Letters to the Editor

Finance our schools with federal dollars

As a 25-year veteran of the California public schools, I was inspired by Cliff Slater's Aug. 7 "Profiting off Hawai'i" in which he used the word profit — as in profit-making schools — in a positive way. Convincingly, he showed that while motivated by profit-making, the business community succeeds in "advancing the interest of society."

Certainly, the non-profit bureaucracy which runs our nation's schools has not been advancing the interest of society. With our public schools mostly financed by state and local money, the schools in the richer communities have the advantage of more money. Furthermore, there is no financial incentive for new ideas and innovative programs.

Just as our defense industry bids on federal contracts to produce weapons, why can't the educational industry bid on federal contracts to revolutionize our public schools?

Only through federal money and private industry could all our schools have a fair chance to succeed. As for the incentive to bring it about, if the money is there, the talent will come.

Joan Leib

Akiba a 'poster child' for democratic liberal elite

I had to laugh when I read Bob Dye's Aug. 12 puff piece on Lorraine Akiba, the new chairwoman of the Hawai'i Democratic Party. According to the article, Democrats believe there is "an important difference" between Akiba and her Republican counterpart, Linda Lingle, because "Lorraine was born and raised here and the GOP's Linda wasn't. Not to do with race, they say. All to do with place."

Of course, part of Lorraine's experience in being "raised here" included attending Punahou School where she was an honor student. She was fortunate not to suffer the Democrats' lasting legacy to the children of Hawai'i, the Department of Education.

She then attended the University of California at Berkeley where she graduated in 1977 Phi Beta Kappa and went on to Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. Smart girl. No fourth-rate public education or third-rate public college for her. She sounds like a poster child for the liberal elite and is probably well suited to represent what the Democratic Party has become: a left-wing coalition that seeks to keep as many people as possible dependent upon the largess of Big Government at the expense of individual liberty while denying the rest of us our freedom through exorbitant taxation to support bloated government.

What have the Democrats done for Hawaiians here after four decades of control? Meanwhile, what has Linda Lingle accomplished? Let's see, elected to and served on the Maui County Council. Elected to and served as mayor of Maui. Almost broke the 40-year stranglehold the Democrat machine has had on the people of Hawai'i by nearly defeating an incumbent governor. And oh yes, revived the Hawai'i Republican Party, which now has more members in the state House of Representatives than at any time since statehood, and it shows.

Michael Parry
Hawai'i Kai

Leave decision of drilling to people of Last Frontier

I must take exception to the Aug. 2 editorial opposing the development of the major oil reserves east of Prudhoe Bay along the northern coastal fringe of the Alaskan Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Modern drilling techniques require a much smaller industrial footprint than in the past. Equipment will be brought in on ice roads during the winter and, because the proposed drilling sites are so close to the existing facilities at Prudhoe Bay, additional airstrips may not be necessary.

The existing TransAlaska Oil Pipeline will be used to transport the oil to the lower 48 states and the impact of the proposed oil production sites on the 19 million acre wildlife reserve land area is the equivalent of one or two postage stamps stuck on the northern edge of your living room carpet.

At the request of the governor and the congressional delegation from Florida, the Bush administration reduced the size of the proposed off-shore drilling area in the Gulf of Mexico. The governor of Alaska, its congressional delegation and the Inupiat Eskimos living in the area where the drilling will take place are in favor of developing this Alaskan oil field.

If we believe in home rule and representative government, we will leave this decision in the hands of the people of Alaska and their elected representatives.

Alan S. Lloyd
Kailua

Honolulu Symphony adds delight to evening

Mahalo to the talented musicians and the staff of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra for arranging the concert with Charlotte Church.

The orchestra and Ms. Church were marvelous, the Blaisdell Arena worked surprisingly well and we are all blessed to have Samuel Wong leading these great musicians. A delightful evening.

Rod and Sharon McPhee

U.S. involvement in Mideast underplayed

Your Aug. 11 editorial, "Bush is right: Mideast peace can't be forced" sounds good but contains one major flaw.

The editorial expresses the opinion that the United States should remove itself from trying to bring about peace in the Middle East until the Israeli and Palestinian governments can stop the escalating violence and start negotiating with each other in a mature and responsible manner. The editorial states, "[I]t is senseless to continue ... to expend enormous amounts of political capital and taxpayers' money in vain."

The problem with this argument is that the United States is inextricably involved in the Middle East and is in fact a key player in the Israel-Palestinian conflict — not as a neutral, unbiased peacemaker, but rather as an enthusiastic supporter of Israel. The U.S. government gives Israel $2 billion each and every year in military aid alone.

The next time Israel carries out air strikes, drops bombs, and demolishes people's homes in the Palestinian territories, we should remind ourselves that we — U.S. taxpayers — are paying for those bombs and jet fighters. We should also ask ourselves why the Palestinian Authority is the only side begging for international observers to monitor the situation there. Don't we, as the people paying for Israel's brute force, have the right to demand that they accept international monitors so we can see what is really going on over there at our expense?

Your editorial would make sense if, and only if, the United States was a neutral third party to the Mideast conflict. But it's not. The U.S. government should immediately halt all military aid to Israel until that government accepts international observers and ceases its extraordinarily disproportionate acts of violence against Palestinian civilians.

