ELEVATED SYSTEM OFFERS BEST CHOICE

Three architects who signed a Dec. 13 letter, "Focus on the best system for people," do not understand the scrutiny the Honolulu rail transit project has undergone. This is why The Advertiser's editorials and so many others like us are coming out in support of the project.

As architects working on the project, we have followed the process and support elevated rail. The Advertiser editorial correctly points out that an at-grade system has many shortcomings and is less suitable for Honolulu. These are the issues that we, as architects, face in the design of any project. The at-grade issue was studied by experts and rejected years ago.

The Dec. 13 letter tries to give the impression the public hasn't had its say. People voted for rail, elected officials voted to support rail, and our Congressional delegation led by Sen. Daniel Inouye continues to support this project. A recent poll showed nearly 70 percent of O'ahu residents think rail is a good investment.

We believe that elevated rail is the best system for Honolulu. We look forward to helping this project become a reality and ensuring that it is done in a way that will best fit in its surroundings.

Signed by 12 architects, including:

KEN CASWELL | AIA

SHAUN USHIJIMA | AIA

MAURICE YAMASATO | AIA

ROLAND LIBBY | AIA

JAMES L. STONE | AIA

LORRIN MATSUNAGA | AIA

DWIGHT K. MITSUNAGA | AIA

STAND FOR EDUCATION BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

Furlough Fridays have inspired some choice rhetoric. Lee Cataluna says the governor enjoys newfound political capital, and that secretly, teachers want nothing more than time away from kids. HEM suggests some teachers see furloughs as economic opportunity, which is best taken advantage of by flipping burgers or driving cabs. Glad you're having fun in the press, but get real!

For concerned citizens, the furlough Friday crisis has raised awareness of the very real public education crisis, and resulted in new alliances and determination to make a difference.

We demand that the governor and union leadership take education seriously, instead of using teachers and children as pawns in old political struggles. We call for all of Hawai'i to stand up for education. Put an end to the demeaning treatment of teachers. Recognize their willingness to put in long hours despite low compensation. Are they now expected to do training required for their professional license on vacation time too? Teachers feel worn out and demoralized. Make a difference before we lose the best of this most valued profession. Show your teacher some aloha, ask what you can do to help, and demand that our leaders listen.

MARGUERITE HIGA | Save Our Schools Hawai'i

MOLOKAI TREATMENT CENTER MUST REMAIN

As if the residents of Moloka'i haven't been hit hard enough, the threat of losing their treatment center for the severely mentally ill now looms on Dec. 31. One job, that of the director of this humble center, is at risk.

Consider that this center provides psychosocial support for its members. They are supported in the daily activities they need to do to stay out of the state hospitals, to stay on their medications, to be as functional as possible in society.

I have been joined by many members of my Rotary club and many other volunteers at this center as we traveled to Moloka'i twice to contribute to the well being of the cottages used by the Moloka'i Clubhouse. I've met the director, the members and the other volunteers.

To deny this critical service to our poorest island — one job that does so much for those who need so much — is reprehensible. It is imperative that this position and service to the island of Moloka'i be reconsidered and reinstated.

LORA WILLIAMS | Käne'ohe

NOW WHERE ARE THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS?

Where were all the environmentalists now when Christmas trees were showing up at our docks with snails and other insects? The same self-proclaimed environmentalists who so adamantly opposed the Superferry because it might spread insects and other pests between islands are nowhere to be found when a true environmental risk to the entire state was presented.

And how about the "sustainability" groups? We in Hawai'i can easily grow our own Christmas trees, as they do on a small scale in Wahiawä, and not waste all that fuel shipping trees from the Mainland. Trees grown in the Islands support our local economy and are much less fire-prone because they stay fresh and green for months. Where are the sustainability advocates when such a simple, logical and truly environmentally friendly project comes along? Are all the groups who want to "protect" us on vacation for the holidays?

ROBBY FIELD | Honolulu

FUNDS FOR MAINLAND STAY ARE WELL SPENT

Ms. Walker's commentary Dec. 21 suggests that the Department of Public Safety and the state of Hawai'i are not working to rehabilitate those incarcerated, that the state is spending $63 million "to keep people incarcerated on the Mainland" and that the money spent to maintain prisoners on the Mainland is not spent to educate, rehabilitate or treat offenders, which is completely false.

The funds expended to maintain those incarcerated on the Mainland are funds well spent. In order to provide the same for the 1,900-plus offenders we house on the Mainland here in Hawai'i, it would cost the state well over $110 million annually, not to mention the cost of building at least two to three large correctional facilities, which would conservatively cost the taxpayers more than $500 million, not including the cost to staff and maintain the new facilities that could be as high as $90 million annually.

The department would like nothing more than to return our offenders to Hawai'i. However, the state does not have the prison capacity to safely house all of our offenders here. Given the extremely challenging economic realities we face for the foreseeable future, the state's only viable option is to continue to provide for the custody and care of some of our offenders on the Mainland while simultaneously providing them the tools necessary to change their lives.

TOMMY JOHNSON | Deputy director, Corrections, Department of Public Safety