I have been following the tragic story of Gabriel Kealoha and Sgt. Arthur Miller and, as more information has become evident, I believe two things: Reflections from counselor on
death of police officer1) This was a tragic accident. The idea of charging Kealoha with murder, and him possibly spending time in jail, should be out of the question.
2) If Miller was indeed a "functioning alcoholic," he was an accident waiting to happen. He should have gotten help a long time ago.
As a substance abuse counselor, I have worked with active duty military and police officers from different organizations, including HPD and the military police. These are stressful jobs and there are many Sgt. Millers out there.
All of these agencies have employee assistance programs. But the reality is that the culture of these agencies also equates needing help with weakness, and fear of losing their jobs or not getting that promotion.
Miller may have deserved his promotion based on his performance, but he needed help as a result of his drinking. His fellow officers let him down by ignoring the obvious.
Robert H. Brown
In response to Robert P. Kanealii's Oct. 19 letter, no matter how one may look at the numbers in the Native Hawaiian Vote, they do not change: 30,423 people had their votes counted and, of that number, 73 percent voted in the affirmative. Critic of Hawaiian vote
can’t speak for everybodyKanealii wrote that there were "51,587 who burned their ballots and did not vote." Where was that bonfire? The Iolani Palace ballot-burning demonstration on July 22 had an attendance of approximately 30 native Hawaiians and not all of them were burning something.
Additionally, Kanealii seems to have assumed the position of spokesperson for 59,716 Hawaiians who, he says, "knew the vote was a big scam." But he includes the number of "no" votes counted, the number of invalidated votes, and those who did not participate at all.
Only two "clear messages" come forth from an analysis of the vote. First, Hawaiians voted 3-1 in favor of an election of delegates. Second, that Kanealii believed the vote to be a scam, which is his right. But it is not the voice of the Hawaiian people. The results speak for themselves.
Yvette Noelani Fernandez
I have invested many years of education and personal improvement to become the effective counselor I am today. I took extra training because I wanted to be better. I paid for most of it out of myself because my employer could not - and would not - pay. Counselor, teacher
fear job changes will hurt kidsI work with children trying to survive in family situations that include domestic violence, drug use, phys-ical/emotional/sexual abuse, abandonment and neglect, divorce or separation. I teach them to survive with anger-management skills, mediation skills and personal safety strategies.
Now, I'm told that my job is at risk.
In negotiations with the Hawaii State Teachers Association, the state wants to convert what they call off-ratio positions to classroom positions. Counselors are considered off-ratio positions.
I dread what would happen to children if all counselor positions were converted to classroom positions. Who will help Johnny with his problems? Who will teach Jane that she can cope with her parents' divorce?
The state must pull this proposal off the table. It will harm children.
Lorraine M. Hora
Counselor
Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary
Hilo
Daily, I touch the lives of 630 students. I invite anyone to come and witness the enthusiasm of our children during their art sessions. It's a joy to watch.These sessions are popular, but they may end soon if the state gets its way in our contract negotiations. They want to eliminate resource teachers and convert the positions into regular classroom positions. That means that the sessions I plan for the children will probably be cut.
I urge your readers to call Governor Cayetano to tell him to take this proposal off of the table. I want to continue teaching students about art. Our children want to continue learning.
Naomi Beals
Resource teacher
Chiefess Kapiolani School