Joanne Heisel

House Republicans level the playing field

Khal Spencer's Aug. 13 letter with his back-handed compliments to the Hawai'i GOP leave one wondering what rock he has been living under. The Hawai'i GOP has made tremendous strides in equalizing the playing field when it comes to elections. Seven more Republicans joined the state House of Representatives in the 2000 elections, making this the largest number of Republicans since statehood. Their accomplishments, which included raising the age of consent from 14 to 16 and preventing a raid on the Rainy Day fund and the Hawai'i Hurricane Relief Fund, clearly demonstrate that a two-party system is essential and that the Democrats have decided to sit on their hands rather than to change their party.

Comparing Hawai'i's Republicans with those of far-away Washington, D.C., is an invalid comparison but one the Democrats will try over and over again.

Hawai'i's GOP is here to stay and Hawai'i will be much better with a shared and balanced state government.

Garry P. Smith

Fan disappointed by player's choice to sit out

As a faithful UH Wahine volleyball fan and one who, along with many others, had great expectations for this year's team, it was a great disappointment to learn that Veronica Lima and Lily Kahumoku would not return this year.

Both gave their reasons. I tried to understand their predicament and was reconciled to the decisions they made. Now it turns out that Kahumoku is pondering whether to get back in this year.

The team has started practice and probably readjusted its strategy and goals accordingly with its existing personnel. Under these circumstances, Lily's return, though good to hear, may also have its share of negative effects. Individual roles of the members, team strategy and mental attitude may be compromised.

Kahumoku should not put herself above the team, coach or fans. Although it is her prerogative to return or not, there is a definite responsibility she must bear to all who have accorded her the greatest respect and confidence as an acknowledged leader of the Wahine volleyball team.

Teruo Hasegawa

Federal 8(a) program is not a free lunch

The federal 8(a) contracting program is a great "tool" for small disadvantaged businesses in Hawai'i. The successes of the program are many and it has helped some to become "well-heeled" Hawai'i entrepreneurs by properly using this "tool." For the few "sour grapes" contractors or companies who think that the 8(a) program is a "free lunch" or a handout program, they should seek to better understand the program and how they can benefit. Mike O'Neil, formerly of the Hawai'i SBA Office, the capable personnel of the present SBA staff and all of the wonderful programs that are available, such as small-business loans and insurance, have helped the 8(a) program grow. But what has helped it grow the most is the performance of the small-business 8(a) contractors themselves.

Patrick Shin, Oceanhouse Builders and others in the program have shown the federal contracting community that small 8(a) contractors can grow and do projects on time, in budget, with limited problems and at a fair price, thus releasing more opportunities for themselves and others.

George Toyama
General Trades & Services, Inc. An 8(a), HUB Zone Contractor

'Melting pot mentality' doesn't include military

I write in response to the "YELL-Oh Girls!" article in the Aug. 11 edition. It was a fine piece. I only have one contention with the statement: "It is puzzling why the rest of the nation, despite its fascination with multiculturalism, never seems to turn for enlightenment to our not-so-melting-pot community, which was multicultural before the word was invented."

The reason I disagree with that one statement is that Hawai'i tends to embrace all cultures as its own — unless you aren't a local. I'm in the military and have lived in the Islands for six-and-a-half years, and I know from personal experience that there is still a fairly large portion of the population that doesn't embrace and accept all peoples, namely, "haoles." So, maybe the reason that the nation hasn't looked to Hawai'i for an example of enlightenment is because Hawai'i has the same problems as the rest of the country.

K.O. Monarrez

All Hawai'i must workto help uninsured kids

The Hawai'i Uninsured Project members were pleased to see the Aug. 8 story on "Kids Health Insurance Week," part of the innovative Hawai'i Covering Kids program headed by the Hawai'i Primary Care Association. This effort is tackling the difficult task of locating, counting and delivering quality health care to Hawai'i's uninsured children.

It is shocking and unacceptable that over 100,000 Hawai'i residents live each day without the benefits and protection of health insurance and that number is growing. Among the hardest hit are Hawai'i children — especially from working families — who lack even basic health care because they cannot afford to go to a doctor.

We are all adversely affected by the costs of a large number of uninsured. All of Hawai'i is burdened by lower productivity at work, higher costs for medical emergencies and avoidable hospitalizations, personal bankruptcy and unnecessary pain and suffering.

Last year, the HMSA Foundation initiated a three-year project that is bringing together a diverse group — representing health care professionals, business, government, educators and the public at large — in an effort to dramatically reduce the number of uninsured in our state. "The Hawai'i Uninsured Project" is a statewide, collaborative approach that seeks to involve the entire community in identifying who is uninsured and why, as well as possible solutions to rectify the problems. Throughout the year, community leaders will discuss workable, cost-effective solutions for this growing crisis.

All of Hawai'i's residents deserve top-quality health care. Although the issues are complex and the effort is daunting, we must continue to work toward this common vision. We believe projects like Hawai'i Covering Kids and The Hawai'i Uninsured Project are steps in the right direction.

Hardy Spoehr
Executive Director, Papa Ola Lokahi
Leadership Committee Member, The Hawai'i Uninsured Project

He wouldn't be bold if he was up for election

I know how to get Gov. Ben Cayetano to stop playing games with our teachers: Change the state law so that governors can run for a third term. Then watch that arrogant hypocrite fold.

Stephen Williams
Kihei