might think I'd be an idiot to question such an easy cash gift. But I don't think I'll go for it. All medicines have side effects and I don't think there is enough scientific evidence that this practice will help all my diabetic patients. I can't justify writing prescriptions for unnecessary medications just because I'll earn more money if I do.

These "quality of care" programs have been in place for about a decade. The intent is to identify doctors who provide "better" care, and reward them.

Until this month, all the "quality" measures have been very good ideas, like screening young women for sexually transmitted diseases, ordering mammograms and doing Pap smears.

But this new measure is not a good idea. Studies fail to prove that putting all diabetics on cholesterol pills is effective or even safe.

So why is HMSA willing to experiment on Hawai'i's diabetics?

I posed this question to HMSA's vice president/medical director, Dr. John Berthiaume. We spent about 15 minutes going back and forth. I was happily surprised to find him so willing to listen to me, but he basically passed the buck, saying that other people suggested this measure was a good idea.

I wonder what will happen when patients see their doctors complaining of symptoms that might be side effects of their cholesterol pills. Will they be told the truth?

RECRUITING

MILITARY SERVICE AN HONORABLE CALLING

I was dismayed, not shocked, by Kim Coco Iwamoto's comments concerning military recruiters and her lack of faith in our youth.

Choosing the military or any dangerous profession, such as law enforcement, firefighting, even teaching at times, is an honorable calling.

Ms. Iwamoto is dismayed by those who profess they were "duped" into joining. In my 25 years of honorable service (I volunteered) in the United States Marine Corps (Vietnam era and on), I can attest to similar comments. Nothing pleased or satisfied them. They were the extreme minority, yet most served honorably. Some even made it a career.

Today's youth are far more informed, educated and are not easily taken in. They know what they want and are not gullible. There are more opportunities for them.

The world is not so large any more, and information is always available with various media sources, especially the Internet.

I suggest Ms. Iwamoto contact a Marine recruiter and attend one of the many programs afforded educators. A win-win situation.