Letters to the Editor
Tuesday, July 16, 1996

Listen to Holmes not Felix
on issue of Camp Kailua

The City Council is considering repealing the city's cabin camping ordinance to facilitate a vote against Camp Kailua. Councilman John Henry Felix, who represents part of Kailua, is the main proponent of this bill.

Remember, though, that there are two Council members who represent the Kailua area, Felix and Steve Holmes. It is only since January 1995 that Felix, due to redistricting, represents the area that includes the camp. Only since last October, after supporting the retention of the camp for five years, did he switch his position.

Prior to 1995, Holmes (who lives a few minutes from the camp) represented the area. Holmes not only continues to represent a large portion of Kailua, he remains a staunch supporter of the camp.

He is certainly acknowledged by the larger community as being the true Council representative of the area. While Felix spends much of his time away from the island, Holmes can often be seen cleaning up Kailua Beach Park, removing graffiti from its structures, and listening to the grass-roots concerns of the community.

Holmes is without a doubt the most knowledgeable and caring Council member for the area. So, if we are to defer to anyone on the Camp Kailua issue, it should be him and not Felix. By the way, I'm a supporter of Holmes but not a relative.

Raymond Holmes


Those harassed in military
can get help at vet center

Thank you for your recent articles and editorial on the issue of sexual harassment of women in the military.

The Honolulu Vet Center is one of 69 vet centers nationally that has a sexual trauma counselor on staff specifically to assist veterans who have been sexually traumatized in the military.

In a Pentagon survey of 90,000 military women, 55 percent reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment within a one-year period. When this inquiry was made more specific - listing 25 objectionable behaviors (including rape) - up to 78 percent of the women reported at least one experience a year. While the rates of reported sexual harassment are declining, they are still far too high.

We support the miitary in continuing to take positive steps to end sexual harassment and assault. For those women and men for whom it is too late to avoid this trauma, we encourage them to call the Honolulu Vet Center at 566-1764 or the Honolulu VA at 566-1850 for information and help.

Ann M. Fisher
Sexual Trauma Counselor
Honolulu Vet Center


Aquarium has no plans
for run-down Natatorium

When a Star-Bulletin reporter called me for a comment on the Natatorium, I agreed on one condition - that any comment was prefaced by the statement, "The Waikiki Aquarium has no present plans or proposal for the use of the Natatorium."

To my dismay, when I read the final story, my caveat had been deleted.

The Waikiki Aquarium has made no recent proposals for the use of the Natatorium as an underwater observatory. Future plans for the aquarium depend on what happens in Kakaako. The governor has proposed development of a new aquarium there that would create a new, world-class ocean education center for Hawaii.

The Natatorium is a tragedy of good intentions gone awry. There are plenty of interested and dedicated people trying to make something good out of it, but for 20 years I've watched from next door as one proposal after another has been defeated or delayed.

There is only one plan we cannot support and that is the complete demolition of the Natatorium, which would wreak havoc on Sans Souci beach and the reef behind the aquarium.

The Natatorium is first of all a monument to the memory of World War I veterans, but it has become the most visible eyesore from any vantage point on Waikiki Beach. It really is time to quit arguing and agree on a solution.

Bruce A. Carlson
Director, Waikiki Aquarium


Heely's ruling was wise
on the issue of ceded lands

Governor Cayetano's reaction to the recent decision by Judge Heely - in relation to the state's obligation to the Hawaiian people based on revenues from ceded lands - is unfair to both the judge and the Legislature.

Heely did not "rule with his heart" as the governor contends; he ruled with his head and ruled on the law as it now exists.

The Legislature did not lack "guts" in refusing to change the present law in the last legislative session. It does not take "guts" to use the power of the state to abrogate an agreement with a minority group.

The Legislature acted in good faith to keep this agreement that was reached in 1990. Act 304 was the culmination of 28 months of negotiations between the Office of the Governor and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to clarify the OHA trust entitlement.

The efforts of the governor and attorney general should be directed at forging a comprehensive settlement of land claims to benefit all Hawaiians regardless of blood quantum.

A sufficient number of the members of the legislative branch recognized the inequity and unfairness of the proposed legislation and affirmed Hawaii's dedication to justice by not passing the executive's bill. They deserve to be commended, not condemned.

Whitney T. Anderson
Senator, 25th District


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