Letters to the Editor
DOE FAILURE
MONEY BEING WASTED ON NEW REPORT CARD
Once again the Department of Education has shown its incompetence by wasting money on a new report card system that is all but incomprehensible. To make matters worse, the grades scheme DOE is instituting will be meaningless for any student hoping to go to a Mainland school.
What will it take to stop the waste of taxpayer dollars? The state auditor should move quickly to require the DOE to account for the funds expended on this project.
Hawai'i's children deserve a good education. They do not deserve a DOE that continues to fail them.
Sally HarperHonolulu
AIWOHI CASE
IT'S BETTER TO TREAT PREGNANT DRUG USER
In its ruling on the Tayshea Aiwohi case, the Hawai'i Supreme Court has strengthened the growing movement toward meaningful and effective medical treatment to reduce the abuse of drugs.
Threats of criminal prosecution fail to address the core issues of drug use; treating pregnant women facing drug issues as criminals does nothing to end their addiction or protect children.
The Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i is pleased that now women like Ms. Aiwohi won't be discouraged from seeking needed prenatal and postnatal medical care, fearing they would be jailed as criminals. Drug use during pregnancy is clearly a medical issue best addressed not through the criminal justice system, but by medical treatment.
Jeanne OhtaExecutive director, Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i, Honolulu
WAIMEA VALLEY
WAKE UP BEFORE YOU RUIN OUR UNIQUE HOME
Charles Djou's response to my letter to him, the mayor and the rest of the City Council concerning the Waimea Valley lawsuit was that "as a council member I must balance the desire to hold title to all of Waimea Valley with my responsibility to prudently manage the public's resources." So I guess he is saying that the council members who voted against the settlement are somehow not as prudent or as responsible as he is.
His and the mayor's lame excuse is that the city "just does not have the funds." Boy, have we heard this before.
The real reason is that they cave-in to intimidating attorneys because precedents have been set in other lawsuits whereby "they settled" instead of taking on the fight and sending these guys packing.
There was a time when it was hard to fight City Hall. Not with these people running things.
Come on. Wake up before you ruin our beautiful and unique home and turn it into one big gated community. When that happens, I suppose you'll just do what so many local people have had to do. Move to the Mainland.
Hank LeandroKailua
SANTA HOUSING
SHIFT FUNDS TO WAIMEA
The City & County of Honolulu could afford buying Waimea Valley over several years if they didn't waste that money on housing Santa at $289,000 a year. What a waste of money.
Joe CariniHonolulu
VISUAL BLIGHT
SHAME ON THE OFFICIALS WHO ALLOWED BILLBOARDS
Billboards in Hawai'i? In public buildings? I can't believe that our state and city leaders are willing to sell our soul for anything, much less the paltry pennies they're getting to allow billboards to creep into our lives.
I know there are bigger problems for Hawai'i residents to be concerned about, but this one really hits us where we live.
Thank goodness The Outdoor Circle has the courage to stand up for us.
And as for the government leaders who are allowing this attack on Hawai'i's beauty: shame!
Naomi LoeweHonolulu
AIRPORT
ALOHA FOR THE SOLDIERS
While awaiting my family's return recently at Honolulu International Airport, I observed several uniformed soldiers returning from their tours of duty in the Middle East. Everyone present at this event conveyed their aloha to the soldiers as they appeared. Hopefully this small gesture will help them to re-acclimate into the world and their service will not be forgotten.
Sam DelacernaPearl City
UNSIGHTLY
RECYCLERS USE, THEN LEAVE SHOPPING CARTS
I am very impressed by the tremendous amount of people who recycle. I live near a recycling station across from Mo'ili'ili Field and there are always lines of people waiting to turn in cans and bottles for recycling.
However, in doing so, a problem has been created. I have counted up to 57 shopping carts on the sidewalks, in the park and even in my driveway that people leave after they drop off their items. There are carts from Safeway, Daiei, Kmart, Wal-Mart, City Mill, Foodland, Ross and many other firms.
I have called many of those firms to inform them of their carts as many are left in my driveway. Surprisingly, the attitude of those people whom I called is nonchalant — one even told me to just get rid of them — that they really do not have the time or manpower to pick them up.
Well, it is now unsightly — carts are now on both sides of Beretania Street, a large pile at the boundary of Star Market and the park. Something has to be done to get these carts returned to their rightful owners.
