ALOHA AIRLINES

SAD TO SEE EXPLORERS PROGRAM COME TO END

This letter is written in response to an article in the April 17 edition regarding the Aloha Airlines Explorers Program.

It is sad to see such a fantastic program like this come to an end. Looking back at my days as an Aloha Explorer, I can remember the great learning experiences, the excellent career guidance and, most of all, the wonderful employees of the airline.

Our program advisers generously volunteered their own time every week to mentor aspiring future employees of the aviation industry. My fellow explorers and I couldn't have asked for better role models.

Their level of dedication to the program was evident in their decision to keep the program running until the graduation ceremony, despite the closure of the airline on March 31.

It had always been a dream of mine to fly for Aloha Airlines and rejoin the Explorers program as an adviser so that I could give back to the airline that inspired me to be a pilot.

Great job, guys! Thank you, Aloha Airlines, for all the fun memories.

FOOD PRICES

CALLS ON GOVERNOR TO RESCIND ETHANOL RULE

Gov. Linda Lingle issued an administrative rule in 2004 mandating the use of ethanol to reduce our dependence on foreign oil imports. A noble goal to be sure, and definitely one that I supported entirely.

Four years later, you don't have to look very far to see the spiraling costs at the grocery store or the food riots in Haiti, Mexico, the Philippines and Egypt to come to the conclusion that perhaps turning our food and feed supply into fuel for our vehicles is maybe not the best idea.

I am with the rest of the people who think that gasoline is too expensive, oil companies are raking in hundreds of billions in profits and Congress is continuing to grant those same companies billions in tax incentives while the low dollar continues to drive up the cost at the pump.

I cringe when I have to fill my tank, but I would be willing to pay a few cents more at the pump if I could save at the grocery store. I would rather pay $4 a gallon at the pump for gasoline than more than $8 a gallon for milk.

I am calling on Gov. Lingle to rescind the E10 rule as soon as possible. Nobody will blame the governor for a decision that most thought was a good one at the time.

I don't have to drive. I do, however, have to eat. The poor and destitute in other countries as well as our own will thank you, governor.

SUSTAINABILITY

RECYCLE, BUY LOCALLY — IT'S RIGHT THING TO DO

Hawai'i was once occupied by people who lived totally independently, and yet thrived. The land was treated with the same kind of respect a family member was given. People and technology have changed a lot since then, but maybe we need to look back to learn how to be sustainable again.

Hawai'i is too dependent on others when we have a lot here. We should be the leaders in recycling programs and "green" initiatives and technology. We need to learn how to care for, and make use of the land and unique natural resources.

Why do people need to lose 6 cents per can/bottle before they start recycling? There was also an Earth Hour recently during which people united and turned off electricity for just one hour. Sadly, lights were on everywhere in Honolulu. It either wasn't publicized enough, or people didn't care to participate.

Reuse shopping bags, recycle whatever possible (whether you get money back or not), buy local and natural products, don't waste water, turn off the light when leaving a room. It's time to step up and take care of Hawai'i. Or, do you want to pay a fee for shopping bags, too?

RAIL

PROPOSED RAIL SYSTEM BIGGEST FOLLY SINCE IRAQ

Congratulations on giving opponents to the planned rail system a voice. Even on the front page with a bold headline. Wow!

That proposed rail system is the biggest folly that any politician has tried to foist on us since President Bush's disastrous Iraq war.

ARMED FORCES

MILITARY TRAINING HELPS TO PROTECT ISLES, U.S.

Shame on those who oppose military training on the Big Island, or any island for that matter.

How quickly they forget 9/11 and what this training allows us in the military to do — better protect our country.

I own a home on the bluffs above Lilipuna in Kane'ohe, and when I see the C-17s doing training from the runways at Marine Corps Base Hawai'i it gives me a sense of security. It's called the "sounds of freedom," and the planes are never that loud.

Give us a chance, we're only trying to protect the Islands and this country.

AIR EMISSIONS

SAY NO TO INCINERATORS FOR WASTE, BURY TRASH

Incinerators do not eliminate waste, but change the waste into hazardous air emissions and toxic ash. What goes into the incinerator comes out as heavy metals, such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium and beryllium. It comes out as acid gases, including hydrogen fluoride. It comes out as partially burned organic material such as PVC. It comes out as herbicide residues and wood preservatives and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Incinerators are large producers of dioxins and furans. Many of the particles are small enough to settle in your lungs where they will initiate cancerous neoplasia. These 192 volatile chemicals are released into the air, some will settle in the soil and water, so eating and breathing these compounds becomes unavoidable. The incinerator company wants to burn as much waste as possible; it is in the business of burning waste. The more it burns, the more money it makes.

Please don't kill us with incinerator-induced illnesses. Say no to the incinerator. Bury the waste in a new landfill with the best possible safety measures and liners. Recycle at all cost. Save money. And above all, save the lives of the people you love.

TURNAROUND NEEDED

RETIREES COULD HELP HAWAIIAN TELCOM

Bought by The Carlyle Group for $1.6 billion, Hawaiian Telcom has been in constant operations, service and financial turmoil. In the past two years, the only way it has been able to turn a profit was by taking successful legal action against Bearing Point and selling its directory operations.

Hawaiian Telcom's attempt to restructure to achieve greater efficiencies has produced minimal success. At the same time, the employee's retirement fund has been taking a hit in two ways. First, with the market downturn, the value of its investments has dropped and second, the number of employees taking the lump sum instead of the annuity for retirement has depleted the fund beyond expectations. This fund had a projected surplus of $280 million before being sold to The Carlyle Group.

A change in leadership has brought Stephen Cooper, who has tried to communicate with the employees about the problems with little success. He has forgotten to contact one group of people who help build Hawaiian Telcom, namely the retirees, which have a great wealth of experience.

By seeking out retirees with knowledge of Hawaiian Telcom, who know the people of Hawai'i and have ties in the telecommunications industry, there would at least be a fighting chance to turn the company around and save local jobs.

If retirees and former management of Hawaiian Tel were to be brought in, it is my opinion Hawaiian Telcom would have a better chance of surviving in the marketplace, and they would probably work for less than what Mr. Cooper is making at $600,000 a month.