Ken YoungHonolulu
FANS AT HOME
WE'LL BE STANDING UP FOR THE WAHINE FRIDAY
I read Lee Cataluna's Tuesday column about Wahine volleyball fans with astonishment. I thought it was just my family that stood up for the Aloha Ball when watching the games at home (C'mon, kids! Get up! Game point!)
I know it's not just I who cheers during each game because I can hear my neighbors outside screaming at the same time.
I hope to do a lot of standing and screaming for the Wahine Friday and on Dec. 15 and 17. It will be nice to know that, even though we'll be watching at home, we'll be standing up for the Wahine in sync with fellow fans all over the Islands.
Susan JaworowskiHonolulu
CONTRACT
WHAT ARE THE MAYOR, ABERCROMBIE HIDING?
I was quite surprised by the choice of words and name-calling by Mayor Mufi Hannemann (Mufi saying Councilman Charles Djou was somebody's lackey) coupled with his obvious anger toward Djou for his questioning the reason for the change of subcontractors on rail system work.
What are Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Mufi scared of or, perhaps, hiding from us due to their demeanor toward Djou? If all goes as they planned, are we going to all find out later that something unethical was actually brewing behind the scenes?
Politicians throughout history have proven time and time again that usually when people act as Mufi and Neil have, it was usually paralleled with something.
Keep on their heels, Charles Djou, until you get to the bottom of it for the good of all Hawai'i residents. Come election time? You have my vote for either mayor or governor. You are truly a breath of fresh air with your honesty and scrupulous character.
Bob RuizWahiawa
LESSONS LEARNED
HERE'S CHECKLIST FOR MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM ON O'AHU
Having some experience in building systems, I suggest the following recommendations for our mass transit. These may be obvious but are often overlooked selection criteria.
Kane'ohe
STATE, CITY
JOINT EFFORT NEEDED ON WAIMEA
As the state representative from O'ahu's North Shore, I know that the preservation of Waimea Valley has been a great concern for this community for many years.
Everyone agrees that the valley must be saved from inappropriate development and protected for the people of Hawai'i, but the complications surrounding the legal battle must first start to untangle before we can chart the best course of action.
Today, the Honolulu City Council will vote on the future of Waimea Valley. It will decide to either go forward with a settlement between the city and the private owner, or risk going to trial. Either way, it is unclear whether the city would be successful in acquiring the land for public use. Either way, the city is faced with the likelihood of having to pay a large sum for the purchase of the land, in part or in whole, in order to preserve the site for historic and cultural purposes.
What is clear is that the city is not in the financial position to take on this burden alone. It is right and imperative that the state and the city join forces if we hope to maintain the integrity of Waimea Valley for future generations.
On the part of the Legislature, I believe we can do several things that will help us achieve this goal, pending the outcome of the City Council's vote.
Rep. Brian Schatz has recommended that the state use the Legacy Lands Act to purchase Waimea Valley. Legacy Lands was created for just this kind of purpose, to enable the state to purchase land that has historic and cultural significance for future generations. But as Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairman Peter Young notes, it is a new program just passed in 2005. The newly created fund only contains about $2 million, and that money is already committed to purchase the first identified properties.
The Legislature should, however, look for additional resources that will help the city on this matter, and I am prepared to introduce legislation as well as support the use of general funds to help purchase all or portions of Waimea Valley.
It's also important to understand that Waimea Valley is zoned conservation under the state DLNR, and even if the private owner were to reach a settlement agreement with the city, the owner would need both city and state permits in order to alter or develop the property. This is where the public has the power to voice its support or opposition to what is planned for one of O'ahu's most treasured sites.
A history of the valley reveals that the ahupua'a of Waimea was established and cared for by the ancient Hawaiians nearly a thousand years ago. For about 800 of those years, Hawaiians lived and farmed in the valley, so it is likely that the site contains many important artifacts, heiau and burials that we have yet to uncover. How do you put a price tag on land of this significance?
I will need to wait until after today's vote to get an idea of how much money will need to be raised, and what legal parameters need to be considered. Today, we must all take the role of stewards of the land, working together as we shepherd through a difficult and complex legal process. The leadership of the House of Representatives stands ready to take action during the next session as appropriate to save Waimea Valley.
Rep. Michael MagaoayDistrict 46 (North Shore, Kahuku, Schofield)
